The Brent Brennan era has officially hit the field, as Arizona kicked off it’s Spring Football season on Tuesday. Read what head coach Brent Brennan, along with defensive backs Tacario Davis, Dalton Johnson, Gunner Maldonado, and Treydan Stukes had to say after their first day back on the gridiron.
Brent Brennan on what the transition has been like since arriving in January:
“It’s been crazy. It’s been really, really fun, and it’s been really hectic. I’ve said it publicly a handful of times, but when I became a head coach at San Jose State in ’17, there was no transfer portal, there was no NIL, so working through that with the roster that doesn’t know you and doesn’t know most of the coaching staff, there’s been a huge emphasis on trying to get to know guys, getting to spend time with them, and be out in the weight room or be out there during the run. That’s been a real emphasis, but it’s been hectic, but it’s been special, it’s been awesome. It’s a great group of kids here, so we’re having a blast getting to know each other.”
Brennan on how Arizona’s leaders have rallied the team through the transition:
“I think that player led teams are really special and that was evident with these guys. The best teams I’ve ever been a part of were player led, and they continue to lead – at the workouts or practice today, or in the meeting room, or in the weight room. I think that part of it is really obvious and they care a lot about each other, and the leaders continue to lean into that and get the rest of the team to lean into that. If everybody will that then you can continue to elevate each other and collectively elevate the program, and I think that’s what everybody wants to do.”
Brennan on the importance getting Tacario Davis to stay in Tucson:
“It’s huge. He’s a player that really emerged last year and you got to see him kind of start to accelerate his development and I thought that was really really cool. It’s rare when you have a group of guys that’s as close as this is here, and you know in that secondary, like those guys are so close. I think being able to play the level that he wants to play at and the consistency that he wants to perform at, being in the back end with people you’ve done it with before, and that you know where they’re going to be and you trust each other is a huge part of it.”
Brennan on Arizona implementing coach to player headset and helmet communication:
“We’ll implement it this spring just so we can get used to playing with it a little bit you know, and just see what it’s like. Obviously it’s something we’ll dive into really heavy in training camp, but we’ll start messing with it in the next couple of weeks.”
Tacario Davis on his decision to return to Arizona after entering the transfer portal:
“To give the new coaches like a shot to see. Like, I don’t want to just hop in there no knowing like – it was really given them a chance, you know what I am saying? Because everybody stayed together for the team and stuff, so I just wanted to be a part of something special and then stay together and stick around and see how the coaches – give them a shot – and see what it’s about.”
Davis on the number change from 23 to 1 this offseason:
“I was tired of 23. I had to get a single digit, but I still rocked it though. Yeah, I had to just get a single digit and at first I was aiming for like three, but then one had stuck out to me though.”
Gunner Maldonado on the decision for him, Dalton Johnson, and Treydan Stukes to return to Arizona:
“It was a weird time. It was like a weird couple days when it all first happened, but you know, we all, you know, us three wanted to stay together a lot, and when you got guys like Noah and T-Mac who come up to you and say ‘let’s keep it at home’, it’s very encouraging, and that’s kind of what happened.”
Dalton Johnson on a majority of Arizona’s roster announcing they were staying during the UCLA basketball in January:
“That was great. I’ve never heard McKale that loud. Super exciting, a lot of emotions, but it definitely showed us that the whole UofA community, school, students, you know they have our back, so that felt nice.”
Treydan Stukes on the importance of Tacario Davis returning to Arizona:
“Oh, it was huge. Tacario might have had the most growth last season from the first game to the last game. He’s got all the physical tools and he’s just getting smarter and smarter as a football player and you know, it’s going to be a great help to have a dominant corner like that out there.”
Stukes on opting into EA Sports College Football 25:
“It’s kind of every boy’s dream if you play any video games to be in one. Everyone creates their player and this time I won’t have to.”