Arizona football signs positions of need to begin transfer portal cycle

Arizona's first additions in the transfer portal are positions of need — and the Wildcats hit the offensive, defensive and special teams hat trick. 

The Wildcats' first three pickups in the transfer portal are Arkansas State long snapper Drew Nicolson, Illinois tight end Cole Rusk and Georgetown linebacker Cole Blomstrom. 

Nicolson was the first commitment for Arizona's 2026 transfer portal class. 

Nicolson joins Arizona after playing the last two seasons at Arkansas State. He started his college career in 2023 at Akron.

The 6-2, 220-pound Tempe native prepped at Corona del Sol High School, where he was teammates with UA reserve offensive lineman Keona Peat, who is the older brother of Arizona basketball star Koa Peat. 

Nicolson appeared in all 12 games at Akron and transferred to Arkansas State. He redshirted his first season with the Red Wolves and became the starting long snapper this past season. Arkansas State went 7-6 and beat Missouri State, 34-28, in the Xbox Bowl in Frisco, Texas. 

Nicolson has 202 snaps and two tackles in his college career, according to Pro Football Focus. 

Nicolson will look to replace starting long snapper Avery Salerno, who transferred from Jackson State last year. The Wildcats also have freshman Broden Molen. The freshman from Montana signed with Arizona's 2025 recruiting class and played in the Navy All-American Bowl in San Antonio. 

Arizona's snapping was inconsistent at times, which contributed to sophomore kicker Michael Salgado-Medina struggling, albeit Arizona's kicker boomed a 57-yarder against Oklahoma State and made a clutch 51-yarder in the Wildcats' upset over 25th-ranked Cincinnati. 

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Salerno and Molen weren't officially added to the roster until the summer. Arizona's only long snapper last spring was Tucson native Trey Naughton, who retired from football. This time, the Wildcats will have more time to establish chemistry and rhythm in the field-goal operation. 

The 6-5, 250-pound Rusk, who has one season of eligibility, is a Rock Island, Illinois, native and started his college career at Eastern Michigan in 2021 before transferring to Murray State for a year and Illinois, where he played the last two seasons. Rusk had 19 catches for 217 yards and a touchdown last season at Illinois. 

Rusk joins an Arizona tight ends room that returns redshirt junior Tyler Powell, who suffered a season-ending leg injury on the first play from scrimmage in the Wildcats' season-opening win over Hawaii this past season. The Wildcats also return redshirt freshman Kellan Ford. Arizona signed four-star Seattle-area tight end Henry Gabalis for 2026. 

The Wildcats lost Cameron Barmore, Sam Olson and Keyan Burnett, who left the program midseason. 

Blomstrom played defensive end at Georgetown, but is considered a linebacker and could replace Riley Wilson, who was also a standout defensive end-linebacker hybrid at the FCS level prior to transferring to Arizona. 

The 6-3, 245-pound Dover, New Hampshire native played in 31 games over three seasons for the Hoyas and recorded 117 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, five forced fumbles and an interception. Blomstrom combined for 15 sacks his last two seasons at Georgetown, and was a second-team All-Patriot League selection.  

Blomstrom could potentially fill the void at outside linebacker for Arizona. The Wildcats return Chase Kennedy, who converted from defensive end this past season. 

Find the latest updates on Arizona football's activity in the transfer portal with the Star's tracker on Tucson.com.