TUCSON, Ariz. — Following a 9-3 regular season and a bowl berth, 14 Arizona Football standouts were honored with Big 12 All-Conference selections, the conference announced on Thursday.

Headlining the haul of honors are QB Noah Fifita, DB Dalton Johnson, and DB Treydan Stukes, who all picked up First Team recognitions. Arizona's three First Team selections marks the program's most since the 2008 squad tallied four First Team All-Pac-10 honorees. This marks the first career First Team selection for all three players, and the second career all-conference nod for Johnson (2nd Team 2024) and Stukes (HM 2023). Fifita is the third quarterback in program history to earn First Team All-Conference recognition and the first since Bruce Hill earned First Team All-WAC honors in 1975.

Earning spots on the All-Big 12 Third Team were WR Kris Hutson, LB Taye Brown, DB Jay'Vion Cole, and DB Genesis Smith. The Wildcats all-conference picks are rounded out by RB Ismail Mahdi, WR Javin Whatley, WR Tre Spivey, OL Ty Buchanan, LB Max Harris, DL Deshawn McKnight, and DL Tiaoalii Savea all earning Honorable Mention.

Additionally, four Wildcats earned Honorable Mention status among the Big 12 Football Awards, indicating the player earned multiple votes for the honor: Fifita (Offensive Player of the Year), Johnson (Defensive Player of the Year), Cole (Defensive Newcomer of the Year), and DL Mays Pese (Defensive Freshman of the Year).
 

Arizona's 2025 Big 12 All-Conference Selections

• First Team
  • QB Noah Fifita
  • DB Dalton Johnson
  • DB Treydan Stukes
• Third Team
  • WR Kris Hutson
  • LB Taye Brown
  • DB Jay'Vion Cole
  • DB Genesis Smith
• Honorable Mention
  • RB Ismail Mahdi
  • WR Javin Whatley
  • WR Tre Spivey
  • OL Ty Buchanan
  • LB Max Harris
  • DL Deshawn McKnight
  • DL Tiaoalii Savea

First Team

Fifita, a redshirt junior, ranks among the top four passers in the Big 12 in passing touchdowns, yards (2,963), completions (247), and passing efficiency (148.1) and used his 26 touchdown passes this season to set the Wildcats all-time career record. The third-year starter has been a steady force for the Wildcats revamped offense and now stands as the only player in program history to serve as the primary quarterback for two nine-win teams. Under the guidance of Fifita and offensive coordinator Seth Doege, the Wildcats have averaged scoring 32.6 points per game, a mark that ranks 33rd in the nation, an 81-spot climb from their 114th ranking in the category last season. Fifita earned two Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year awards this season.

Johnson, in his fifth year with the Wildcats, currently leads the team and ranks seventh in the Big 12 with a career high 97 total tackles on the year. He is also tied for second in the conference with four interceptions to go along with his eight pass breakups and two tackles for loss. One of Arizona's leaders in the secondary, Johnson has helped steer one of the most dramatic defensive turnarounds in the nation; the Wildcats enter bowl season having held eight consecutive teams to fewer than 200 passing yards, the longest active streak in the FBS and the longest by a Big 12 program since 2004. Johnson and the Arizona secondary rank fourth in the nation in passing yards allowed, first in pass efficiency defense, and fourth in interceptions.

Stukes, a sixth-year senior, is third on the team with six pass breakups despite playing in just 10 games this season. The Arizona native is another leader in the Wildcats secondary that has excelled all season and established themselves as one of the most formidable pass defenses in the nation. Stukes' 52 tackles are fifth on the team and just three shy of his career high from 2023. Through 10 games this year he has tallied four interceptions, including an acrobatic pick in a crucial moment of the Territorial Cup that helped turn the tide for Arizona to earn their second straight road victory in the rivalry series. Stukes is tied for sixth in the conference with 10 passes defended, just one behind his fellow first team honoree and teammate Dalton Johnson.

Third Team

Hutson led the Arizona receiving corps in both receptions (57) and yards (740) while adding four touchdowns; over the final three weeks of the regular season he connected with Fifita for 351 yards through the air. Brown blew away his previous career high with 84 tackles this season, the second most on the team; he also stacked up 8.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery, and one forced fumble. Cole impressed across 10 games in his first season with Arizona, logging four interceptions, three pass breakups, 23 tackles, three tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. Smith was a force from his position in the secondary with 77 tackles, eight pass breakups, one interception, three tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles.

Honorable Mention

Mahdi made an immediate impact for Arizona as a transfer, rushing for a team-leading 791 yards on 123 attempts with four touchdowns; his efforts in the Wildcats win over Kansas State earned him Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors. Whatley finished the regular season second on the team with 38 receptions and 443 yards and four touchdowns. Spivey was a touchdown machine for the Wildcats, finding the end zone seven times on 21 receptions and two rushes; he had 21 catches for 359 yards. Buchanan was a force on the offensive line for Arizona, starting every game at left tackle and posting a season-long PFF grade of 71.7; across 426 pass blocking snaps he allowed just three sacks and QB hits. Harris registered 75 tackles, 3.5 TFL, five quarterback hurries, and one forced fumble. McKnight caused problems for opponents in the trenches all season and finished the regular season with 26 tackles, two sacks, and a team-leading 11 TFL. Savea returned to Tucson and made his presence known in nine games, tallying 30 tackles, 3.0 TFL, and two quarterback hurries.

The Wildcats are back in action during bowl season in the coming weeks; they will learn their bowl destination and opponent this Sunday, Dec. 7. Arizona is seeking a 10th win for just the fifth time in program history.