A History of Arizona Wildcats Football Running Backs
The Arizona Wildcats football program has a rich history, particularly known for its defensive prowess, highlighted by the legendary "Desert Swarm" defense. However, a strong running game has often complemented this defensive strength. Throughout the program's history, several outstanding running backs have left their mark, contributing significantly to the team's success. This article delves into the history of Arizona Wildcats football running backs, highlighting key players, coaches, and moments.
The "Desert Swarm" Era and the Importance of a Ground Game
Arizona has been mainly known as a defensive program throughout its history with the ‘Desert Swarm’ defense leaving not only a lasting legacy at UA but in college football history as arguably the greatest run stopping unit of all-time allowing 30.1 yards per game on the ground, which is a mark that hasn’t been reached since the Wildcats achieved it during the 1993 season. However when you have a great defense a solid ground game is needed to help wear down opponents and keep your star-studded unit off the field.
Top Running Backs in Arizona Wildcats History
Throughout time, Arizona has had monsters at the running back position making it one of the deepest units in the program’s history. Here's a look at some of the most impactful running backs to wear the Arizona jersey:
5. Mike Bell (2002-05)
In the early 2000’s there wasn’t a lot to celebrate for Arizona football and you could argue that it was the darkest era in the history of the program was the firing of Dick Tomey, the John Mackovic disaster and Mike Stoops trying to build a program from the ground up. However, one of the bright spots of that era was running back Mike Bell, who became a steady force in the backfield for an offense that seemed lost in the desert at times. Bell never eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark but put up 900-plus yards 3-straight seasons. By the end of his Arizona career, Bell rushed for 3,154 yards, which puts him fifth all-time. And did this averaging 4.6 yards per carry while finding the end zone 18 times in his four-year career.
4. Nick Wilson (2014-17)
Perhaps the most successful freshman season for a running back goes to Nick Wilson, who totaled 1,375 rushing yards while scoring 17 touchdowns as the featured back for a Rich Rodriguez offensive unit. That season, Wilson was a critical piece in UA’s 10-4 season where the team won the Pac-12 South and finished the year in the Fiesta Bowl. Unfortunately, Wilson’s career was plagued with injuries and he would never reach the 1,000-plus yard mark again. Still, Wilson finished with 3,038 rushing yards, which is best for seventh in program history. The impressive part of his career is that he found the end zone 34 times best for second-most among running backs in UA history.
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3. Ontiwaun Carter (1991-94)
When people talk about Arizona running backs the name Ontiwaun Carter just doesn’t come up as much as other names. However, when you look at Carter’s career, he is up there with anyone in the history of the program. Every single season, Carter improved his rushing yard totals and by the time his senior season rolled around he rushed for a career-high 1,163 yards that year while being the No. 1 option on the roster. Carter is third all-time in rushing yards with 3,345 yards on754 carries and found the end zone 23 times in his career. Plus, the man stayed on the field playing in 42 games for the Wildcats.
2. Trung Canidate (1996-99)
Originally listed as a receiver, running back Trung Canidate didn’t see the backfield during his freshman season and only played in eight games his sophomore year where he made the switch to the RB spot. In those years, he rushed for 804 yards and scored four touchdowns. After that, everything opened up for Canidate and he never looked back as he went on to become the program’s all-time leading rusher with 3,626 yards while averaging 6.5 yards per carry. At the time, Arizona wasn’t known for being an offensive school and Tomey’s system left a lot to be desired. But, when you have a running back like Canidate, who needs to be creative? Arizona kept things simple and gave it to its workhorse back, who was a rising star in college football during the 1998 season where he helped the Wildcats have their best season in program history going 12-1 with a 23-20 win over powerhouse Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl. To this day, Canidate is the highest drafted running back in program history going to the St. Louis Rams with the No. 31 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Wiley rushed for 214 yards and three touchdowns marking the second-most rushing yards in Territorial Cup history, behind only Trung Canidate who gained 288 yards on the ground against ASU on Nov. 27, 1998. He also tied for the most rushing touchdowns in Territorial Cup history with three.
1. Ka’Deem Carey (2011-13)
Every fanbase loves the story of a local kid, who became a legend in the Cities’ university and that’s exactly the story of running back Ka’Deem Carey, who went to CDO High School and picked the Wildcats over ASU on the recruiting trail. After a solid freshman season where he posted 425 yards, Carey had the two greatest seasons a running back has put together at Arizona. During his sophomore and junior year he totaled 1,929 yards and followed it up with a 1,885 yards season. Carey wasn’t just a local or UA legend, he was making national headlines and even got close to receiving an invitation to the Heisman Trophy ceremony. Although he never won the Heisman, he was named an All-American twice and won the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year during the 2013 season. Overall, Carey destroyed the program rushing record with his 4,239 yards and is the all-time rushing touchdown leader as well with 48 TDs on the ground and 52 total in his career. In the world of college sports we live in today, it wouldn’t be the least shocking if Carey’s program records were broken one day with the way the game has become offensive minded.
