For the first time ever, the last two NFL Drafts featured Tucson natives selected in the first round in back-to-back classes: running back Bijan Robinson in 2023 and offensive lineman Jordan Morgan in 2024.Â
Although two Old Pueblo natives left the college football realm in style, there are still plenty of Tucson products to keep tabs on this season.Â
Here’s a rundown of Tucsonans playing at the FBS level this season:
Coben Bourguet, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ State
High School:Â Salpointe Catholic
Position:Â Wide receiver
Year: Redshirt freshman
Rundown: The younger brother of Trenton Bourguet enters his fourth season as a walk-on wide receiver for the Sun Devils and competes with ASU’s scout team. Bourguet recently graduated from ASU's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering with a 4.1 GPA.Â
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ASU quarterback and Marana High School grad Trenton Bourguet, left, speaks with coach Kenny Dillingham during the second half of the team’s win over UCLA in November.
Trenton Bourguet, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ State
High School:Ìý²Ñ²¹°ù²¹²Ô²¹
Position:Ìý²Ï³Ü²¹°ù³Ù±ð°ù²ú²¹³¦°ì
Year:Â Redshirt senior
Rundown: The all-time Marana passing yards leader took over for Florida transfer Emory Jones at quarterback midway through the 2022 season, then became a mainstay. In the Territorial Cup finale in ’22, Bourguet became the first Tucson native to start at quarterback for either team in the in-state rivalry. Since then, Bourguet has struggled to secure the starting spot under head coach Kenny Dillingham. Bourguet is third on ASU's depth chart behind new starter Sam Leavitt, a Michigan State transfer, and Nebraska transfer Jeff Sims. Â
Western Michigan quarterback Treyson Bourguet celebrates after throwing a 64-yard touchdown pass during the first half of his team’s matchup at Iowa on Sept. 16, 2023. Bourguet transferred to BYU last offseason.
Treyson Bourguet, BYU
High School:Â Salpointe Catholic
Position:Ìý²Ï³Ü²¹°ù³Ù±ð°ù²ú²¹³¦°ì
Year:Â Redshirt sophomore
Rundown: Since Bourguet played in four games as a true freshman in 2022, he preserved his redshirt season at Western Michigan. In those four contests, Bourguet completed 54 of 109 passes for 601 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. As a sophomore at WMU, he passed for 713 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Bourguet transferred to BYU in the spring and will play behind quarterbacks Jake Retzlaff and Gerry Bohanon, who are competing for the starting role.Â
David Cordero, Hawaii
High School:Â Salpointe Catholic
Position:Â Running back
Year:Ìý´³³Ü²Ô¾±´Ç°ù
¸é³Ü²Ô»å´Ç·É²Ô:ÌýCordero was the third-best rusher for the Rainbow Warriors last season with 138 rushing yards and had a 36-yard run against Colorado State.Â
Salpointe’s Luis Cordova (72) celebrates with Jaxson Banhie (5) after a touchdown during the Lancers' win over Valley Vista High School at Salpointe Catholic High School, 1545 E. Copper Street, Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 15, 2023.
Luis Cordova, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ State
High School:Â Salpointe Catholic
Position:Â Offensive lineman
Year:Ìý¹ó°ù±ð²õ³ó³¾²¹²Ô
¸é³Ü²Ô»å´Ç·É²Ô:ÌýThe 6-3, 320-pound Cordova signed with the Sun Devils after leading the Lancers to the semifinals of the Class 6A state playoffs.Â
Jack Endean, Oklahoma State
High School:Â Tanque Verde
Position:Â Offensive tackle
Year:Â Redshirt freshman
Rundown: The 6-5, 310-pound redshirt freshman signed with the Cowboys last year after playing his high school career at Tanque Verde under former ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Wildcat Jay Dobyns, after spending his underclassmen years at Salpointe. Endean’s offensive line coach, Charlie Dickey, was a Larry Smith-era offensive lineman who later coached offensive line under Dick Tomey at the UA.
