USC linebacker Matai Tagoa'i transfers to Arizona

Arizona added USC transfer linebacker Matai Tagoa'i to its 2026 transfer portal class. 

Tagoa'i, who was also recruited by Florida State, leaves USC after one season with the Trojans. He had four tackles in three game appearances for USC this past season. Tagoa'i and wide receiver DJ Jordan are both signing with Arizona after being at USC in 2025. 

The 6-4, 205-pound Tagoa'i prepped at San Clemente High School in San Clemente, California and signed with the hometown Trojans as a four-star prospect last year. Tagoa'i played in the 2025 Polynesian Bowl. 

As a high school prospect, Tagoa'i also held offers from Alabama, BYU, Miami, Georgia, Arizona, Washington, Oklahoma, Michigan and Auburn, among others. He was rated by 247Sports.com as the 14th-best linebacker nationally for the 2025 recruiting class. 

Tagoa'i joins Everett Roussaw (Memphis) and Cooper Bloomstrom (Georgetown) as linebackers in Arizona's transfer portal class.

The 6-3, 230-pound Roussaw started his career at UAB in 2023 and played two seasons under former head coach and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Trent Dilfer, who was fired in October after two-plus seasons at the helm. 

At UAB, Roussaw played in 23 games and made eight starts as a true freshman. He recorded 125 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks and two fumble recoveries. 

Back to homepage

Subscriber Login

Keep reading with a digital access subscription.

Subscribe now

The Atlanta native transferred to Memphis and had 64 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, four pass breakups and an interception in his lone year with the Tigers. 

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. 

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

Tagoa'i and Roussaw will add depth to the "Will" and "Mike" linebacker positions, especially with Max Harris graduating. 

Tagoa'i, Roussaw and Bloomstrom are the newest additions to an Arizona linebacker corps that returns two-year starter Taye Brown, Kennedy, redshirt sophomore Jabari Mann, sophomore Myron Robinson, redshirt junior Leviticus Su'a and redshirt freshman Carter Jones, among others. After suffering a season-ending knee injury in November, Robinson isn't expected to participate in spring practices. 

Find out the latest updates on Arizona football's activity in the transfer portal with the Star's tracker on Tucson.com and The Wildcaster mobile app.