Arizona Lands Louisville Transfer Punter Carter Schwartz After NCAA Denies Ryan Harris Eligibility
Arizona has found its new punter-and it comes with a twist. After the NCAA denied former Washington State kicker/punter Ryan Harris an eligibility waiver, the Wildcats pivoted quickly, landing Louisville transfer Carter Schwartz to fill the vacancy.
Schwartz, a redshirt junior in 2025, brings a solid résumé to Tucson. Over 18 games with the Cardinals, he logged 30 punts for an average of 41.1 yards.
That’s not just a decent number-it’s a sign of consistency. He dropped 11 of those punts inside the 20, forced nine fair catches, and boomed two punts over 50 yards, all while only recording one touchback.
That kind of control is exactly what Arizona’s special teams unit has been lacking.
Originally from Louisville and a product of Trinity High School, Schwartz signed with the Cardinals as part of the 2023 class. He split punting duties in 2025 with graduate student David Chapeau, who handled 43 punts with a slightly lower average of 39.7 yards per kick. While the shared workload may have limited Schwartz’s national visibility, the efficiency in his limited reps speaks volumes.
This move comes at a crucial time for Arizona. The Wildcats finished 101st nationally in punting average last season, managing just 41.45 yards per punt. That’s a number that simply has to improve if Arizona wants to avoid giving opponents favorable field position week after week.
Michael Salgado-Medina, who handled primary kicking duties in 2025, also chipped in with six punts early in the season, averaging 41.7 yards. He’s expected to remain a key figure on special teams, likely taking over kickoff responsibilities in 2026. And with Ian Wagner leading the nation in kickoff average last season (64.99 yards), Arizona knows exactly what elite special teams production looks like-and what it needs to get there.
As for Schwartz, he enters spring ball as the frontrunner to win the starting punter job. He’s got two years of eligibility left and a real opportunity to bring stability to a position that’s been in flux. If he can elevate his game just a notch-enough to crack the national top 50 in average-Arizona’s special teams could take a significant step forward.
Also worth noting: Arizona added another leg to the mix in Australian punter Chase Ridley, who was granted a release after originally signing with West Virginia. That gives the Wildcats depth and competition-two key ingredients to pushing performance in camp.
Bottom line: The punting game may not always grab headlines, but it can absolutely swing games. And in Carter Schwartz, Arizona is betting on a steady, experienced leg to help flip the field-and maybe a few outcomes-in their favor.