Although Wendell Moe has become a mainstay on Arizonaβs offensive line in the last year-plus, there was a moment he was unsure about his future playing football.
Moe, who started 13 games at left guard for Arizonaβs 10-3 campaign last season, was under-recruited out of Long Beach Polytechnic High School before he was a late addition to the UA roster in 2022.
βIn my high school career, I just didnβt have any offers or anything,β said Moe, whoβs nicknamed βWoWo.β
His only offer was from Morgan State, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Baltimore, to play for head coach and ex-NFL running back Tyrone Wheatley. Moe signed with Morgan State until Wheatley accepted a role as the running backs coach for the Denver Broncos. Moe was released from his national letter of intent and became available for any school interested in the 6-2, 340-pound offensive lineman.
βI took myself out of the situation and was free, but after that, I had nowhere to go,β Moe said. βI had my heart on going to (Long Beach Community College) with my older brother, but after that, Arizona came with (former UA defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen). He flew out to Long Beach that morning, had me on a visit that night and committed on the visit.β
Moe received the opportunity he longed for with the most important man of his watching over him like a guardian angel. Moeβs father, Wendell Moe Sr., died from COVID-19 before his senior season at Long Beach Poly. He was 41 years old. The older Moe was βa very special person to me and my siblings,β said Wendell Moe Jr.
βWe built our family around him. Itβs all love. Heβs always watching over me and my family,β he said. βI feel his presence all the time.β
The loss of a parent, especially one who was so involved in their childrenβs lives, can take a while to grieve. Rather than wallowing in sorrow, Moe gravitated towards football more and was named a team captain for Long Beach Poly. As a senior, Moe bloomed into one of the top offensive linemen in the Los Angeles area, yet his recruitment went under the radar until Arizona expressed interest.
βMy dad taught me to grow up fast. He prepared us for what happened. After that, we got to work,β Moe said. βItβs sad that it happened. It was a big hit to my family. Trials and tribulations, we come out on top. Glory to God, Iβm here.β
Life at Arizona wasnβt the easiest transition for Moe, who weighed closer to 400 pounds than 300 when he first arrived, but shed the weight and became a standout on the Wildcatsβ scout-team offense.
βItβs hard. Itβs hard coming in as a true freshman trying to make a name for yourself,β Moe said. βBut when it gets down to it, you just gotta work. Just work your way into it and then work your way up and just keep learning. Youβre never going to stop learning.β
Moe said learning Arizonaβs offense and excelling at guard βclicked for me during our bye week (after) Washington.β
βThat week, something in my mind told me to amp it up and go harder and do more,β Moe said. βA couple weeks after that, I started playing. I feel like the bye week was the turn.β
Moe made his first career start that season in Arizonaβs 45-20 loss to No. 12 Utah, then started the following two weeks in the Wildcatsβ upset win over UCLA in what was potentially the UAβs last-ever game at the Rose Bowl, and a home loss to Washington State. Senior Josh Donovan started the final game of the β22 season against Arizona State. Moe was one of two true freshmen to start on Arizonaβs offensive line in 2022, along with junior right tackle Jonah Savaiinaea, who played right guard as a freshman.
As a sophomore, Moe became an Associated Press All-Pac-12 second-team selection and had the second-highest pass-blocking grade (85.6) amongst UA offensive linemen, per Pro Football Focus. Moments after Arizonaβs win over Oklahoma at the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Moeβs mother, June Moe, who wasnβt expecting to arrive for the bowl game, surprised her son at the teamβs hotel. As part of Dunkin Donutsβ βHome for the Holidaysβ campaign, the national donut and coffee chain covered her travel expenses.
βIβm not a hoorah guy and exaggerate everything, but when I did see her, I was filled with love and thankful that she could be there,β Moe said.
Just over two weeks after the bowl game, former Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch accepted the same position at Washington β and took nearly all of UAβs staffers with him to Seattle, including offensive line coach Brennan Carroll. When the team discovered Fisch bolting for UW on Jan. 14, exactly 17 days from Arizonaβs bowl win that capped a historic season, βit was a bit of a shock to us,β said redshirt junior Leif Magnuson, whoβs competing for Arizonaβs starting right guard spot this season.
βA lot of guys were put into a position where itβs like, βOh shoot, what do I do now? Do I stay? Do I go?β I think what it really came down to was regardless if the coach is here or not, we have the pieces,β Magnuson said. βWe have the guys and not only that, but we have guys who love each other. I think that was the biggest thing. ... Iβve done more than just play football. Iβve hung out with these guys, Iβve gotten to know them, and itβs just a different feel than what weβve had in the past in terms of teams. I just really like what weβre doing and I think all of us wanted to keep that going.β
Moe opted to return to the UA and is one of four returning starters on the offensive line, along with Savaiinaea, left tackle Raymond Pulido and center Josh Baker. Arizonaβs offensive line coach Josh Oglesby, a former star tackle at Wisconsin before his playing career was cut short due to injuries, is βvery detailed in his line of work,β Moe said.
βHe basically has a goal for everything, and trying to learn his offense has made me a better football player,β Moe said of Oglesby.
The decision by Moe and others, including Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, cornerback Tacario Davis, to return to the Wildcats is featured in a docuseries titled βA University of Arizona Football Documentaryβ on βGame Networkβ app, a media company co-founded by Fifitaβs father, Les Fifita. The first episode airs on Monday.
βItβs an awesome idea to highlight our players and highlight our program,β said Arizona head coach Brent Brennan, whoβs also a part of the docuseries. βItβs so well done. Iβm impressed by it.β
In the preview trailer, Moe said, βI did everything possible to put myself in this opportunity where I am right now.β