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Arizona Taking Interesting Approach to Their Running Back Room This Year

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Arizona Taking Interesting Approach to Their Running Back Room This Year


There is a lot of anticipation surrounding Arizona’s preseason practices as they get ready to take on New Mexico for their 2024-25 season opener that ushers in a new era.

Not only are the Wildcats competing in the Big 12 for the first time, but they also have a new head coach in charge after Brent Brennan took over for the departed Jedd Fisch.

Coming off their 10-win season and victory over Oklahoma in the Valero Alamo Bowl, the hope is this group can have similar success since many of their star players stayed with the program instead of departing in the transfer portal.

Star quarterback Noah Fifita should be able to lead another high-powered offense, especially when their elite wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan returns to the practice field following the injury he suffered in the spring.

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Beyond the passing attack, though, there are some questions about how this running game might look following the departures of their three leading rushers.

On paper, it looks like the Wildcats might have actually gotten deeper at this position, bringing in New Mexico transfer Jacory Croskey-Merritt who ran for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns and San Jose State transfer Quali Conley who had 842 yards and nine scores on the ground.

Conley is familiar with the offense that Brennan wants to run, so that should help this group pick up on the concepts quicker than they otherwise would. It could give the senior an edge when it comes to being named the starter.

But it sounds like Arizona isn’t going to go with a traditional approach to their running back room.

Brian J. Pederson of Arizona Desert Swarm reports they are expected to “heavily rotate” different players across the position with the idea of potentially featuring all five of their scholarship backs in games throughout the year.

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There will certainly be competition to see if someone can earn the majority of the workload, and holdover Rayshon ‘Speedy’ Luke will try to have a good showing in camp to build upon his 153 yard and one touchdown output last season in a reserve role.

While Conley might have the edge in terms of knowing the offense and having a familiarity with the coaching staff, that isn’t stopping newcomer Croskey-Merritt from trying to win the job and pushing the room to be at their best.

“Every day we’re competing to get better. We’re competing to be one of the best running back rooms in the nation,” he said.

Brennan was able to feature a strong rushing attack during his last year at San Jose State, getting the Spartans to average 184.1 yards per contest that ranked them 31st out of all Division I teams.

Adding an explosive running game to pair with Fifita and McMillan through the air should help Arizona get off to a good start in this new era of their program.

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Person accused of making terroristic threats to medical facility in northern Arizona

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Person accused of making terroristic threats to medical facility in northern Arizona


PAGE, AZ (AZFamily) — A person accused of making terroristic threats toward a northern Arizona medical facility was arrested Friday morning.

Just after 10:30 p.m., police received a report of a person calling the facility and threatening to kill staff and Native Americans, according to the Page Police Department.

Authorities said staff placed the facility on lockdown until officers identified the suspect and arrested them outside their home.

The suspect was booked on charges of disorderly conduct, threatening and intimidating, and making terroristic threats. Police have not publicly identified the person.

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“The Page Police Department is grateful for and supports the medical staff’s decision to put the medical facility into lockdown until the suspect was arrested and the situation was rendered safe,” the department said in a Facebook post.

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Copyright 2026 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.



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NFL mock draft: 4-round projections for Arizona Cardinals

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NFL mock draft: 4-round projections for Arizona Cardinals



In these four-round projections, the Arizona Cardinals don’t get a tackle until the fourth round.

We are just days away from the 2026 NFL draft, and that means some final mock drafts. What direction will the draft take the Arizona Cardinals?

Draft Wire’s Curt Popejoy put together a four-round mock draft for the Cardinals. They go defense early but rebuild the offense for 2026 and moving forward, including landing their potential franchise quarterback.

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Cardinals 4-round mock draft

Here are the players in the first four rounds Popejoy projects for Arizona.

  • Round 1: Ohio State EDGE/LB Arvell Reese
  • Round 2: Alabama QB Ty Simpson
  • Round 3: Clemson WR Antonio Williams
  • Round 4: Florida OT Austin Barber

What we think of the picks

The Cardinals want to trade out of the third pick and draft a tackle, so not getting a tackle until Round 4 seems unlikely, although they did meet with Barber. They do have options at right tackle for 2026 already on the roster.

Reese would be a great pick if they don’t trade back, as they badly need pass-rushing help off the edge.

Drafting Simpson seems inevitable at this point, so it has to be in a mock draft, although the feeling is they will need to go up into Round 1 again to get him.

Williams has speed and is almost six feet tall, but he does have short arms.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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Detroit Lions NFL Draft Injury Report: Arizona State CB Keith Abney

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Detroit Lions NFL Draft Injury Report: Arizona State CB Keith Abney


Due to significant injuries to the CB position last year which includes a shoulder surgery for Terrion Arnold, the Lions CB position scored a 6/10 need on my Lions Defensive Draft Need Rankings. Thus, an early-round selection of a young, healthy prospect like Keith Abney would not come as a surprise. He enters the draft with very low medical concern level.

Here is the excerpt from my medical report on Keith Abney:

(Ages in parentheses are at start of 2026 season and are factored into the concern level. Injury info and ages based on available public information are unverified and subject to update. Games played data courtesy of sports-reference.com.)

Keith Abney, CB (21) – Arizona State

Projected round 2-3. #43 on Jeff Risdon board Feb 19.

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Concern level 0/10

There is an isolated report of a hand injury but no corroborating information. Even if the hand injury is true, that’s of minimal to no long-term concern.

His availability in his final two seasons has been perfect. Overall, Abney appears to be medically clean and is at an excellent age.

He finished college with 6 INT and 21 PBU.

For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a likeFollow Jimmy on X, @JimmyLiaoMD

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