The Arizona Wildcats saw a transfer departure become an addition, as cornerback Marquis Groves-Killebrew withdrew from the portal after he was committed to Nebraska.
They had previously landed Wisconsin quarterback Braedyn Locke.
Locke, a sophomore who began his career at Mississippi State and played significant roles for the Badgers the past two years, has two years of eligibility left. He slots in as a backup to returning quarterback Noah Fifita for the 2025 season.
Locke took over for injured Wisconsin starter Tyler Van Dyke in September and threw for 1,936 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season. He completed 55% of his passes.
Another notable portal addition for the Wildcats is FCS All-American linebacker Blake Gotcher, who committed with a year of eligibility remaining after leading Division I with 162 tackles this past season.
The Wildcats have also landed Kansas State transfer and receiver Tre Spivey, a product of Hamilton High School in Chandler and son of former Arizona Diamondback Junior Spivey.
Tre Spivey caught 14 passes for 160 yards as a redshirt freshman this past year.
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Fifita, who was not entered into the transfer portal, has announced he would return under new offensive coordinator Seth Doege.
Among Arizona’s biggest losses in the portal is linebacker Jacob Manu, who has committed to play at Washington in 2025.
He first announced his intention to leave on Dec. 10 and will have one year of eligibility remaining with the Huskies and former Arizona coach Jeff Fisch. Following a 2023 All Pac-12 First Team selection, Manu only saw seven games of action with a season-ending knee injury in October.
Manu’s school decision came after defensive backs Genesis Smith and Dalton Johnson exited the portal to return to Tucson next season. Smith, like Spivey, is also a product of Chandler’s Hamilton High School.
While Smith’s return keeps more talent at home, the defensive backfield has lost several key players. Starting cornerbacks Tacario Davis and Treydan Stukes, plus safety Gunner Maldonado, have hit the portal.
Davis is the most notable entrant for the football team so far. Before the 2024 season, he was projected as a potential first-round NFL Draft pick.
The junior finished 2024 with 43 tackles and six passes defensed.
Brent Brennan’s first year leading the Wildcats went far south of expectations with a good portion of the roster returning from a 10-win club a year prior. Arizona football was projected to finish fifth in the Big 12 but fell flat with a 4-8 record that ended with a 49-7 rivalry loss to Arizona State.
Here’s who is incoming and outgoing via the transfer portal by date.
2025 offseason
Additions
CB Marquis Groves-Killebrew (entered portal on Dec. 26, withdrew on Jan. 18) — Return to Arizona (was committed to Nebraska)
DL Tiaoalii Savea (Jan. 14) — Texas
RB Quincy Craig (Jan. 9) — Portland State
OL Flavio Gonzalez (Jan. 8) — Oregon State
WR Javin Whatley (Jan. 8) — Chattanooga
CB Ayden Garnes (Jan. 6) — West Virginia
RB Mike Mitchell (Dec. 28) — Utah
QB Braedyn Locke (Dec. 27) — Wisconsin
Edge Riley Wilson (Dec. 26) — Montana
WR Tre Spivey (Dec. 23) — Kansas State
OL Ka’ena DeCambra (Dec. 22) — Hawaii
OT Tristan Bounds (Dec. 22) — Michigan
LB Blake Gotcher (Dec. 21) — Northwestern State
RB Ismail Mahdi (Dec. 21) — Texas State
DL Deshawn McKnight (Dec. 20) UT Martin
OT Ty Buchanan (Dec. 20) — Texas Tech
OT Jordan Brown (Dec. 20) — Georgia Tech
S Dalton Johnson (Dec. 19) — Return to Arizona
WR Kris Hutson (Dec. 18) — Washington State
S Jshawn Frausto-Ramos (Dec. 18) — Stanford
CB Jay’Vion Cole (Dec. 16) — Texas
CB Michael Dansby (Dec. 15) — San Jose State
S Genesis Smith (Dec. 15) — Return to Arizona
EDGE Chancellor Owens (Dec. 14) — Northwestern State
WR Luke Wysong (Dec. 13) — New Mexico
Departures
OT Leif Magnuson (Jan. 3)
QB Adam Damante (Dec. 26) — Tennessee State
TE Keyan Burnett (Dec. 20) — Kansas
CB Demetrius Freeney (Dec. 17) — Boise State
DL Keanu Mailoto (Dec. 16) — Boise State
CB Treydan Stukes (Dec. 11)
EDGE Nolan Clement (Dec. 11)
CB Tacario Davis (Dec. 11)
EDGE Cyrus Durham (Dec. 11) — Akron
OT Elijha Payne (Dec. 11) — Delaware State
LB Jacob Manu (Dec. 10) — Washington
S Gunner Maldonado (Dec. 10) — Kansas State
EDGE Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei (Dec. 10) — Washington
DL Nick Fernandez (Dec. 10) — UT Rio Grande Valley
CB Emmanuel Karnley (Dec. 9) — Miami
EDGE Tristan Davis (Dec. 9)
OL Jonah Rodriguez (Dec. 9)
LB Kamuela Kaaihue (Dec. 9)CB Demetrius Freeney (Dec. 8) — Boise State
WR Reymello Murphy (Dec. 8) — UConn
WR Jackson Holman (Dec. 8) — Wyoming
ATH Jai-Ayviauynn Celestine (Dec. 8) — Florida International University
RB Brandon Johnson (Dec. 8)
QB Anthony Garcia (Dec. 8) — Utah State
OG Wendell Moe (Dec. 6) — Tennessee
OT JT Hand (Dec. 4) — Oregon State
RB Rayshon Luke (Dec. 3)
WR A.J. Jones (Dec. 3)
TE Dorian Thomas (Dec. 2) — New Mexico
DL Bryce Echols (Dec. 2) — Nevada
QB Brayden Dorman (Dec. 1)
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