Valley Vista’s Damir Ilicic (15) releases the ball as Salpointe’s Keona Davis (50) goes in for the tackle during a matchup at Salpointe Catholic High School on Sept. 15, 2023
Keona Davis, Nebraska
High School:Â Salpointe Catholic
Position:Â Offensive lineman
Year:Ìý¹ó°ù±ð²õ³ó³¾²¹²Ô
¸é³Ü²Ô»å´Ç·É²Ô:ÌýAfter he was originally committed to play for Jedd Fisch and the hometown ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥, the 6-5, 255-pound edge rusher flipped to Washington until UW head coach Kalen DeBoer, who was replaced by Fisch in Seattle, went to Alabama. Davis (known as Keona Wilhite during his high school career) signed with Nebraska after recording 60 tackles and eight sacks as a senior at Salpointe.Â
Chika Ebunoha, BYU
High School:Ìý²Ñ²¹°ù²¹²Ô²¹
Position:Ìý³§²¹´Ú±ð³Ù²â
Year:Â Redshirt sophomore
¸é³Ü²Ô»å´Ç·É²Ô:ÌýThe two-way star for the Tigers had 28 receptions for 481 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior while logging 34 tackles, three stops for loss, two passes defended, a forced fumble and a sack.Â
UCLA defensive lineman Gabriel Murphy (11) and offensive lineman Bruno Fina (75) warm up before a game against Oregon State Oct. 14, 2023, in Corvallis, Oregon.
Bruno Fina, Duke
High School:Â Salpointe Catholic
Position:Â Offensive lineman
Year:Ìý³Ò°ù²¹»å.
Rundown: The son of ex-Wildcat and NFL offensive lineman John Fina started 13 games at left tackle for UCLA last season. Fina gave up five sacks and 22 hurries in 400 pass-blocking snaps in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus. Fina's younger brother, Roman Fina, is committed to Duke's 2025 recruiting class.Â
CJ Flores, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
High School:Ìý°ä¾±±ð²Ô±ð²µ²¹
Position:Â Defensive back
Year:Â Redshirt sophomore
Rundown:Â The 5-11, 195-pound Flores joined the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ last season as a walk-on after previously starting two seasons at Cienega.
Salpointe's Dailan Goodman (25) splits Cienega's Gavin Peterson (18), left, and River Ries (8) as he bursts up the middle in their game at Cienega High School, Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 23, 2022.
Dailan Goodman, New Mexico State
High School:Â Salpointe Catholic
Position:Â Running back
Year:Â Redshirt freshman
¸é³Ü²Ô»å´Ç·É²Ô:ÌýThe 6-foot, 195-pound Goodman is entering his second season with the Aggies after rushing for 927 yards and 11 touchdowns with the Lancers.Â
Canyon del Oro’s Kayden Luke (30) steps out of the reach of Yuma Catholic’s Hunter Hancock (8) in the fourth quarter of the 4A State Football Championship game in Tempe in December 2023.
Kayden Luke, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
High School:Â Canyon del Oro
Position:Â Running back
Year:Ìý¹ó°ù±ð²õ³ó³¾²¹²Ô
¸é³Ü²Ô»å´Ç·É²Ô:ÌýThe CDO running back and linebacker led the state in rushing yards (2,302) yards and helped the Dorados to a perfect 14-0 season en route to a 4A state championship. Luke had 217 yards and two touchdowns in the state title game. Luke is also a state-champion wrestler.Â
Tucson’s Jonah Miller left the Oregon Ducks football program after one season in Eugene in 2021. He spent two seasons at Santa Rosa Junior College in Northern California, and the former four-star prospect is now at UTSA.
Jonah Miller, UTSA
High School:Â Salpointe Catholic
Position:Â Offensive tackle
Year:Â Redshirt juniorÂ
Rundown:Â After leaving Oregon in 2021, the former four-star recruit spent the last two seasons at Santa Rosa Junior College in California.Â
Tucson High's Kashawn Valencia-Crump (21) eludes a diving tackle attempt from Ironwood Ridge's Hudson Mitchell (58) during the second quarter.
Hudson Mitchell, San Diego State
High School:Â Ironwood Ridge
Position:Â Defensive line
Year:Ìý¹ó°ù±ð²õ³ó³¾²¹²Ô
Rundown:Â The 6-4, 280-pound Mitchell is playing defensive end for the Aztecs this season. He had 73 tackles and 4.5 sacks with the Nighthawks.Â
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ linebacker Tyler Mustain (51) runs forward with a hitting pad during spring football practice, Tomey Field, April 16, 2024.
Tyler Mustain, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
High School:Â Pusch Ridge Christian
Position:Ìý³¢¾±²Ô±ð²ú²¹³¦°ì±ð°ù
Year:Â Redshirt freshman
Rundown:Â The Class 3A South Defensive Player of the Year is a walk-on at ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ after logging 349 tackles, 33 stops for loss and 17 sacks during his high school career.
