The Arizona Wildcats have lost another safety to the NCAA transfer portal.
Veteran Troy Young has put himself on the transfer market. Young β who played multiple positions at the UA but likely would have projected to safety in new defensive coordinator Paul Rhoadsβ scheme β became the second safety to depart Arizona this week. Xavier Bell preceded Young in entering the portal.
Young came to Tucson from Mobile, Alabama. He appeared in 25 games as a freshman and sophomore, including two starts, playing safety and cornerback. He also spent some time working at linebacker.
Young appeared in only four games last season, allowing him to bank it as a redshirt year and giving him two more years of eligibility. Young accumulated 20 tackles, defended three passes and had one interception in 29 games as a Wildcat.
The losses of Young and Bell drop Arizona to five scholarship safeties. Only two are expected to play at a time under Rhoads β as opposed to three under his predecessor, Marcel Yates β but the Wildcats still need more depth and youth at the position.
Arizona could add a safety on National Signing Day on Wednesday, although the programβs primary focus has been on front-seven defenders. In-house candidates could include graduate transfer Brenden Schooler, who played safety and receiver at Oregon. Schooler said Friday that heβs going to explore the possibility of playing both ways this season.
WildcatAuthority.com first reported the news of Young’s departure.
Elsewhere on the personnel front, new defense tackle Aaron Blackwell said he will be held out of contact work in spring practice while continuing to rehab a knee injury.
Blackwell, a graduate transfer from New Mexico, suffered a torn ACL during the Lobosβ opener last season. He is expected to be fully recovered in time for training camp. Spring practice is scheduled to begin March 2.
