A recent change to the NCAA’s eligibility rules is likely to influence how the Arizona Wildcats use their youngest players. The NCAA Division I cabinet approved a ‘5 for 5’ policy, doing away with redshirts and making everyone eligible to play all five seasons over a 5-year period.
Impact on Arizona Football
Arizona’s online roster lists 105 players for the 2026 season, the maximum allowed under roster limits. Under the old rules, student athletes had five years to play four. The new rule means players going into their senior seasons have another year after this upcoming one.
UA coach Brent Brennan said, ‘I think it’s good. Everything got complicated with the COVID super-seniors and waivers and injuries and all that stuff. The idea of kids getting five (years) to play five (seasons) and let it rip is a good deal.’
The new rule applies to seven players on Arizona’s roster: running back Kedric Reescano, wide receiver Rodney Gallagher III, offensive lineman Isaac Perez, defensive lineman Leroy Palu, and linebackers Taye Brown, Cooper Blomstrom, and Everett Roussaw Jr.
Original reporting: Arizona Desert Swarm (Tucson Sports) — read the source article.
