If the early stages of the transfer portal period on Monday suggest anything, the Arizona Wildcats could have a plethora of incoming transfers in head coach Brent Brennanβs second season at the helm. Potentially multiple dozens of players.
As of Monday, a day that had roughly 1,200 players enter the transfer portal, according to On3βs database, 18 UA players have either entered the transfer portal or are making plans to leave Tucson, including a two-year defensive captain for the Wildcats.
Arizona linebacker Jacob Manu is reportedly planning to enter the transfer portal, On3βs Hayes Fawcett reported Sunday night.
Manu is the most impactful defensive Wildcat to enter the transfer portal.
Arizona linebacker Jacob Manu celebrates after his tackle for a loss against New Mexico running back Eli Sanders in August.
Manu played in seven games this season before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the Wildcatsβ homecoming loss to the Colorado Buffaloes. Manu was one of three defensive captains to endure a season-ending leg injury, along with defensive backs Gunner Maldonado and Treydan Stukes.
The 5-11, 228-pound Manu was an under-the-radar recruit coming out of Servite High School in Anaheim, California. Manu signed with Arizona in 2022 and joined his Servite teammates in quarterback Noah Fifita, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan and tight end Keyan Burnett, who also entered the transfer portal.
After standing out on Arizonaβs scout-team defense, Manu emerged as a starter halfway through his freshman season in 2022.
Last season, Manu led the Pac-12 in tackles (116) and was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team and Associated Press All-Pac-12 First Team. Manu became the first Wildcat to lead the Pac-12 in tackles since Scooby Wright in 2014. Manu entered this season with preseason All-Big 12 honors.
Arizona linebackers coach Danny Gonzales called Manu βthe best linebacker in the Big 12β in the spring and during fall training camp.
Arizona linebacker Jacob Manu high-steps after a tackle for loss against NAU in September. Manu missed the second half of the season with a leg injury.
βIβm going to say it again, Jacob Manu is the best linebacker in the Big 12 and I proudly say that,β Gonzales said in August. βI told him, βIβm putting a target on your back, man. People are going to come and prove that theyβre better than you. Let them prove it.β Jacob Manu has earned that stuff. β¦ Heβs one of the toughest kids Iβve ever been around, one of the biggest alpha males Iβve ever been around.
βHeβs fun to coach and when you coach those guys the hardest and get after them, you got a chance. Our machine rolls when Jacob Manu is in there. When heβs not, we need to find the next man up to do that.β
Before his season-ending injury, Manu had 47 tackles and a fumble recovery this season.
Manu underwent surgery for his injury in November and isnβt expected to be available until the summer.
Itβs possible Manu, among others, could return to Arizona for the 2025 season.
Other Arizona starters to enter the transfer portal include offensive lineman Wendell Moe, who also played three seasons for the Wildcats. Moe is taking an official visit to Auburn on Friday.
Arizona offensive lineman Wendell Moe gets in position during the first half of the Wildcats win last season over Utah in Tucson on Nov. 18, 2023.
Moe started all 13 games at left guard in Arizonaβs 10-3 season in 2023, including the win over Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl.
As a starter this past season, due to injuries on Arizonaβs offensive line, Moe played both left guard and right guard. Moe logged 638 snaps at left guard and 122 at right guard. He received the second-best pass-blocking grade (87) this season, according to Pro Football Focus. Moe played 1,775 snaps over his three-year career at Arizona.
Arizona redshirt freshman cornerback Emmanuel Karnley reportedly entered the transfer portal, per 247Sports.com national recruiting editor Brandon Huffman. Karnley started six games for the Wildcats this season and replaced the injured Marquis Groves-Killebrew, who started the last three games of the season. Karnley was suspended for the season finale against Arizona State after he was ejected in Arizona’s previous game for spitting on a TCU player.
The transfer portal closes on Dec. 28.
San Jose State defensive back Michael Dansby, left, tackles UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III during the second half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in San Jose, Calif.Β
UA offers ex-San Jose State DB
Arizona offered former San Jose State defensive back Michael Dansby on Monday.
The 6-foot, 179-pound Oakland native signed with San Jose State in 2022 to play for Brennan and current Arizona cornerbacks coach Chip Viney.
Dansby ended his three-year career at SJSU with 68 career tackles, 14 pass deflections, five interceptions and a touchdown.
The Wildcats have added several former Spartans since Brennanβs hiring, including running back Quali Conley, who was Arizonaβs leading rusher, and tight end Sam Olson, defensive end Tre Smith and offensive lineman Ryan Stewart.
Valley Vistaβs Damir Ilicic (15) releases the ball as Salpointeβs Keona Davis (50) goes in for the tackle during a matchup at Salpointe Catholic High School on Sept. 15, 2023
Keona Davis enters transfer portal after one season at Nebraska
After one season at Nebraska, Tucson native and former Salpointe Catholic defensive end Keona Davis entered the transfer portal, he announced on Monday.
Following a productive career at Salpointe Catholic, the 6-5, 255-pound Davis committed to Arizona in 2023, along with Salpointe Catholic teammate and five-star edge rusher Elijah Rushing, but both decommitted from the UA in October; Rushing flipped to Oregon.
Davis signed with Washington last December, but was granted release from his national letter of intent after head coach Kalen DeBoer left to take the same role at Alabama.
After interest from Michigan State and UCLA, Davis signed with Nebraska.
In 11 games as a true freshman, Davis recorded nine tackles for the Cornhuskers, which finished the season 6-6 and earned a spot in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl.
