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Four Arizona football players named ESPN top 100 for 2024 season

Arizona is represented well on the ESPN "CFB Rank 2024: Ranking the top 100 players before the season."

By Alan Rubenstein

Sep 24, 2022; Berkeley, California, USA; Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) celebrates with quarterback Jayden de Laura (7) after catching a touchdown pass against the California Golden Bears during the second quarter at FTX Field at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2022; Berkeley, California, USA; Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) celebrates with quarterback Jayden de Laura (7) after catching a touchdown pass against the California Golden Bears during the second quarter at FTX Field at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports / Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
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Cornerback Tacario Davis, offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea, quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan were all named in the "CFB Rank 2024: Ranking the top 100 players before the season" by ESPN on Thursday.

Davis is ranked 94th, Savaiinaea 85th, Fifita 51st and McMillan 13th among the top ESPN Top 100 2024 players. Davis, Fifita, McMillian and Savaiinae all earned preseason All-Big XII. McMillan was named an ESPN All-American on Wednesday. ESPN summarized every top 100 player.

The summary for Davis mentions him as a potential 2025 NFL First Round pick, his breakout 2023 season, Arizona finishing 11th nationally last year and that Davis was second-team Associated Press All-Pac 12 and honorable mention all-conference by conference beat writers.

Davis is an extremely tall CB at 6'4. Davis had 25 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 interception and led the Pac-12 with 16 pass breakups. After initially entered the transfer portal Davis chose to return to Arizona. Retaining Davis for 2024 was huge for new Arizona head coach Brent Brennan.

Savaiinaea was praised by ESPN as one of the best OL from the day he walked onto campus at Arizona following his high school career at St. Louis in Hawaii. Savaiinae has started all 25 games during his Arizona career. ESPN praised Savaiinaea as a dominant force as a run and pass blocker.

Savaiinaea has helped Arizona go from one win in 2021 to 10 victories in 2023. ESPN listed Savaiinaea as allowing two sacks in 889 snaps in 2023. Savaiinaea will be a critical OL for Arizona in 2024 protecting Fifita and allowing him to get the ball to McMillan and the other playmakers.

ESPN credited Fifita as having one of the best seasons in Arizona history despite beginning 2023 second on the depth chart. After losing his first two starts, Fifita led Arizona to seven straight wins to end the 2023 season. ESPN projected Fifita would have received Heisman Trophy votes if he began the 2023 season as the starting QB.

ESPN observed that McMillan is a likely first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. McMillan is a strong candidate to win the Biletnikoff Award per ESPN after his incredible 2023 season in their words. ESPN projects McMillan to be more essential in the Arizona offense in 2023 with the departure of Jacob Cowing at WR.

Next. Tetairoa McMillan named to ESPN's 2024 preseason All-America team. Tetairoa McMillan named to ESPN's 2024 preseason All-America team. dark

The downside with Cowing now in the NFL per ESPN is that McMillan will face more double teams than in the past. Even with constant double teams, McMillan is poised for a huge year. McMillan should contend to be an All-American in 2024. Could McMillan end his career as the best Arizona player ever?

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