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Not only did the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ have four players taken in the NFL Draft last April, their most since 2008, but also former Salpointe Catholic safety Lathan Ransom went in the fourth round after helping Ohio State win the CFP title.

All five players are expected to play standout or at least contributing roles this season. That ranges from Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who figures to be Carolina’s top receiving target, all the way to seventh-round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who is drawing intrigue with Washington after missing nearly all of last season at ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥.

In all, 15 players from UA and/or Tucson are listed on NFL rosters or practice squads entering the season, and 16 if you include special teams ace Brenden Schooler, who was at UA for a hot minute during the COVID summer of 2020.

Here’s a rundown:

Gary Brightwell, RB,

Cincinnati Bengals

Tucson tie: Played four seasons at UA through 2020

Drafted: Sixth round, New York Giants, 2021

What’s new: After playing three seasons with the New York Giants, appearing in all 17 games in 2022, Brightwell was cut in the 2024 preseason by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He spent last season bouncing between regular and practice-squad rosters with Cleveland and Cincinnati. Although the Bengals cut him last month, they re-signed him to their practice squad.

Jacob Cowing, WR,

San Francisco 49ers

Tucson ties: Cowing played for UA in 2022 and 2023 after spending three seasons at UTEP

Draft: Fourth round, San Francisco, 2024

What’s new: Cowing will start the season on the 49ers’ injured reserve list after suffering hamstring issues for the second straight training camp. He spent most of last season as a punt returner, averaging 8.8 yards on 28 returns.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders

Tucson tie: Played last season at UA after spending 2023 with New Mexico

Draft: Seventh round, Commanders, 2025

What’s new: Crosky-Merritt is something of a mystery, having played only in one game for the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ because of eligibility issues last season and suffering a shoulder injury during a preseason game against the Patriots. But he made the Commanders’ roster after a strong training camp and will start the season as Washington’s fourth-string running back.

Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, LB, New York Giants

Tucson tie: Played two seasons at Tucson High, graduated from Mountain View High and then played for ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ between 2015-18

Draft: Undrafted in 2019

What’s new: After making the 49ers’ roster as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and spending five seasons with San Francisco, playing often on special teams, Flannigan-Fowles was released in the offseason and signed with the Giants. He is expected to play both special teams and inside linebacker this season.

Nick Folk, K, New York Jets

Tucson tie: Spent the 2003-06 seasons at ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥, where he kicked and punted during his final two seasons

Draft: Sixth round, Dallas, 2007

What’s new: Having also kicked for Dallas, Tampa, New England and Tennessee, Folk returns to where he spent seven seasons earlier in his career. Still in top form at age 40, Folk hit all three field goals and both his PAT tries in the preseason.

Tyler Loop, K, Baltimore Ravens

Tucson tie: Played for ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ between 2020-24

Draft: Sixth round, Baltimore, 2025

What’s new: After the Ravens released star kicker Justin Tucker, who was suspended in June for 10 weeks after the NFL found he violated its personal conduct policy, Loop gave the franchise reason for a sigh of relief: He hit 9 of 11 field goals, making five 50-plus yard kicks, and hit all eight PATs he tried.

Roy Lopez, DT, Detroit Lions

Tucson tie: Played five games for the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ in 2020 after spending four seasons at New Mexico State

Draft: Sixth round, Houston, 2021

What’s new: After starting 16 games for the Cardinals last season, Lopez signed a one-year, $4.65 million contract with the Lions. He’s started 50 games over his four seasons, which include two with the Texans and two with the Cardinals.

Tanner McLachlan, TE, Cincinnati Bengals

Tucson tie: The Alberta native transferred from Southern Utah to play for ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ in 2022 and 2023

Draft: Sixth round, Bengals, 2024

What’s new: After playing two games for the Bengals last season, McLaughlan will start the season on injured reserve after he was waived with an injury designation.

Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers

Tucson tie: Spent the 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons with ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥

Draft: First round (8th overall), Carolina, 2025

What’s new: After Carolina traded away veteran Adam Thielen and put Jalen Coker on injured reserve, McMillan will likely be the Panthers’ top receiving target. Highly drafted wide receivers usually don’t miss, and the Panthers can’t afford McMillan to.

Jordan Morgan, OL, Green Bay Packers

Tucson tie: The Tucson native played for Cholla and Marana high schools, then spent five seasons (2019 to 2023) with ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥

Draft: First round (25th overall), Green Bay, 2024

What’s new: After playing left tackle at ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥, Morgan struggled when asked to play guard last season, and also suffered a shoulder injury that ended his season in November. But the Packers moved Morgan to left tackle, where he had an impressive preseason even as he remains second on the depth chart behind Rasheed Walker.

Lathan Ransom, DB, Panthers

Tucson tie: Played for Salpointe Catholic

Draft: Fourth round, Panthers, 2025

What’s new: After playing five seasons at Ohio State and winning a national championship with the Buckeyes last season, Ransom was installed as a second-string safety in Carolina, valued for his physical and creative playing style.

Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

Tucson tie: Played at Salpointe Catholic

Draft: First round (8th overall), Falcons, 2023

What’s new: The former Texas star might push to become the league’s top rusher before long. Already, he was a finalist for Rookie of the Year in 2023 and a Pro Bowler last season.

Christian Roland-Wallace, DB, Kansas City Chiefs

Tucson tie: Spent four seasons with the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ (2019-22) before heading to USC in 2023

Draft: Undrafted in 2024

What’s new: Hardly your average “UDFA� (undrafted free agent), Roland-Wallace played in all 17 of the Chiefs’ games last season, including the Super Bowl. He’s listed as a backup safety this season but hinted at more production when he had a fumble recovery and interception in a preseason game against the Cardinals.

Jonah Savaiinaea, OL, Miami Dolphins

Tucson tie: Played for ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ in 2022, 2023 and 2024

Draft: Second round, Dolphins, 2025

What’s new: Impressing the Dolphins with his maturity and work ethic as a rookie, Savaiinaea was installed as the starting left guard on Miami’s opening depth chart.

Brenden Schooler, DB, New England Patriots

Tucson tie: Spent the 2020 offseason in Tucson, transferring from Oregon but then deciding to play that fall at Texas after the Pac-12 postponed and ultimately delayed the 2020 season.

Draft: Undrafted in 2022

What’s new: Developing into one of the NFL’s top special teams players, Schooler became an all-pro pick last season.

Levi Wallace, DB, Denver Broncos

Tucson tie: Born in Tucson and played at Tucson High

Draft: Undrafted in 2018

What’s new: After playing seven NFL seasons, the last with Denver, Wallace signed a free-agent deal with Jacksonville for this season. But he was placed on injured reserve, then released with an injury settlement that will allow him to sign elsewhere upon recovery.