One of Arizonaβs top defensive players from 2023 is still with the Wildcats despite entering the transfer portal more than a month ago.
Junior cornerback Tacario Davis, who appeared in 13 games and made 11 starts for the Wildcats this past season, is in line to play for Arizona in the upcoming season β the first for new UA head coach Brent Brennan and his staff.
Although Davis entered the portal after the departure of former Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch to Washington, he has never publicly announced if he rescinded his name or is still in the portal. National college football websites, including on3.com and 247sports.com, still list Davis as being in the portal, but undecided.
Arizona cornerback Tacario Davis kneels in the end zone as the Pride of Arizona marches up behind him, leaving the field prior to the start of the Wildcats' home game against Utah in 2023.
Davis, however, has remained a part of the UA roster and was recently spotted participating in team workouts, roughly a month before Brennanβs Wildcats begin spring practice.
Arizona cornerback Tacario Davis (23) throws up a last gasp stab to knock away a bomb intended for Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (0) in the fourth quarterΒ of the Wildcats' dominant victory over the Sun Devils on Nov. 25, 2023 in the 97th Territorial Cup matchup in Tempe.
However, like anyone else on the UA team, Davis could again look to transfer during the 15-day transfer portal window in the spring that begins on April 16 and ends on April 30, which is in the middle of Arizonaβs spring practice schedule. Arizonaβs spring game is April 27. The Wildcats signed two players in the transfer portal last spring: defensive end Taylor Upshaw and wide receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig.
Davis, a 6-4, 195-pound Long Beach, California, native, was a part of Arizonaβs loaded 2022 recruiting class and played in five games at defensive back as a true freshman in the Wildcatsβ seven-defensive back βdollarβ package.
As a sophomore this past season, Davis started all but two games for the Wildcats. Graduate transfer Dylan Wyatt started the season opener against Northern Arizona, while senior Martell Irby started against UTEP. Davis made his first career start at the UA in the Wildcatsβ road-opening loss to Mississippi State.
Davis emerged as one of the top defensive backs nationally after leading the Pac-12 in pass breakups (16) and receiving an 87.5 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus. Davis was Arizonaβs highest-graded (85.5) defensive Wildcat on PFF for the β23 season. He also had 25 tackles and one interception during his breakout season and was named an Associated Press All-Pac-12 Second-Team selection.
Should Davis stay at Arizona, the Wildcats have four defensive backs from last yearβs squad, along with nickel back Treydan Stukes, strong safety Dalton Johnson and free safety Gunner Maldonado, who was Defensive MVP in the Alamo Bowl. Davisβ cornerback counterpart, Ephesians Prysock, transferred to Washington.
Other options at cornerback include Stukes, who played three seasons at cornerback before moving to nickel back, redshirt freshman Jai-Ayviauynn Celestine, freshman Emmanuel Karnley and junior college transfer Johno Price.
Arizonaβs spring game is on Saturday, April 27 at 6 p.m. The Wildcats kick off the season against New Mexico on Aug. 31 in Tucson.
Brent Brennan was officially announced as the head coach of the Arizona Wildcats on Tuesday. Brennan flew to Tucson and walked into Arizona Stadium with the Pride of Arizona playing "Bear Down, Arizona" and mascots Wilbur and Wilma greeting the new UA coach. (Video by Justin Spears / Arizona Daily Star)