The Scottie Graham Era (2021-Present)
Former Ohio State Football captain and NFL running back Scottie Graham joined Jedd Fisch's coaching staff as running backs coach on January 4, 2021. In 2022, the Wildcats saw three different running backs rush for over 60 attempts including senior Michael Wiley gaining a career-high 771 yards on a career-high 113 attempts for a team-leading eight rushing touchdowns (Career best). Arizona tailbacks did not fumble during 263 total carries. The Wildcats also rushed for the most yards in a game in the Territorial Cup victory (280 yds) since a 312-yard performance against Texas Tech in 2019, encapsulating a span of 48 games. Following the 2022 season, Arizona had seven players selected to All-Pac-12 Performance awards with six named Honorable Mention including running back Michael Wiley. Wiley's 2022 season was fourth in Arizona history in rushing yards per attempt (6.8) and he rushed for the 15th most total yards in a single season in program history. His eight rushing touchdowns tied for the 12th most in a single season in Arizona football history. Five back earned 60+ attempts during Graham's first season leading the unit in 2021, highlighted by Drake Anderson's team-best 384 yards on 87 carries. Michael Wiley was also a major contributor under Graham's tutelage, going for two scores and 302 yards on 91 totes.
In addition to a decorated playing career, Graham has extensive player development experience at the collegiate and NFL levels as Senior Associate A.D. for Student-Athlete Development and Welfare at Arizona State as well as key leadership positions with the NFL Players Association. Prior to his arrival in Tempe, Graham spent 15 years with the NFLPA, six with the NFL Players Inc and nine with the NFL Players' Union. His tenure with the league began in 1998 as Regional Director before advancing to Director of Player Engagement in 2010. Graham's duties and accomplishments with the Player's Association reached across the organization. He worked with current and former players, as well as key stakeholders, on a wide range of matters, including multimedia rights, marketing, licensing and sponsorships among others. With a NFL career of six seasons, Graham made his rookie debut with the New York Jets during the 1992 season before spending four years with the Minnesota Vikings. The running back broke a Vikings' record for rushing yards in consecutive games with 166 yards versus the Kansas City before rushing for 139 against the Packers in 1993. The Long Beach, New York native was a high school All-American in football, wrestling and lacrosse before becoming a three-year starter at running back for Ohio State. Graham holds a pair of degrees from Ohio State, graduated with a Bachelor's in Education and Sport Leadership in 1991 before earning his Master's degree in Black Studies in 1996.
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Looking Ahead: The 2025 Season
Arizona football is officially BACK in action and the long offseason is finally coming to an end as the Wildcats have opened up their 2025 training camp to get things geared up for the season with the team set to face Hawaii on Aug. (MST) on TNT. After an underwhelming 2024 season under Brent Brennan where Arizona went 4-8 after starting the year in the preseason AP Poll at No. 21 and ending the year losing 7 out of its last 8 games, the WIldcats made changes to the roster and their coaching staff. Brennan revamped his coaching staff by hiring Seth Doege as the offensive coordinator and promoting Danny Gonzales to the defensive coordinating job. Plus, he was able to bring in defensive line coach Joe Salave’a, who is regarded as one of the top recruiters in the nation and a former Wildcat as well. “When we go through a tough season like we did a year ago, you got to find a way to fix what was broken, fix what wasn’t working and put those pieces together,” Brennan said. “And part of those pieces are how we’re going to do things in terms of how we’re going to coach, what we’re going to do schematically and the other part is who are the players that are going to play those roles.” The energy at practice was high, loud and the pace of play was a complete 180 from the previous season and matches the mindset and mentality that the coaching staff wasn’t to bring to the 2025 season. Last season, Arizona’s running backs room struggled to get any kind of rhythm going with the play calling of Dino Babers and the unit missing its top players in Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Now, running backs coach Alonzo Carter has revamped the room and added serious talent in the backfield. We have broken down the top three running backs in the Wildcats 2025 backfield led by coach Carter: Nov 30, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats running back Kedrick Reescano (3) against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the second half during the Territorial Cup at Arizona Stadium.
Statistical Leaders
The Arizona Wildcats football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Arizona Wildcats football program in various categories, including passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, defensive stats, and kicking. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics.
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