Following spring camp, Arizona had a couple of positions it wanted to add some depth to, including offensive line and tight end. But there was one position the Wildcats were in dire need of…long snapper. Since Monday, Arizona Football has added two long snappers to the roster, prep long snapper Broden Molen and Avery Salerno from HBCU Jackson State.
The 6-foot-0, 215-pound Molen is a native of Great Falls, Montana and preps for Great Falls High School. 247Sports.com rates him as a two-star prospect, while specialist camps Rubio Long Snapping, Kohl’s Kicking, and Hammer Kicking Academy all rate Molen as a five-star prospect. He was also one of just two long snappers selected to the 2025 Navy All-American Bowl. It will be the second year in a row Arizona could rely upon a true-freshman on special teams, after Michael Salgado-Medina served as the team’s primary punter in 2024.
Avery Salerno is transferring to Arizona after spending the last two seasons at HBCU Jackson State. The 6-foot-0, 220-pound Clemmons, North Carolina native appeared in 24 games during his career as a Tiger, which included a 13-game season capped off by an HBCU national championship in 2024. Following the last season, Salerno garnered All-SWAC First Team and All-HBCU honors from the NCAA. As a grad transfer, he will have 1-2 years of eligibility remaining.
Long snapper became a position of need after Justin Holloway exhausted his eligibility following last season, and Trey Naughton announced at the conclusion of spring camp he is medically retiring from football due to a back injury. Arizona has since remedied its concerns, adding two long snappers Broden Molen and Avery Salerno, in as many days.