Tyler Powell’s growth and development through spring ball and fall camp in August had him primed to take on a starting role for Arizona this season. Now the Wildcats will have to wait to see that work pay off until the 2026 season. On Thursday, tight end Tyler Powell was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a leg injury, Arizona head coach Brent Brennan confirmed.
Powell suffered the season-ending leg injury on the first possession of Arizona’s dominant 40-6 win over Hawaii in the season-opener.
“We love him and we’re here to support him,” Brennan said on Thursday. “We have great people that are going to get him back to a speedy recovery.”
The redshirt junior joined Arizona as a member of the coveted 2022 recruiting class, featuring players like Tetairoa McMillan and Noah Fifita. After appearing in 11 games on special teams in 2023, Powell appeared in all 12 games in 2024, making two starts. In his third season in Tucson, Powell hauled in five receptions for 40 yards, including three receptions against Northern Arizona.
With Powell sidelined indefinitely, Arizona’s starting tight end is redshirt senior Sam Olson, who hauled in the Wildcats’ lone passing touchdown last week. Per Brent Brennan, “there’s a chance” senior tight end Keyan Burnett, who is recovering from an ankle injury suffered in training camp, could play this weekend against Weber State. The Wildcats will also likely rely more heavily on Mercyhurst transfer tight end Cameron Barmore.
[…] lineman Ise Matautia, seeing limited snaps this season. Tight end Tyler Powell, who suffered a season-ending leg injury on the first offensive play of the season for Arizona, is also […]