Former Ohio State Football captain and NFL running back Scottie Graham joined Jedd Fisch's coaching staff as running backs coach on January 4, 2021. He enters his third season with the Wildcats in 2023.
In 2022, the Wildcats saw three different running backs rush for over 60 attempts including senior Michael Wiley gaining a career-high 771 yards on a career-high 113 attempts for a team-leading eight rushing touchdowns (Career best). Arizona tailbacks did not fumble during 263 total carries. It marked the first time since 2015 that an Arizona tailback did not fumble.
The Wildcats also rushed for the most yards in a game in the Territorial Cup victory (280 yds) since a 312-yard performance against Texas Tech in 2019, encapsulating a span of 48 games. Wiley rushed for 214 yards and three touchdowns marking the second-most rushing yards in Territorial Cup history, behind only Trung Canidate who gained 288 yards on the ground against ASU on Nov. 27, 1998. He also tied for the most rushing touchdowns in Territorial Cup history with three. (Canidate in 1998, Wilson in 2014, and Grand in 2016)
Following the 2022 season, Arizona had seven players selected to All-Pac-12 Performance awards with six named Honorable Mention including running back Michael Wiley. Wiley's 2022 season was fourth in Arizona history in rushing yards per attempt (6.8) and he rushed for the 15th most total yards in a single season in program history. His eight rushing touchdowns tied for the 12th most in a single season in Arizona football history. Wiley averaged 70.1 yards per game which was 14th in a single-season in program history.
Five back earned 60+ attempts during Graham's first season leading the unit in 2021, highlighted by Drake Anderson's team-best 384 yards on 87 carries. Michael Wiley was also a major contributor under Graham's tutelage, going for two scores and 302 yards on 91 totes. It was Wiley's 10-yard scoring scamper against Cal that secured the Wildcats first victory of the Jedd Fisch era.
Graham played a key role in building Arizona's 2022 signing class that ranked second in the Pac-12 (22nd nationally) and included the first five-star signee in program history.
In addition to a decorated playing career, Graham has extensive player development experience at the collegiate and NFL levels as Senior Associate A.D. for Student-Athlete Development and Welfare at Arizona State as well as key leadership positions with the NFL Players Association. He has spent the last six years at Arizona State as the lead administrator for student-athlete development and welfare while also supporting the academic and operational missions of a variety of Sun Devil programs.
Prior to his arrival in Tempe, Graham spent 15 years with the NFLPA, six with the NFL Players Inc and nine with the NFL Players' Union. His tenure with the league began in 1998 as Regional Director before advancing to Director of Player Engagement in 2010. Graham's duties and accomplishments with the Player's Association reached across the organization. He worked with current and former players, as well as key stakeholders, on a wide range of matters, including multimedia rights, marketing, licensing and sponsorships among others. The two-time Ohio State graduate also played a pivotal role in the ratification of the NFL's $47.1 billion Collective Bargaining Agreement in 2006 while enhancing player benefits and raising money for Native Vision Life Skills Camp charity for Native American children in the Southwest.
Graham assisted in the organization and management of prominent events, which included the NFL Draft Combine, Rookie Symposium, Board of Player Representative Meetings and Former Players Convention among others.
With a NFL career of six seasons, Graham made his rookie debut with the New York Jets during the 1992 season before spending four years with the Minnesota Vikings. The running back broke a Vikings' record for rushing yards in consecutive games with 166 yards versus the Kansas City before rushing for 139 against the Packers in 1993. Graham rushed for 1,267 yards in the NFL without recording a fumble in his six seasons and received the Ed Block Courage Award in 1996.
The Long Beach, New York native was a high school All-American in football, wrestling and lacrosse before becoming a three-year starter at running back for Ohio State. Voted a captain in his senior season, Graham ran for 1,768 yards and 19 touchdowns for the Buckeyes from 1988 to 1991.
Graham holds a pair of degrees from Ohio State, graduated with a Bachelor's in Education and Sport Leadership in 1991 before earning his Master's degree in Black Studies in 1996. He and his wife, Mary, have two children, Dennis and Marika.
