Arizona backup quarterback Braedyn Locke announced that he will enter the transfer portal next month.
Locke played a season for the Wildcats and will have a year of eligibility remaining.
"Arizona has felt like home to me since the day I walked in the building. This past year has been one of the most rewarding years of my football journey, filled with experiences and relationships that will stay with me long after my time here," Locke said in a statement on his social media accounts.
"I'm so grateful for my coaches and teammates that have believed in me, pushed me and made this experience special for me in ways that go far beyond football. I'm so proud to be a part of this team and I'll never forget the adversity that we overcame together as a team. Moving forward into next season, I will be entering my name in the transfer portal."
The Rockwall, Texas, native signed with Mississippi State in 2022 to play for the late head coach Mike Leach, a pioneer of the Air Raid offense, who also coached Doege in the early stages of his career at Texas Tech. In the one season Locke played for the Bulldogs, MSU beat Arizona in Tucson.
Arizona quarterback Braedyn Locke (8) can’t escape the long arm of Weber State defensive end Keahnist Thompson (1) as the pocket collapses on him for a sack in the fourth quarter, Sept. 6, 2025, in Tucson.
Locke transferred to Wisconsin in 2023 and completed 240 of 448 passes for 2,713 yards, 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in two seasons.
Locke secured the backup spot to multi-year starter Noah Fifita and completed 5 of 15 passes for 68 yards and an interception in the three games he played in.
With Locke entering the transfer portal and Fifita expected to return for the 2026, Arizona's backup quarterback race will likely come down to freshman Sawyer Anderson, incoming freshman Oscar Rios, freshman and Gilbert product Luke Haugo and walk-on Mason Bray.
Anderson, Rios and Haugo are scholarship quarterbacks Arizona has added since hiring head coach Brent Brennan in 2024.
The 5-11, 177-pound Anderson was a four-year starter at Parish Episcopal High School in Dallas and completed 859 of 1,320 passes (65%) for 14,674 yards, 158 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. Anderson’s career passing yards is a Dallas-Fort Worth record — second in Texas high school football history behind former UA quarterback Grant Gunnell, who passed for 16,108 yards.
Arizona quarterback Braedyn Locke finds his target during fall football practice at Dick Tomey practice field, Aug. 20, 2025.
Anderson’s grandfather is former Texas Tech running back Donny Anderson, a two-time Super Bowl winner with the Green Bay Packers. Anderson helped the Packers win the first-ever Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. In collaboration with Grambling State’s marching band, the Pride of Arizona performed at the first Super Bowl halftime show.
Before signing with Arizona, Anderson was committed to the Purdue Boilermakers for over a year and was recruited by former Purdue offensive coordinator Graham Harrell, the mentor of Arizona offensive coordinator Seth Doege.
The 6-3, 175-pound Rios ended his career at Downey High School with 8,070 yards, 77 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, along with 2,227 rushing yards and 25 rushing touchdowns.
Rios, who competed at the "Elite 11" quarterback event in the summer, is the highest-rated quarterback to sign with the Wildcats since Nic Costa in 2001.
Locke is the third Wildcat to announce plans to enter the transfer portal, which officially opens for business on Jan. 2, joining offensive lineman Michael Wooten and defensive lineman Chancellor Owens.
No. 17 Arizona faces SMU for the 46th Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego on Friday, Jan. 2, at 6 p.m. on Fox.
