Arizona defensive lineman Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei enters transfer portal

Another defensive starter for Arizona is entering the transfer portal.

UA defensive lineman Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei entered the transfer portal on Tuesday, the day after it officially opened. Uiagalelei is the second defensive starter to enter the transfer portal, joining linebacker Jacob Manu, who also officially went into the portal on Tuesday.

Uiagalelei is leaving the UA football program after playing in 33 games over three seasons.

The Costa Mesa, California native signed with Arizona's 2022 recruiting class out of national powerhouse Mater Dei High School. 

The Arizona defensive lineman is one of several Uiagalelei family members to carve out an impressive football career. The Uiagaleleis hail from a Polynesian background and are well-known, especially in Southern California.

Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei is a cousin of Florida State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, who just concluded his lone season at FSU after stints at Oregon State and Clemson. The Uiagalelei cousins shared the field together when Arizona beat 11th-ranked Oregon State in Tucson last season. DJ Uiagalelei's younger brother, Matayo, is a standout sophomore at Oregon and an All-Big Ten defensive end.

As a true freshman in 2022, Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei was one of two freshmen to make five or more starts on the UA defense, along with Manu. Uiagalelei emerged as one of the Wildcats' top rotational defensive linemen during the '22 and '23 seasons. 

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After Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch bolted for Washington in January, Uiagalelei stayed in Tucson for one more season and the 6-4, 280-pound defensive lineman started all 12 games and recorded 17 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Uiagalelei had 68 tackles, 13.5 stops for loss, 4.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. He also blocked a field goal in Arizona's season-opening win over Northern Arizona in 2023. 

Uiagalelei became the 20th scholarship Wildcat to enter the transfer portal. Nearly 1,400 college football players nationally have entered the transfer portal since Monday, according to On3. 

The transfer portal officially closes on Dec. 28. 

Extra points

• Arizona offered San Jose State cornerback transfer DJ Harvey on Tuesday. Harvey had 58 tackles, four interceptions, two sacks and a fumble recovery as a junior for SJSU this season. The Wildcats offered SJSU safety transfer Michael Dansby on Monday.  

• Former Arizona offensive lineman Wendell Moe was offered by Arizona State, Washington and Cal on Tuesday. The 6-2, 339-pound Moe is taking an official visit to Auburn on Friday. 

• Former Arizona defensive tackle Tiaoalii Savea returned to the transfer portal after one season at Texas. Savea and nose tackle Bill Norton were the only two Wildcats to follow former Arizona defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen, who's UT's co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, to Texas. Savea has one year of eligibility left.

• Arizona offered former Washington offensive tackle Kahlee Tafai, a 6-5, 338-pound redshirt freshman, in the transfer portal. As a three-star prospect out of Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, California, Tafai was recruited by Arizona and San Jose State, UA head coach Brent Brennan's prior team.