Arizona linebacker Jerry Roberts (48) touches the Button Salmon bust during the Wildcat Walk before the game against San Diego State for the home opener at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., September 11, 2021.

As expected, former Arizona Wildcats linebacker Jerry Roberts is Massachusetts-bound. 

Roberts, who played two seasons at Arizona after initially starting his career at Bowling Green, joins a plethora of ex-Wildcats transferring to UMass, which is led by former UA defensive coordinator Don Brown. Roberts announced his decision to transfer to UMass on Monday. 

Other former Wildcats transferring to UMass include defensive linemen JB Brown and Jermaine Wiggins, wide receiver Anthony Simpson and linebacker Tyler Martin. 

Roberts started six games for Arizona at middle linebacker in 2021 under Brown before suffering a season-ending leg injury in the next-to-last game of the year. Brown became UMass' head coach last offseason. Former Arizona linebackers coach Keith Dudzinski followed Brown to UMass and became the Minutemen's defensive coordinator. 

Roberts started all 12 games for the Wildcats' 5-7 season in '22 and finished second on the team with 78 tackles; he also had a pass breakup, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. Roberts recorded a team-best 11 tackles against Arizona State and helped the Wildcats reclaim the Territorial Cup for the first time in six seasons. 

Arizona linebacker Jerry Roberts (48) tackles Colorado running back Anthony Hankerson (22) during the first half of Arizona Football's game against Colorado at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz. on Oct. 1, 2022.

Roberts was then granted a seventh year of eligibility and announced his return to Arizona in December. But the Wildcats added Oregon transfer and former five-star linebacker Justin Flowe shortly after and recently added Washington linebacker transfer Daniel Heimuli. The Wildcats also return budding playmaker Jacob Manu, who will compete for starting snaps in '23. 

Arizona linebacker Jerry Roberts (48) is zoned in while standing on the sidelines before Arizona Football's game against Colorado at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz. on Oct. 1, 2022.

Roberts' younger brother, Jyree Roberts, is an incoming freshman at UMass. 


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Contact sports producer Justin Spears at jspears@tucson.com. On Twitter: @JustinESports