Arizona’s special teams room just got a little more crowded - and a little more competitive.
The Wildcats have added former Louisville punter Carter Schwartz to the roster, giving Arizona another experienced leg with two years of eligibility remaining. Schwartz steps into the role previously expected to go to former Washington State punter and kicker Ryan Harris, who was unable to secure a waiver to play in 2026.
At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, Schwartz brings both size and experience to the position. A Louisville native and Trinity High School product, he spent the last two seasons with the Cardinals, where he averaged 41.1 yards per punt.
His career long? A booming 61-yarder.
He also showed solid control, pinning 11 punts inside the 20-yard line - a stat that speaks to his ability to flip the field and help his defense.
Schwartz is the fourth new face on Arizona’s special teams unit this offseason, joining long snapper Drew Nicolson, West Virginia punter signee Chase Ridley, and freshman kicker Ian French. It’s clear the Wildcats are retooling their third phase - and they’re not just adding bodies; they’re adding competition and depth.
That depth will be crucial, especially considering the kicking situation. Junior kicker Michael Salgado-Medina is back after a rollercoaster sophomore season.
He went 19-for-31 on field goal attempts in 2025 - the most misses in a single season for an Arizona kicker since 1999. While the numbers weren’t pretty, Salgado-Medina showed flashes of elite leg strength, drilling a 57-yarder against Oklahoma State and nailing a clutch 51-yard field goal against Cincinnati.
Those are the kind of kicks that win games - if he can find consistency, the Wildcats could have something special.
As it stands, Salgado-Medina and French are expected to handle the placekicking duties, while Schwartz and Ridley will battle it out at punter. Nicolson and returning long snapper Broden Molen will anchor the snapping responsibilities.
And this is all happening amid a flurry of roster movement for Arizona. The Wildcats have seen 21 players exit via the transfer portal, including key contributors like tight end Keyan Burnett (now at UNLV), quarterback Braedyn Locke (Tarleton State), and offensive lineman Michael Wooten (South Florida). But they’ve been just as active on the incoming front, bringing in 22 new players from across the country.
That incoming group includes some intriguing names: Daylen Austin, a defensive back from Oregon; Malcolm Hartzog, a safety from Nebraska; and DJ Jordan, a wide receiver from USC. The Wildcats also added reinforcements in the trenches with offensive linemen Jake Griffin (BYU) and Zachary Henning (Washington), plus tight end Cole Rusk (Illinois).
But it’s the special teams overhaul that stands out. Arizona is clearly placing a premium on field position and kicking reliability - two areas that can swing close games and often get overlooked until they’re the difference between a win and a loss.
With Schwartz now in the fold and a deeper, more competitive special teams unit taking shape, the Wildcats are setting the stage for a cleaner, more consistent performance in 2026. And if that consistency shows up when it matters most - on fourth downs, kickoffs, and game-winning field goal attempts - it could make all the difference in what’s shaping up to be a pivotal season in Tucson.