Arizona bolstered its offensive line and defensive line in the transfer portal, after the Wildcats added former Utah defensive end Chase Kennedy Monday morning, along with former Oregon tackle Michael Wooten, who committed late Sunday night.
Kennedy committed to the Wildcats following two seasons at Utah, where he played in seven games for the Utes and had one tackle. Kennedy, a 6-3, 231-pound edge rusher from Dallas, will join an Arizona defensive line that lost nine scholarship players from a year ago, including starting defensive ends Taylor Upshaw and Isaiah Ward, who transferred to Washington.
This spring, Arizona's top two defensive ends have been junior Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei, who can also play defensive tackle, and San Jose State transfer and former All-Mountain West selection Tre Smith. The Wildcats have also used Sterling Lane II, redshirt freshman Dominic Lolesio and junior-college transfer Cyrus Durham, among others, at defensive end. Other potential edge rushers include Julian Savaiinaea and Tristan Davis, however they received reps at defensive tackle this spring.
Wooten joins Arizona after two seasons with the Ducks. Wooten, who starred at Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, California, was recruited by Arizona State, Colorado and Utah in 2022 but signed with Oregon.
The 6-4, 310-pound Wooten helps Arizona's depth on the offensive line. Standout Jonah Savaiinaea started at right tackle this spring, while former four-star prospect and second-year lineman Raymond Pulido started at left tackle, but dealt with an injury that sidelined him for the final two weeks of spring practices.
Redshirt freshman Rhino Tapa'atoutai started left tackle in place of the injured Pulido to end the spring. Other tackles to play this spring include true freshman Matthew Lado, walk-on Zarius Wells, Northwestern transfer Alexander Doost and redshirt freshman Tylen Gonzalez, among others.
Kennedy and Wooten are the latest additions for Arizona since the two-week transfer portal started earlier this month, joining wide receiver Rymello Murphy (Old Dominion), tight end Sam Olson (San Jose State), quarterback Anthony Garcia (San Jose State), defensive lineman Jarra Anderson (Memphis) and long snapper Justin Holloway (Ohio).
Extra points:
- Arizona offered Tucson native and Salpointe Catholic High School 2025 offensive lineman Roman Fina on Monday. The 6-5, 250-pound Fina, who is the son of former UA and NFL offensive lineman John Fina and younger brother of UCLA left tackle Bruno Fina, also holds offers from Duke, Dartmouth and Penn.
