This year, Arizona football had the most NFL Draft selections since 2008. There are several reasons why the Wildcats’ 2025 draft class is remarkable.

When the final name was called in the 2025 NFL Draft, it wasn’t just a celebration for the young men whose professional dreams had become reality—it was a moment of triumph for the University of Arizona football program. With seven players selected, the Wildcats achieved their highest NFL Draft tally since 2008, when five Wildcats heard their names called. But this year’s class wasn’t just notable for the number of selections. It was historic because of the context, character, and competitive edge that defined it.

The 2025 draft class is a reflection of how far Arizona football has come, a shining byproduct of a rebuild that began under former head coach Jedd Fisch and continued with Brent Brennan. It is a testament to player development, smart recruiting, coaching consistency, and an undeniable culture shift in Tucson.

In 2021, Arizona was a program in shambles. The Wildcats suffered through a winless season in 2020 and won just one game the following year. The idea of producing multiple NFL Draft picks felt laughable. But Fisch laid the groundwork, and under Brennan’s guidance in 2024, the Wildcats turned potential into production.

Arizona’s 2024 season ended with a 10-3 record, a top-15 finish, and a dominant win in the Alamo Bowl. That momentum carried directly into April, where NFL teams looked to Tucson not just for raw talent, but for NFL-ready players with mental toughness and high football IQs.

Arizona’s success at the 2025 NFL Draft began at the top. Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan became the highest-drafted Wildcat since Antoine Cason in 2008, going in the first round to a receiver-needy team. McMillan was a five-star recruit who chose Arizona over blue-bloods and proved the decision wise. At 6-foot-5 with elite body control and route-running, McMillan shredded Pac-12 defenses and finished his college career with over 2,800 receiving yards.

Then came quarterback Noah Fifita, who, despite concerns about his height (5-foot-11), was selected in the third round after a stellar junior season where he threw for 3,500+ yards and 30 touchdowns. NFL teams were enamored by his leadership, accuracy, and poise under pressure. His chemistry with McMillan was a hallmark of Arizona’s offense.

Also in the mix was offensive lineman Jordan Morgan, who anchored Arizona’s line for three years and showed versatility to play either tackle or guard. Morgan’s mix of athleticism and power made him a Day 2 pick.

These three players headlined a class that also included cornerback Ephesians Prysock, edge rusher Taylor Upshaw, safety Gunner Maldonado, and running back Jonah Coleman—all of whom found NFL homes between Rounds 4 and 7.

What makes Arizona’s draft success stand out isn’t just the names, but the development arcs behind them.

Take Fifita, for instance. A lightly recruited quarterback due to his size, he was originally projected as a career backup. But Arizona gave him the tools, system, and mentorship (from both Fisch and Brennan) to thrive. His rise mirrors that of many Wildcats—players who weren’t necessarily national darlings but developed into elite college athletes.

The same goes for Maldonado and Coleman. Neither were considered elite-level recruits, yet both matured into reliable, dynamic contributors. Coleman in particular became a fan favorite with his bruising, downhill running style and his ability to break tackles. He fit the mold of a modern NFL back with his dual-threat capability.

Arizona’s coaching staff deserves immense credit for transforming raw athletes into draft-ready professionals. The 2025 draft class is the fruit of patience, player empowerment, and positional coaching that emphasized fundamentals over flash.

Another key factor: recruiting momentum. Arizona’s 2022 and 2023 classes were some of the program’s best in years, and it showed on draft day. McMillan, Prysock, and Fifita were all part of a core group that chose Arizona not for what it was, but for what it could become.

This level of buy-in and vision is rare in the age of instant transfers and NIL drama. These players believed in the program’s direction and stayed long enough to make it matter. Arizona’s ability to recruit high-character athletes who want to grow within a system is now a blueprint for other mid-tier Power Five programs.

One recurring compliment heard from NFL executives this draft season was how “pro-ready” Arizona’s top players looked on film. That’s not by accident.

Under Fisch, and later Brennan, Arizona adopted NFL-style offensive and defensive schemes that emphasized route precision, pre-snap reads, and physicality. Fifita, for instance, operated in a system that required him to go through progressions and manipulate safeties with his eyes—skills directly transferable to the pros.

Defensively, Arizona’s secondary shined in man coverage and showed strong communication in zone schemes. Prysock, a lengthy corner with great ball skills, was a natural fit for press-man heavy defenses. Maldonado’s versatility as a box safety and nickel linebacker appealed to teams looking for chess-piece defenders.

This wasn’t just a case of good players being drafted—it was a case of NFL-ready players coming from a program that intentionally mimicked Sundays on Saturdays.

Arizona football had long been saddled with the reputation of being a “soft” team with flashy skill players but no identity. That changed with the 2025 class. NFL evaluators often mentioned how tough and competitive Arizona players were—noting how many of them stayed on the field through injuries, battled in tight games, and demonstrated leadership under pressure.

Much of that stems from the culture instilled by Fisch and further enhanced by Brennan. Practices became more intense, film study more demanding, and leadership councils became central to the team’s voice. It wasn’t about one star player—it was about building a winning ecosystem.

Even after Fisch left for Washington, Brennan maintained the trajectory, showing that Arizona football wasn’t built on a gimmick or a fluke season. It was built on standards.

There’s no better advertisement for a program than sending players to the NFL. For Arizona, this draft class sends a crystal-clear message to recruits: you don’t need to be at USC or Oregon to get to the league.

Arizona can now pitch itself as a place where high school prospects and transfer portal players can come, develop, win, and reach the next level. The Wildcats may never dominate the recruiting rankings, but they now have something arguably more powerful—a proven development pipeline.

Expect the 2026 and 2027 classes to benefit from this surge in NFL attention. Arizona is no longer a stepping-stone or a pitstop—it’s a destination for future pros.

The 2025 draft class won’t be a one-year anomaly if Arizona plays its cards right. Several underclassmen are already on watch lists for next year’s draft, including tight end Keyan Burnett, linebacker Jacob Manu, and wide receiver Kevin Green Jr. There’s also growing confidence that Brennan will keep Arizona competitive in the Big 12, especially with the chaos of realignment creating new opportunities for programs like Arizona to seize national relevance.

If the Wildcats can continue to produce NFL players while staying competitive in the new-look Big 12, this could be the beginning of a true football renaissance in Tucson.

The 2025 Arizona NFL Draft class wasn’t just historic—it was a watershed moment. It showed the college football world that a program once left for dead can climb back into national relevance with the right mix of vision, patience, and execution.

From McMillan’s first-round pedigree to the gritty stories of Coleman and Maldonado, this group captured everything that’s right about college football. They weren’t born into a powerhouse—they built one.

For Arizona fans, this draft class will be remembered not just for the numbers, but for what it represents: the end of irrelevance, and the beginning of belief.