Arizona ended spring ball with no long snappers available for the final practices. It now has two such specialists set to join the team for preseason camp.
Former Jackson State long snapper Avery Salerno has committed to the Wildcats, doing so two days after the UA got a pledge from high school long snapper Broden Molen.
1000% Committed #BEARDOWN @CoachBrennan @Coach_Naivar @SpecialTeamsU @_Mike_McCabe @OneOnOneKicking pic.twitter.com/OvmEB83IBV
— Avery Salerno (@AverySalerno) April 30, 2025
The 6-foot, 220-pound Salerno comes to Tucson with one year of eligibility remaining. He began his career at Division II Chowan in North Carolina before spending the last two seasons at Jackson State, serving as the Tigers’ punter in three games in 2023 before focusing solely on long snapping last year.
Salerno is the third transfer pickup for Arizona from the spring portal window, all from FCS schools. The Wildcats have also added ex-Albany offensive lineman Chance Roberts and former Illinois State kicker Ian Wagner.
The long snapper position had been handled last season by Justin Holloway, who graduated, and Trey Naughton was in line to be the starter this fall before suffering a back injury that caused him to medially retire.