Trey Naughton, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
High School:Â Salpointe Catholic
Position:Â Long snapper
Year:Â Redshirt sophomore
Rundown:Â Naughton transferred from Western Kentucky in the spring and is one of two long snappers at the UA, along with Ohio transfer Justin Holloway, who will be the starter this season.Â
Chase Randall, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
High School:Â Canyon del Oro
Position:Â Defensive line
Year:Ìý´³³Ü²Ô¾±´Ç°ù
Rundown:Â The walk-on played seven games at Valparaiso in Indiana before transferring to the UA last season.Â
Ohio State safety Lathan Ransom in action during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Purdue, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in West Lafayette, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Lathan Ransom, Ohio State
High School:Â Salpointe Catholic
Position:Ìý³§²¹´Ú±ð³Ù²â
Year:Ìý³§±ð²Ô¾±´Ç°ù
Rundown:Â Ransom has made more tackles (152) than any other current Buckeye. Although Ransom has dealt with injuries, Ransom has become one of the leaders of Ohio State's defense. In addition to his 152 career tackles, Ransom also has 12 pass breakups, two interceptions and three forced fumbles. Ohio State enters the season as the No. 2-ranked team in the Associated Press Top 25. Another productive season for a team contending for a national championship could position Ransom as a high draft pick.Â
Cruz Rushing, Oregon
High School:Â Salpointe Catholic
Position:Ìý³§²¹´Ú±ð³Ù²â
Year:Â Redshirt sophomore
Rundown:Â The former Florida Gator transferred to the UA as a scholarship safety, but transferred to Oregon in the spring.Â
Salpointe Catholic’s Elijah Rushing, right, is a five-star defensive end and the top-ranked 2024 prep football player in the state of ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥.
Elijah Rushing, Oregon
High School:Â Salpointe Catholic
Position:Â Defensive end
Year:Ìý¹ó°ù±ð²õ³ó³¾²¹²Ô
¸é³Ü²Ô»å´Ç·É²Ô:ÌýOne of the highest-rated players in Tucson history signed with Oregon and spent some time with the Ducks leading up to the Fiesta Bowl win over Liberty. The 6-6, 251-pound Rushing is the only five-star recruit in Oregon's 2024 recruiting class.Â
Joey Sumlin, Purdue
High School:Â Salpointe Catholic
Position:Ìý³¢¾±²Ô±ð²ú²¹³¦°ì±ð°ù
Year:Â Redshirt freshman
Rundown:Â The son of former ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ head coach Kevin Sumlin, who is now the tight ends coach at Maryland, is entering his second season at Purdue, the older Sumlin's alma mater.Â
Kingsley Ugwu, Fresno State
High School:Ìý³§²¹³ó³Ü²¹°ù´Ç
Position:Â Offensive lineman
Year:Ìý³§±ð²Ô¾±´Ç°ù
Rundown:Â The 6-5, 295-pound former Hutchinson Community College (Kansas) standout and NJCAA champion transferred to Fresno State last year following one year at Kansas State. Played in three games at Fresno State and started the contest against New Mexico.Â
Anthony Wilhite, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
High School:Â Salpointe Catholic
Position:Â Running back
Year:Â Redshirt sophomore
¸é³Ü²Ô»å´Ç·É²Ô:ÌýWilhite rushed for 2,058 yards and 24 touchdowns in three seasons as the successor to Robinson at Salpointe. Wilhite is one of two walk-ons, along with Luke, in ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥'s crowded running backs room.Â
Canyon del Oro’s Aaron Ramirez (32), left, and Sa’Kylee Woodard (55) wait for the defensive assignments as the sun sets during the 4A State Football Championship game against Yuma Catholic on Dec. 1, 2023, in Tempe.
Sa'Kylee Woodard, New Mexico
High School:Â Canyon del Oro
Position:Â Offensive lineman
Year:Ìý¹ó°ù±ð²õ³ó³¾²¹²Ô
Rundown: Woodard, a 6-4, 296-pound guard and center, helped CDO win a 4A state championship and a perfect 14-0 record. Woodard is majoring in computer science to pursue a career in cyber security.
Contact Justin Spears, the Star's ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports
Justin Spears
Sports Reporter
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