Arizona was looking to get some immediate help on its defensive line with the addition of a junior college defensive tackle last month.
Now, the Wildcats will have to look elsewhere.
Dereck Boles decided to flip his commitment from Arizona to South Florida. The news was first reported by 247Sports.com.
Boles committed to the Wildcats in early-May largely because of his relationship with UA defensive coordinatorΒ Marcel Yates. Boles, from Lakleland, Florida, was dismissed from Boise State, Yates' former employer, in February 2016 after being charged with biting off part of a teammate's ear, though he was found not guilty in April.Β
Boles spent last season at Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College and the 6-3, 290-pounder was expected to add some depth to the interior of Arizona's defensive line. Instead, Boles becomes the second transfer defensive lineman to consider Arizona, only to pick another school, joining Minnesota transferΒ Gaelin Elmore, who committed to East Carolina.Β
The Wildcats need defensive linemen after losing two seniors (Sani FuimaonoΒ andΒ Aiulua Fanene) from last year's team, plusΒ Justin Holt, who medically retired in February. Arizona addsΒ Kurtis Brown andΒ Sione Taufahema to the interor as part of its 2017 recruiting class. USC transferΒ Noah JeffersonΒ is expected to join UA, but likely won't be eligible until 2018.Β
