Arizona freshman Caleb “Jet” Smith is already making noise in a way that shows up on both sides of the game sheet. After only his fourth college appearance, Smith has been named Big 12 Freshman of the Week, giving him his first conference player of the week honor and making him the eighth Wildcat to collect Big 12 recognition since Arizona joined the league. Noah Fifita picked up the same kind of honor last week.
Smith’s latest line came against Washington State: four catches, 86 receiving yards, one touchdown and 122 all-purpose yards. For the season, he now has six receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown, plus 57 kickoff return yards, 110 punt return yards and a punt return touchdown.
The freshman’s impact has been coming in bursts, and the Wildcats have leaned into it. In the third quarter in Pullman, Fifita found Smith on three straight snaps.
A three-yard gain and then a 41-yard gain set up the 38-yard touchdown between the two. As Smith keeps flashing big-play ability, his role has grown with it.
He also delivered a huge moment against NIU, ripping off a 69-yard punt return that helped lock down Arizona’s control of that game. His speed and sudden change of direction have turned him into a real problem for opponents, whether he’s lined up on offense or waiting to strike on special teams.
With Giovanni Richardson still sidelined by injury, Smith’s timing has mattered even more. Brent Brennan pointed to both Smith’s talent and the work of wide receivers coach Bobby Wade in helping the freshman make the leap from high school to college.
“It’s been fun to see Jet start to emerge as a playmaker for us. He’s just a young player, and it’s hard to transition from high school to college, it’s a big jump, right? I think Coach (Bobby) Wade’s done a great job with Jet getting him going and being patient and helping him learn, and then you got to see some of his talent show up because now he’s playing with confidence.”
Smith now joins Fifita, who won Big 12 offensive player of the week last week, along with Ismail Mahdi (2025), Quincy Craig (2025), Dalton Johnson (2025), Genesis Smith (2024), Tyler Loop (2024), Tacario Davis (2024) and Tetairoa McMillan (2024) as Arizona players to earn Big 12 player of the week honors. The Wildcats also earned offensive line of the week last season after beating Kansas State.
Arizona returns to Tucson for its Big 12 home opener against Cincinnati. The schools met once before, when the Wildcats went to Nippert Stadium and upset the then ranked Bearcats. Cincinnati enters unbeaten and looking for revenge, setting up a second meeting that figures to carry some weight.
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Former Arizona Wildcats made their presence felt across the NFL in Week 3, with several alums turning in performances that stood out for different reasons. Tyler Loop delivered the kind of kicking moment every college program loves to claim a share of, while Genesis Smith helped the Chargers with a pair of interceptions, and veteran Nick Folk added another notable line to a long pro career as the Falcons picked up a win.
Loops latest Sunday spotlight only adds to the sense that Arizonas pipeline is still producing players who can shape games at the highest level. Smiths takeaway haul was especially eye-catching, and Folks climb on the all-time field goals list gave the week a little extra weight for former Wildcats fans tracking familiar names. There were other contributions from ex-Arizona players as well, but the biggest question now is how much of this momentum carries into Week 4. [Read more 🡒]
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For the Wildcats, the challenge is not just facing a perfect start, but dealing with a defense that has repeatedly created problems by forcing mistakes and shortening drives. Arizonas offense will have to handle the physical edge Cincinnati has shown on both sides of the ball, and the conversation around this game keeps circling back to which player or unit can tilt the field first. If the Bearcats are going to keep rolling, they look equipped to make the Wildcats earn every yard. [Read more 🡒]
Arizonas Title Hopes Rest On One Big Rebuilt Roster Question
Arizona is heading into the new season with a very different look after making its first Final Four in 25 years, and that alone has changed the conversation around what this roster can become. Only two key players are back from last season, so the Wildcats have leaned heavily on transfers, freshmen and international additions as they try to turn a rebuilt group into another contender. The recent Red-Blue Showcase offered at least a glimpse of the talent pool, and there was enough there to suggest the pieces are interesting, even if they are still sorting out how they fit.
The biggest question now is how quickly those pieces can settle into defined roles, especially with so many moving parts still in the picture. Arizona is waiting on clarity around the eligibility situation involving RJ Godfrey, while the offensive workload for Ivan Kharchenkov and freshman Caleb Holt remains a key part of the puzzle. For a team with real title hopes, the difference between being a dangerous early-season story and a legitimate March threat may come down to how soon this rebuilt roster starts answering those questions. [Read more 🡒]