Arizona starters are heavily filled by transfers and Ismail Mahdi and Michael Salgado-Medina are listed as first team on the depth chart in two positions. Texas State transfer Mahdi is listed as the first-team kickoff returner and co-first team running back and Salgado-Medina will be the kicker and punter for Arizona.
Madhi had 2,322 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns ,44 receptions for 470 yards and three TDs and 31 kickoff returns for 760 yards in two seasons at Texas State. Mahdi was an All-American as an all-purpose player in 2024 when he was first nationally with 2,169 all-purpose yards.