Tracking Arizona football’s NCAA transfer portal activity

The calendar says Dec. 5, but in the world of college football it’s Transfer Portal Day.

The NCAA transfer portal has officially opened for all players, the start of a 45-day window following the announcement of the 4-team playoff field for athletes to put their names in for consideration at other schools. Players who had already graduated were able to enter earlier, but Monday serves as when the flood gates really opened.

Not surprisingly, Arizona has seen several players enter the portal. This was expected, as Jedd Fisch said in his season-ending press conference he anticipated “pretty substantial” roster turnover that may come close to the previous offseason when the Wildcats added 50 players to the team.

To keep track of all the activity, both outgoing and (potentially incoming), we’ve put it all together below:

UA players entering the portal (and their destination)

• QB Jordan McCloud (James Madison)
• TE Alex Lines
• DL JB Brown (UMass)
• RB Drake Anderson (Akron)
• WR Jamarye Joiner (Jacksonville State)
• LB Kolbe Cage (Southern Miss)
• S Jaxen Turner (UNLV)
• DL Kyon Barrs (USC)
• DL Dion ‘Tank’ Wilson (New Mexico State)
• DL Paris Shand (LSU)
• WR Dorian Singer (USC)
• DE/LB Tyler Martin (UMass)
• RB Jalen John (UMass)
• OL Woody Jean (Florida Atlantic)
• DL Jermaine Wiggins Jr (UMass)
• OL Shontrail Key (Grambling)
• CB Adama Fall (ASU)
• WR Anthony Simpson (UMass)
• CB Christian Roland-Wallace (USC)
• LB Malik Reed (Iowa Western CC)
• DL Kevon Garcia
• RB Jashon Butler
• RB James Bohls (Southern Utah)
• LB Jerry Roberts (UMass)
• DL Eddie Siaumau-Sanitoa
• LB RJ Edwards (UMass)
• DL Evan Branch-Haynes (Bowling Green)
• S Jaydin Young (Oregon State)
• LB Matthew ‘Mojo’ Weerts
• CB Isaiah Rutherford (UMass)
• WR Jake George

Portal pickups

• Former UCLA defensive lineman Tyler Manoa. He has one season of eligibility remaining.
• Former Cal linebacker Orin Patu. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
• Former Oregon linebacker Justin Flowe. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.
• Former Georgia defensive lineman Bill Norton. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
• Former Washington linebacker Daniel Heimuli. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
• Former Florida defensive back Cruz Rushing. He has four seasons of eligibility remaining.
• Former UCLA defensive back Martell Irby. He has one season of eligibility remaining.
• Former Indiana defensive lineman Sio Nofoagatoto’a. He has one season of eligibility remaining.
• Former Michigan defensive end Taylor Upshaw. He has one season of eligibility remaining.
• Former Colorado wide receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
• Former Cal Poly cornerback Dylan Wyatt. He has one season of eligibility remaining.
• Former BYU kicker Cash Peterman. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

Out of eligibility

• OL Josh Donovan
• OL Paiton Fears
• DE Hunter Echols
• DE Jalen Harris
• S Christian Young

Notables who have announced their return for 2023

• WR Jacob Cowing will be back for a second season at Arizona. The UTEP transfer led the Wildcats with 85 receptions in 2022 and was second on the team in receiving yards (1,034) and touchdowns (seven).
• RB Michael Wiley is returning for a fifth season at the UA. He led the Wildcats in rushing yards (771) and total TDs (10).
• OL Jordan Morgan is returning for a fifth season at Arizona. He recently had surgery to repair a knee injury suffered in November, which kept him from entering the 2023 NFL Draft.