Arizona spring football: LBs Taye Brown, Chase Kennedy ready for breakout seasons

The work they both put in during the winter and into the spring earned the respect of the rest of the group. Now it’s time to just go out onto the field and go to work.

“Just go play football, go do the things you did at all these different schools across the country, come do it here,” said Bringuel.

Brown and Harris were the guys leading the room last year, and with Harris now gone, who is Brown’s right hand man? That would be redshirt senior Chase Kennedy. Both are leading the room with their voices and through their actions.

“I’ve been really impressed by how much they’ve stepped into that role and taken off, and it’s exciting for them, because they want that,” said Bringuel. “They want that opportunity for them to lead the way, modeling the behavior and then pulling everybody along when it’s not right.”

For both Brown and Kennedy, leading the room has become second nature in a short amount of time.

“I feel like it’s natural for both of us. Just coming out there and bringing the juice every day, that’s just the type of players we are, just have fun with it because at the end, it’s just just the game we love,” said Brown.

It may be outside of his comfort zone, but learning under Harris has pushed Kennedy to push his boundaries to be the leader he needs to be.

“Normally the only time I do my talking is when I’m on the field,” said Kennedy. “So I’ve kind of learned to grow off the field with that as well.”

While the veterans will lead the room through the spring and fall, eventually a new leader will be needed for the Bringuel’s room. An early candidate is freshman Dash Fifita, younger brother of Noah Fifita.

Similar to his brother, his story is not defined by lack of height. Fifita’s determination and knowledge of football is what sets him apart from everyone else.

“When you talk about the tenacity on the field, and shoot he knows he’s undersized, so he better play full speed and that’s what you see out there,” said Bringuel. “So it’s been really fun to see him attack the work and not complain.”

Fifita will have to wait his turn to be the voice of the room, but for now it is in good hands under Brown and Kennedy’s watch.