Almost an Underdog: Noah Fifita, QB, Arizona

First Round Mock’s William Yanish has evaluated a quarterback (QB) we haven’t heard much about, Arizona Wildcats’ Noah Fifita.

I will start by dispelling any notion that if you have a high grade on a six-foot-five-inch, 250-pound, 4.4 forty-yard-dash speed prospect, you have to like all similar type prospects.

The same lies to the contrary.

Physical similarities mean very little when it comes to this game. I do not only look for the body ⎯I also look for the mind.

All of these prospects have an equation that needs computing with variables galore. What works for one doesn’t necessarily work for all.

This leads us to Fifita.

Background

This red-shirt sophomore out of Huntington Beach, California stands at 5-foot-11, 194 pounds and he’s almost a lot of things.

He’s almost six feet tall, he’s almost 200 pounds and he almost didn’t get on the field in 2023 (but he did).

I saw Fifita hang with former Washington Huskies’ QB Michael Penix Jr. (first-round selection by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2024 NFL Draft) in his first career start (31-24 loss). I also saw him trade touchdowns with former USC QB Caleb Williams (first-round selection by the Chicago Bears in the 2024 NFL Draft) in a triple-overtime 43-41 loss.

Almost again.

Those two losses were his only two losses out of nine games last season.

Fifita also balled versus a tough Utah defense (42-18 win):

• 22 of 30 (73.3%)
• 253 yards
• Two touchdowns
• Zero interceptions

His overall 2023 stat line speaks for his efficiency at the QB position:

• 241/333 (72.4%)
• 2,869 yards
• 25 touchdowns
• Six interceptions
• 83.8 QBR (No.7 overall in the nation)

Then take a minute to check this out:

• Five of his seven career wins have been versus ranked opponents.

The Yanish Report

Thin, wiry, light-on-his-feet type frame. Solid rhythm-based footwork. Mobile. Ghosts through the pocket, keeping his eyes downfield. Scans through reads very efficiently. Next-level field vision. Quick, snappy release. Very accurate. Very consistent. Manipulates with his eyes, veering receivers out of danger. Adds great zip to compensate for arm strength. Good placement makes for excellent ball security. Believes he can make any throw, maybe he can. Great use of tight ends. Team leader. Smart. Spark plug-like energy.

Underdog. Clutch. Winner.

For the win

Becoming more confident in his abilities is key to Fifita’s development.

With his first offseason, as the incumbent starter, it will be exciting to see how he looks in 2024. It will be a tell-tale sign of his work ethic and his desire as a player.

Regardless of his size, Fifita has shown some dynamic flashes on film. He has demonstrated chemistry with wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan and he’s set to show exactly what he can do on the field.

Arizona’s tight coach Matt Adkins is also their Passing Game Coordinator. This makes for an explosive offense, based on mismatches. On that alone, Fifita can make a tremendous leap this season.

While I don’t see this Arizona QB sneaking up on anyone like what happened last year, the traits are there. Crazy things could happen. He’s even been mentioned as “a fringe Heisman Trophy candidate,” by the New York Times.

My only real concern, at the moment, is just how much he “shrinks” in Indianapolis at the Scouting Combine.

My BIG three questions

1. Can the Wildcats challenge for a conference championship in the Big 12?

2. Will he have a comparable replacement at tight end for Tanner McLachlan (who was selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals)?

3. Can he gain national attention and media hype this fall?

My 2025 NFL Draft Value: Second Round

Would I draft him: Very much so

2023 Game film evidence Arizona (Jersey No. 11)

Washington

USC

UCLA

Colorado

Utah

Washington State

Oklahoma

William Yanish III is a lifelong football fan. He’s from the little town of Crawford, Colorado. Along the way, he’s lived in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and Brookings, Oregon. Quarterback Joe Montana was his idol growing up. A little bit of CTE from life’s adventures killed his dreams as a football player. Now, he is an aspiring writer and Draft Analyst at FirstRoundMock.com. He’s a fanatic with a dream, which is coming true.