Offseason training paying off for Arizona OL Alexander Doost, Tristan Bounds

For Arizona football fans in Tucson, the Wildcats’ prospects on the right side of the offensive line are tied closely to the offseason work of guard Alexander Doost and tackle Tristan Bounds. The two linemen already spent much of last season playing next to each other, and their relationship grew even stronger this year when Doost stayed with Bounds for several weeks while searching for a new home. That time together included serious training, experimentation with boxing, film study and more than 30 shared movie nights. Arizona’s coaches now view the pair as central figures in the unit and important leaders for the team.

Doost, a 6 foot 7, 332 pound guard entering his third season at Arizona, made a significant jump in the weight room during the summer. He squatted 620 pounds, bench pressed 440 pounds and power cleaned 405 pounds. The power clean was especially meaningful because Doost had been trying to reach that mark since arriving in Tucson. He is the only player on Arizona’s roster to exceed 400 pounds in the lift, and he has taken particular pride in that achievement since his high school days at Mountain Ridge High School in Phoenix.

The accomplishment has family history behind it. Doost’s older brother previously held Mountain Ridge’s power clean record, and Doost set out to surpass it. He reached that goal after three years. His enthusiasm for strength training has remained a defining part of his identity, but Arizona’s coaches say his development has extended well beyond physical ability. During the offseason, Doost also reached the top of the climbing rope in Arizona’s weight room, ran 18 miles per hour and broad jumped more than 10 feet. The Athletic included him on its upcoming season Freaks List, recognizing his unusual combination of size and athleticism.

Offensive line coach Josh Oglesby said Doost’s progress in understanding the game may be even more important than his testing numbers. The coach described Doost as an athletic force and said his football knowledge has grown substantially over the offseason. As Doost learns more, Oglesby said, the game begins to slow down for him, allowing him to use his strength and movement more naturally. Head coach Brent Brennan has similarly praised Doost’s development since he transferred to Arizona from Northwestern in 2024. Brennan said Doost has become an unquestioned leader who is increasingly vocal and is helping drive the entire team, not only the offensive line.

Bounds has followed a different offseason path, one shaped in part by recovery. The 6 foot 8, 317 pound right tackle gained 18 pounds after returning from a season ending ankle injury. The sixth year player, who transferred from Michigan before last season, also returned to boxing workouts once or twice a week at T Town Boxing in Tucson. Backup right tackle Louis Akpa joined him frequently, giving the younger lineman another way to develop while working with an experienced teammate.

Bounds believes boxing can help offensive linemen in several practical ways. The sport demands quick feet, constant attention to a moving target and accurate hand placement, all of which translate to blocking. Offensive linemen must redirect while keeping their eyes on the defender, and they need to use their hands quickly and precisely. Boxing also provided a way to maintain a physical edge during a summer period with limited football contact. Bounds said the workouts offered the extra, unrequired work that might give him an advantage over the competition.

Brennan acknowledged that each player searches for a different way to improve, but said stronger footwork gives linemen a better chance to move effectively. Bounds had boxed occasionally in high school and viewed it as a possible tool for his football development. He also used the summer to mentor Akpa, inviting him into training activities and trying to help him grow. Bounds said that anything useful for his own game should also benefit Akpa, and Arizona’s coaches have noticed the backup tackle’s continued progress.

The connection between the two starters also extends beyond football. Bounds and Doost became temporary roommates, watched a wide range of films together and regularly hosted teammates for food and movie nights. Their viewing included Christopher Nolan movies, partly as preparation for the upcoming film The Odyssey, as well as horror movies. Bounds also spent a considerable amount of time playing the re-released Call of Duty Black Ops II before fall camp, joking that he was concerned about the number of hours he had logged.

Their teammates have given the pair superhero nicknames that reflect both personality and background. Doost is known as the Hulk because of his physical strength, while Bounds has become Wolverine, a nod to his Michigan ties and his resemblance to actor Hugh Jackman’s bearded version of the character. Doost gave Bounds a Wolverine comic poster when they first became roommates. More importantly for Arizona, the two have built the trust required for adjacent linemen to operate as one. Oglesby called them the heart and soul of the offensive line, while Doost described Bounds as a brother and an easy, excellent roommate. With their experience, added strength and offseason work, the guard tackle tandem enters the season positioned to provide stability on the Wildcats’ right side.