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Entering his third season as ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s starter, “Fifita is everything right about college football,â€� said UA second-year head coach Brent Brennan.

“He’s a good student, he’s a great player, he’s a great person, he’s a great person in the community,� Brennan said of Fifita, who also coaches youth football players in the at the UA.

Added Brennan: “Watch him engage with fans, watch him engage with little kids from 1-year-olds to eighth-graders. He’s high-fiving guys, hugging and cheering guys on. He’s got the biggest play sheet of any coach in flag football in the country, because Noah likes to win.�

On the field, off the field, Fifita is QB1. After Fifita, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s second-string quarterback is a mystery, but the Wildcats signed three quarterbacks in the 2025 recruiting class.

Former ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ backup quarterbacks Brayden Dorman, Adam Damante and Anthony Garcia transferred following last season. Walk-ons Cole Tannenbaum and Mason Bray, son of former UA standout Heath Bray, return this season.

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ added Wisconsin transfer Braedyn Locke and freshmen Sawyer Anderson and Luke Haugo, a Gilbert native and Higley High School product; all three signed in December.

“I think the pieces we added there are going to help,� Brennan said. “There’s a mix of young and experience in the quarterback room and I think that’s good.�

Locke, a Rockwall, Texas, native, played the last two seasons at Wisconsin after starting his career at Mississippi State in 2022. Locke played for the late Mike Leach at Mississippi State, the same head coach who recruited and coached ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ offensive coordinator Seth Doege at Texas Tech. Locke transferred to Wisconsin after one season in Starkville.

In two seasons at Wisconsin, the 6-foot, 205-pound Locke completed 240 of 448 passes for 2,713 yards, 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. In a win over Purdue in 2024, Locke passed for 359 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Locke is “a veteran presence, very mature kid, extremely accurate,� Doege said.

“One thing that really jumps out to me, when you watch his Wisconsin tape, is not only did he play at a high level against high-level competition, but he’s got a natural feel for the deep ball,� Doege said. “He’s going to create some competition in the room and he’s going to make guys like Noah and the young guys better because of his presence and what he’s done throughout his career. I expect some big things from him.�

The 5-11, 177-pound Anderson was a four-year starter at Parish Episcopal High School in Dallas and completed 859 of 1,320 passes (65%) for 14,674 yards, 158 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. Anderson’s career passing yards is a Dallas-Fort Worth record — second in Texas high school football history behind former UA quarterback Grant Gunnell, who passed for 16,108 yards.

Anderson’s grandfather is former Texas Tech running back Donny Anderson, a two-time Super Bowl winner with the Green Bay Packers. Anderson helped the Packers win the first-ever Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. In collaboration with Grambling State’s marching band, the Pride of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ performed at the first Super Bowl halftime show.

Before signing with ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Anderson was committed to the Purdue Boilermakers for over a year and was recruited by former Purdue offensive coordinator Graham Harrell, Doege’s mentor. Anderson also garnered scholarship offers from Colorado, Miami, Mississippi State, North Carolina, SMU, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ State, Ole Miss and Missouri, among other schools.

The wildly productive Anderson “has a very young look,� Brennan said.

“He looks like he’s 15 and you’re like, ‘Wow, this guy threw for 14,000 yards?’� Brennan said. “He’s just a baller. The stuff he does, he throws on the move and he escapes and makes play with his feet, but is also able to make every throw. ... We’re excited about Sawyer. It’s going to be fun to watch that position compete and develop and improve as we go.�

The additions of Anderson and Locke “fit exactly what I’m looking for in that room,� Doege said.

“They’re both natural throwers, spin the ball really tight, throw catchable balls and they both want to be here and are excited to be here,� Doege said. “They’re going to create competition in that room and we’re excited to have them.�

Extra points

– Several ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ football players are holding an autograph session before the UA-Texas Tech men’s basketball game on Saturday. The autograph session is part of a pregame tailgate party hosted by Dusk Music Festival, which begins at 5 p.m. at McKale Center’s Gate D concourse. The event is free for fans attending the basketball game.

– The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its inductees Thursday night: tight end Antonio Gates, wide receiver Sterling Sharpe, cornerback Eric Allen and defensive end Jared Allen. Former UA linebackers Tedy Bruschi and Lance Briggs were on the ballot for the fourth straight year. Former ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ tight end and four-time Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski won’t be eligible until 2027.