Hearing is believing: Arizona kicker Tyler Loop on NFL path

If I was trying to guess whether a college kicker such as Arizona’s Tyler Loop was good enough to play in the NFL, I would use my eyes.

Wildcats coach Brent Brennan uses his ears.

We bring this up because the Wildcats’ NFL pipeline is beginning to flow again – with three players from last season’s team making opening-day 53-man rosters: first-round OL Jordan Morgan (Packers), fourth-round WR Jacob Cowing (49ers) and sixth-round TE Tanner McLachlan (Bengals).

Two running backs from last season – Michael Wiley (Commanders) and D.J. Williams (Buccaneers) – landed on practice squads, as did defensive lineman Tyler Manoa (Cardinals).

Even better NFL prospects from Arizona are on their way: WR Tetairoa McMillan (should be the first receiver off the board), offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea and cornerback Tacario Davis, all juniors. Each recently was listed among the Top 25 2025 draft prospects by ESPN’s Field Yates.

But we’re not here to talk about the Big Three right now.

Because sometimes overlooked among Arizona draft prospects is senior kicker Tyler Loop.

Podcast highlights: Appreciate Tyler Loop!

Loop started his season with field goals of 46 and a career-best 54 yards in the Wildcats’ 61-39 victory over New Mexico. Loop passes the eye test. You can see the rotation. You can see the height. You can see the distance. You can read the stats — 51 of 59 (86.4 percent) on career field goal attempts; perfect on 110 extra-point attempts; 84 of 95 kickoffs gone for touchbacks.

And, to Brennan, he passes the ear test.

“First of all, Tyler is just a great young man – great person, a great student, totally has his stuff together,” Brennan said on his first radio show of the season.

“He is a real talent. He is an NFL player. It’s interesting because people always ask me, ‘How do you tell the difference between kickers? Why do you say a guy has an NFL leg?’ And it’s because you can hear it. When they hit the ball, you can hear it. There’s a different sound to when they strike the ball.”

It seems appropriate to highlight Loop this week ahead of the game against NAU on Saturday night, when Arizona has designated the program’s greatest kicker – Max Zendejas – as the honorary captain. Zendejas is legendary for his game-winning kicks against Notre Dame and Arizona State – and is tied for the school record for longest career field goal (57 yards).

Loop could smash that record – whenever Brennan gives the chance.

“If you’ve seen him goof around in pregame, he’s hitting field goals from the 50-yard line or deeper just for fun,” Brennan said. “We’re fortunate Tyler is here. He’s a great kid.”

For now, Loop’s career field goal accuracy of 86.4 percent is the best in school history, ahead of Jason Bondzio, who hit 83.3 percent (35 of 42) from 2007-08.

Tyler Loop is good from a career-high 54 yards out! 💪 Cats back on 🔝

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/JnFafjawqS

— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) September 1, 2024

Loop, like Zendejas – and 1994 Lou Groza Award winner Steve McLaughlin – is one of 13 kickers in Arizona Wildcats history to be part of the Game-Winning Kick Club. Loop put through a 24-yarder on the final play at Colorado last season, giving the Wildcats a 34-31 victory.

“He’s such a confident, powerful, kid,” Brennan said.

Four Arizona Wildcats have kicked in the NFL – Zendejas, McLaughlin, Lucas Havrisik (current free agent) and the remarkable Nick Folk, who is heading into his 17th season in the NFL and second with the Tennessee Titans.

Two of the four oldest players in the NFL are kickers, including the 39-year-old Folk, which helps show just how hard it can be for college kickers to find an open job in the 32-team NFL.

But with Loop, you can hear the difference.

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Top photo: Tyler Loop reacts after making a field goal against New Mexico in the 2024 season opener.