Arizona is getting a late boost before Saturday’s Big 12 showdown with No. 15 BYU, and it comes in the form of three players now officially on the roster.
Running back Ismail Mahdi, linebacker Max Harris and punter Sullivan Moon were added after a Pima County judge granted them a temporary restraining order against the NCAA. The three had been part of a lawsuit seeking a fifth year of eligibility, and with the TRO in place, Arizona moved them onto the official roster. Mahdi and Harris are set to travel to Provo and are expected to play against the Cougars.
“The Arizona football program announced Friday that linebacker Max Harris, running back Ismail Mahdi and kicker Sullivan Moon have been cleared for competition,” Arizona said in a statement. “Harris and Mahdi will travel with the team to Saturday's game against BYU.”
The additions matter most for Mahdi and Harris. Mahdi led Arizona in rushing last season with 859 yards and five touchdowns, while Harris finished as the Wildcats’ third-leading tackler and added 3.5 tackles for loss.
In the opener against Northern Arizona, Arizona leaned on senior back Kedrick Reescano, who handled the primary work in the backfield. Reescano, coming off a team-high nine rushing touchdowns last fall, ran 10 times for 48 yards and two scores in the win over the Lumberjacks.
Harris gives Arizona another body at linebacker, where Cooper Blomstrom and Chase Kennedy lined up with star Tae Brown in the opener. The exact role for Harris against BYU isn’t clear yet, but at minimum, he gives the Wildcats more depth in the middle of the defense.
The timing is big for Arizona, which heads into a tough conference test against one of the Big 12 title favorites. The Wildcats have dropped five straight to BYU, including last year’s 33-27 overtime loss.
Mahdi could be a useful complement to Reescano, who brings more of a downhill, short-yardage style. Harris, listed at 5-foot-8 and 185 pounds, offers a different look with more agility and some ability to help as a receiver.
In last year’s meeting with BYU, Reescano handled the heavier load and led Arizona with 13 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown. Mahdi had seven carries for 21 yards, while Harris made seven tackles on defense.
A win on Saturday would do more than just end the losing streak against BYU. It would also set Arizona up well for the early part of the 2026 season, with five winnable games following this one before a late stretch that includes Texas Tech, Utah, Kansas State and Arizona State.
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The appeal for BYU is more than just landing another local name. Leishman is expected to move to linebacker once he gets to campus, a switch that speaks to how the staff sees his frame and long-term fit in the program. For a Cougars recruiting push that has made local talent a clear priority, this is the kind of multi-sport, multi-position piece that can quietly matter a lot down the line. [Read more 🡒]