The role as an interior defensive lineman for the Arizona Wildcats is simple: Be a โdancing bear.โ
The job description for a โdancing bear,โ as UA defensive tackle Sio Nofoagatotoโa explains it: โWe want to be big, but we also want to be light on our feet, just being able to change things up.
โWe want to take up double-teams, free up the (linebackers), but also at the same time impact the game any way possible and just being smart enough to know when to make plays and do the right thing,โ he said.
Nofoagatotoโa has already changed up one big thing this year: As a transfer from Indiana, heโs part of the overhaul of defenders for the Wildcats in 2023 and is one of five defensive linemen to join Arizona through the transfer portal. Heโs joined by fellow 300-plus-pounders Bill Norton (Georgia) and Tyler Manoa (UCLA), and edge rushers Taylor Upshaw (Michigan) and Orin Patu (Cal). Manoa, Norton and Nofoagatotoโa, among others, are a part of the โdancing bearsโ unit looking to assist a Wildcatsโ rushing defense that was a weakness last season.
โI was blessed with an opportunity and Iโm just grateful for Coach (Jedd) Fisch, (defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen and defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi) for having me here and giving me this opportunity,โ Nofoagatotoโa said.
Added Nofoagatotoโa: โThe knowledge that they have is a blessing for me to come in and take everything in.โ
The 6-3, 330-pound Nofoagatotoโa, an Iliโili, American Samoa native, logged 52 tackles and four stops for loss in four seasons at Indiana and started all 12 games for the Hoosiers last season. In the spring, Nofoagatotoโa stayed in Bloomington, Indiana, โand just did drills on my own,โ before transferring to the UA.
Now at Arizona, Nofoagatotoโa is โjust coming in and making an impact as a run-stopper and being an asset to the team in any way possible; just win games,โ he said.
โI hope the team knows that I can help them in the run, but it also challenges me to work on my pass-rushing skills and just hone in on things that might be my weaknesses and try to make them my strengths,โ he added.
Kaufusi said Nofoagatotoโa is โanother guy who played in the Big Ten, great conference ... whether you want to consider it a running league, a physical league.โ
โHe started two years over there, so he brings that experience โ that veteran leadership โ that we need with some of our younger guys,โ he said.
Nofoagatotoโa said transferring to a program that embraces Polynesian culture โ Arizonaโs roster has quite a few Polynesian players โ is โpretty big, just coming from somewhere where there werenโt a lot of Polynesiansโ at Indiana.
โThe team has adapted to the Aloha mindset, bringing everybody in and loving everybody,โ Nofoagatotoโa said.
Unlike his defensive line cohorts, Nofoagatotoโa doesnโt wear gloves while playing. Thatโs a new development where he pays homage to former Polynesian Pac-12 defensive tackles Danny Shelton and Vita Vea, both known for not wearing gloves. Vea and Shelton were โtwo defensive linemen I looked up to as a kid,โ said Nofoagatotoโa.
โThey wore no gloves in the Pac-12,โ he said. โItโs always good just to get a feel on the O-line.โ
During Arizonaโs scrimmage Saturday, Nofoagatotoโa was among the defensive linemen rotating every several plays on one drive. Shuttling as many fresh (larger) bodies on the field to keep defensive linemen fresh is a major focal point for Arizona on defense. Norton, Manoa, Nofoagatotoโa, sophomore Taiโtaโi Uiagalelei, junior-college transfer Keanu Mailoto, sophomore Jacob Kongaika and Tiaoalii Savea, whoโs missed several training camp practices for an undisclosed injury, are among the most rotated interior defensive linemen. Edge rushers and defensive ends, also with a blend of transfer portal prospects and rising underclassmen, provide Arizona depth it didnโt have a season ago.
โWeโre subbing,โ Nansen said. โLike I told the guys, โIf weโre playing more than four snaps, then weโre not doing our jobs as coaches, especially up front.โ The back end of it, I understand they have to stay because itโs a rhythm thing back there.
โBut up front we got to rotate. Itโs a long game, especially now in college football, you average anywhere from 85-90 plays and you have to keep those guys fresh.โ
Kaufusi said the defensive line rotation โjust depends on the series, how the plays are going on the drive.โ
โWe like to keep everybody fresh and get a good rotation with guys in and out,โ he said.
Finding the ideal blend of players is a recipe Arizonaโs coaching is still trying to figure out.
โBottom line is, weโre just trying to build trust and chemistry,โ Kaufusi said. โWe still got this week and next week, then weโll make some decisions and narrow things down.โ
Extra points:
Kaufusi said redshirt freshman Isaiah Wardโs athleticism and length has elevated him in the Wildcatsโ rotation at defensive end. The 6-5, 225-pound Los Angeles-area native has batted down passes in the backfield during team period throughout training camp. Ward received first-team reps on Thursday, alongside Norton, Manoa and Upshaw. Said Kaufusi, on Ward: โIf you look at his pass-rush skillset, thatโs what he brings. At the same time, weโre looking for effort, trust, team chemistry.โ
Arizona receiver Jacob Cowing was selected at No. 38 in ESPNโs list of top 100 players entering the college football season.
The Wildcats added former Scottsdale Saguaro wide receiver Deric English. The 6-4, 210-pound English was a part of the 2023 recruiting cycle and held offers from Louisville, Penn State, Oregon, Michigan State, Florida State and Utah, among others. English, who hasnโt participated in training camp, is a walk-on for the Wildcats.
Former Arizona wide receiver Stanley Berryhill III was in attendance for Arizonaโs practice on Thursday; he also spoke to the team following practice. Berryhill, who spent his rookie season with the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions, was waived by Detroit in the wake of his six-game suspension for violating the NFLโs gambling policy for placing bets on non-NFL games at the Lions facility. Berryhill was Detroitโs โgunnerโ on punt coverage, a role he carved out in his final season at Arizona.