Editor’s note: Former Salpointe Catholic and Arizona long snapper Trey Naughton offered Saturday a reflection of his football career and what he hopes lies ahead.
I played football at Salpointe Catholic High School, where I was rated as a 4 1/2-star long snapper. Out of high school, I received Division 1 offers from Sacramento State, Idaho State, New Mexico State, and Western Kentucky University (WKU). I committed to WKU as a preferred walk-on (PWO) long snapper and redshirted my freshman season. By my sophomore year, I earned the starting job and started all 13 games, culminating in a bowl game victory against Old Dominion University.
Following that season, I entered the transfer portal and received offers from FAU, Arizona, and USC. I ultimately committed to the University of Arizona because I believed it offered the quickest path to getting on the field. I enrolled in the spring, but unfortunately, right as I arrived, Coach Fisch left the program along with his entire coaching staff. Coach Brennan and Coach Gonzales took over, bringing in their own players.
I was told I would be a backup for my junior season because the new staff had already chosen their starters before and during fall camp. Even though I felt I outperformed the starting long snapper, it didn’t matter; they had him on scholarship and were committed to playing him. I started getting into my own head because it felt like no matter how hard I worked, the coaches were not going to change the lineup.
The physical toll caught up to me as well. By the spring of 2025, I suffered a severe spine injury resulting in three herniated discs. My relationship with the coaching staff strained due to a lack of mutual trust. I was unhappy with the staff, they didn’t trust me because of my injury, and my special teams coach was eventually fired. The staff brought in a new special teams coordinator who immediately began hosting other long snappers on official visits to replace the unit.
Feeling stuck, I entered the transfer portal again with two years of eligibility remaining—potentially three if I secured a medical hardship waiver. I received a third epidural for the pain, but after a follow-up visit, my doctor informed me that I required surgery. While in the portal, I drew interest from the University of Hawaii, several other Group of 5 programs, and Marist College (FCS). However, considering the severity of my spinal injury, I consulted with my doctor and made the conscious decision to walk away from football. I simply could not risk sustaining more hits, nor could I snap the ball consistently anymore.
Although my time at the University of Arizona was filled with frustration, I am thankful that Coach Brennan allowed me to gain valuable administrative and operations work experience within the team to help jumpstart my career (as an intern working with former football general manager Gaizka Crowley). I graduated from the University of Arizona in December 2025. Today, I am enrolled in flight school, working toward my dream of becoming a commercial airline pilot.
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