Arizona added depth to its special teams corps after Austin-area kicker and punter Ian French committed to the Wildcats on Wednesday.Â
French, a senior at Dripping Springs High School (Texas) will be joining Arizona this upcoming season.Â
The 6-foot, 180-pound French is rated by Kohl' as a 4.5-star prospect.
In the last two seasons at Dripping Springs, French made 12 of 15 field goals and had a career-long 51-yard field goal in 2025. He was also 77 for 79 on PATs. In 94 kickoff attempts in 2025, French had 66 touchbacks and averaged 64.7 yards per kick.Â
French is the fourth special teams newcomer for the Wildcats this offseason, along with long snapper Drew Nicolson, Washington State punter transfer Ryan Harris and former West Virginia punter signee Chase Ridley.Â
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French replaces freshman Tyler Prasuhn, who recently entered the transfer portal, and will be Arizona's second kicker. Junior Michael Salgado-Medina returns after an up-and-down sophomore season.Â
Salgado-Medina was 19 for 31 on field goals in 2025, the most misses in a season at the UA since 1999. Salgado-Medina was 5 for 12 at field goals between 40-49 yards, but displayed leg strength with a 57-yarder against Oklahoma State and a crucial 51-yarder against Cincinnati.
Salgado-Medina and French are expected to handle kicking duties, with Harris and Ridley at punter and Nicolson and Broden Molen at long snapper.Â
Contact Justin Spears, the Star's Arizona football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports
Justin Spears
Sports Reporter
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