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The notable returners include Tre Spivey, Chris Hunter, Giovanni Richardson, Isaiah Mizell and Brandon Phelps.

"All those guys who played football for us the last couple of seasons, they really give us an edge," said Arizona wide receivers coach Bobby Wade. 

With Arizona returning offensive coordinator Seth Doege, "it gives us a place to pick up where we left off," Wade said. 

However, one of the aforementioned receivers is unlike the rest. Hunter is the elder statesman of the group, and he's the only UA receiver to play for multiple coaching staffs at Arizona.

Hunter was a late addition to Arizona's loaded 2022 recruiting class, a group that featured Tetairoa McMillan, Noah Fifita, Jonah Savaiinaea and several others who were a part of the program-changing recruiting cycle under head coach Jedd Fisch. Hunter signed with Arizona after a standout career at Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans, where he was teammates with quarterback Arch Manning.

Hunter is one of the few 2022 signees still at Arizona, along with quarterback Fifita, backup center Grayson Stovall and tight end Tyler Powell.  

Hunter scrapped and clawed his way up Arizona's depth chart after standing out in practices as a scout-team player, emerging as a mainstay in the receiver rotation during head coach Brent Brennan's first season in 2024. Hunter has 62 catches for 695 yards and five touchdowns the last two seasons. He had the fourth-most receiving yards last season behind Kris Hutson, Javin Whatley and Spivey. 

Now a redshirt senior, Hunter reflects on his five-year career at Arizona with humility. 

"My whole story has been about adversity," he said. "I was recruited super late to come here. I was playing catch-up and started behind with the old staff. Working through that, the growing pains, not really seeing the field, then Coach Brennan and Bobby came in and instilled confidence in me. ... Through all of that, I stayed true to myself, stayed with my craft, and used the relationships I made with the guys coming in, and that pushed me forward.

"When you have all those things working, it's not too hard to have tunnel vision and work through it." 

Wade challenged Hunter this offseason "to take a hold of the reins as the leader within the room, and be a guy that I can lean on to push this group if I'm not around."

"Not only that, but individually, he knows there's still growth there for him," Wade said of Hunter. "He missed some time last season, so I know he was dedicated this winter to find the imbalances in his strength to make sure he doesn't miss any time. We're seeing a different Chris Hunter. He seems to be fresh every practice, he's finishing every practice and he's back to where he can just run all day. That's where you need him to be."   

Hunter said Wade "started nudging me" to become a leader last season.

"This year, pretty sure I'm the oldest guy in the room, so he talks to me every day to push the guys," Hunter said. "I try to step into that role. They don't try to put it all on me and make it hard. They make it easy. I embrace it and if that's what I gotta do, then I'll do it." 

In the 275 pass plays Hunter was a part of last season, the 6-1, 195-pounder lined up out wide for 246 of them (89.5%), according to Pro Football Focus; he was lined up at slot receiver for 29 snaps (10.5%). 

Hunter will have some company at "Z" receiver with the additions of Colorado State transfer Jordan Ross and USC transfer DJ Jordan, who both add speed to Arizona's receiver room. 

"Adding those other additions, already having a strong culture in the room, it gives the room a chance to connect quickly and really find that healthy competition, so they can push each other," Wade said. "I'm excited about where we're going." 

Hunter says he is "always grateful and I thank the Lord to have an opportunity to be able to spend my time in Tucson."

"It's been amazing," Hunter added. "It's also the last year and I want to put it all out on the line and use everything I've learned in the past and make it a great one." 

Freshmen receivers settling in

Wade is encouraged by the two early enrollees Arizona signed for its 2026 recruiting class: four-star wide receiver RJ Mosley and three-star wide receiver Caleb Smith, who is nicknamed "Jet." 

The 6-3, 199-pound Mosley is Arizona's highest-rated recruit in its 2026 recruiting class, rated by as the 17th-best wide receiver nationally. Mosley played at Pittsburg High School in Northern California. 

Smith, a 5-8, 166-pound slot receiver, hails from Allen High School in Allen, Texas, which is one of the most renowned programs in Texas. Smith has flashed potential multiple times during spring practices, including a touchdown in a 7-on-7 drill in the red zone earlier this week.  

"I'm excited about those two," Wade said of Mosley and Smith. "RJ had a really good winter. When he got here, he was able to put on 20 pounds of muscle and get his body into a different type of shape. He's a kid who's eager to learn, as well. He's consistently in my office, trying to learn the offense as fast as possible, understanding that's the fastest way he's getting on the football field.

"Jet is just a polished and young receiver that has a plethora of tools that we're able to work with, and he has a unique toughness to him for his size. Next to Mizell, he's probably the second-fastest in the room. We'll find out who's faster between those two. ... Very pleased with both of the freshmen. Excited to see how they help us this year." 

Friday night lights for UA-TCU game

Arizona will have at least one game under the Friday night lights this upcoming football season. 

The Wildcats announced their home game against TCU in November will now be on Friday, Nov. 6, after it was initially scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7. 

Arizona will begin the month of November with back-to-back home games against TCU on Nov. 6 and Utah on Nov. 14. 

This upcoming season will be the fourth all-time meeting between Arizona and TCU. The Wildcats lost their first conference matchup against TCU in 2024, when former wide receiver McMillan set Arizona's all-time receiving yards record. Arizona beat TCU in overtime in Tucson in 2003. TCU is led by fifth-year head coach and former UA offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes.  

Arizona is coming off a 9-4 season that ended in a 24-19 loss to SMU in the Holiday Bowl. The Wildcats were one of eight teams in program history to win at least nine games. Arizona is 13-12 in two seasons under Brennan. 

All of Arizona's games will be broadcast on either ESPN's family of networks, Fox, FS1, TNT, TruTV and HBO Max. 

Arizona will kick off the 2026 season on Sept. 5 against Northern Arizona at Casino Del Sol Stadium. Kickoff times will be announced at a later date.

Extra points

– Wade, on Phelps' improvements this winter: "He took it very personal. He wanted to find a way to get better individually. Immediately post-bowl game, you saw a different Brandon. He was spending time in the weight room. He was in the offices more, and he was really trying to lean his body out and put on the muscle that he needed.

"There's no doubt he had the best winter of the group. The numbers increased, his strength increased, his speed got better. Really happy with Brandon's focus on wanting to be the best version of himself. I know he's going to help us this year win games. 

– Wade said Spivey "is consistently (and) gradually growing" as a receiver. Added Wade: "He hasn't hit a plateau yet. There's these small increments that are happening in his world and are allowing him to experience success. But at the same time, there's still corrections within that and he understands there's still growth. ... Spivey is focused on getting better."