Arizona completed spring practice on Saturday, and the next time the team is all on a field together in late July there will be another batch of newcomers to welcome into the fold. And, as expected, a few missing faces.
Three defensive players entered their names into the NCAA transfer portal on Tuesday, bringing the number to six Wildcats who have gone in since the portal re-opened on April 16. The portal remains open through Friday.
Defensive linemen Isaiah Johnson and Sterling Lane II and defensive back Elijah Brown join a pair of walk-on specialists—punter Lachlan Bruce and kicker/punter Cash Peterman—who are in the portal from Arizona.
Johnson and Lane were members of the UA’s signature 2022 recruiting class, highlights by Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan, but neither was able to gain a footing in the defensive rotation. Lane appeared in 19 games over three seasons including all 12 in 2024 when he had 25 tackles with a fumble recovery, while Johnson saw action in 10 games last season including a start in the Big 12 opener at Utah.
Brown, a junior college transfer from El Camino College in California, signed with Arizona in December.
The departures this week leave Arizona with 88 players from the spring roster, with another 20 freshmen and JUCO signees set to arrive in the summer. There is expected to be a roster cap of 105 players, as part of the yet-to-be-approved settlement of several NCAA antitrust lawsuits, meaning more Wildcats figure to be leaving.
Even more if the UA intends to add from the portal. On Saturday, offensive coordinator Seth Doege identified the potential need for another interior offensive lineman and a tight end, while defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales said he wouldn’t mind adding more depth.
Arizona is set to host ex-Wyoming defensive back Wrook Brown this week.