'Tis the season.
It's March, which means Tucson turns into a basketball-obsessed city while the Arizona men's basketball program contends for a national championship.
It's also the time of year Arizona football begins its preparation for the upcoming season. The Wildcats kicked off their spring practice schedule on Tuesday, which will end on Saturday, April 25, at the annual spring showcase at Casino Del Sol Stadium.
Between the transfer portal and the 2026 recruiting class, Arizona will have 36 new faces in the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility this spring. Here's a look at 10 transfers who could impact the Wildcats this upcoming season.
Oregon defensive back Daylen Austin (0) prepares for a play against Washington during the first half, Nov. 29, 2025, in Seattle.
Daylen Austin
Position: Safety
Height, weight: 6-foot, 194 pounds
Hometown (previous school): Long Beach, California (Oregon)
The rundown: Austin is one of seven defensive backs the Wildcats added in the transfer portal in the offseason, along with safety Malcolm Hartzog (Nebraska), cornerback Tyrese Boss (Wyoming), safety Cam Chapa (Northern Colorado), safety Lee Molette III (UConn) and cornerbacks Dwight Bootle (Charlotte) and Zuri Watson (Howard).
The wave of defensive backs is to help replace one of the best defensive secondaries in program history — led by nickel back Treydan Stukes, strong safety Dalton Johnson and free safety Genesis Smith. The NFL-bound trio, which all received All-Big 12 honors, played a combined 6,700 defensive snaps in their time at Arizona.
Austin, who was a highly touted recruit in 2023, will be among the several newcomers and returners competing for one of the safety positions.
Austin signed with Oregon as a four-star prospect out of Long Beach Polytechnic High School (California) in 2023. Former Arizona cornerbacks coach Demetrice Martin recruited Austin to Oregon. Austin was also recruited by Arizona, Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Texas, USC, Michigan State and Louisville, among others.
Austin played 248 defensive snaps in three seasons — 167 snaps at slot cornerback, 29 snaps at cornerback, 23 snaps at free safety and 21 snaps at strong safety. Austin had 23 tackles, four pass deflections and an interception. His interception was in a 21-7 win over Wisconsin in 2025.
Northern Colorado safety Cam Chapa committed to the Arizona Wildcats following two highly productive seasons in the Big Sky.
Cam Chapa
Position: Safety
Height, weight: 5-11, 190 pounds
Hometown (previous school): Aurora, Colorado (Northern Colorado)
The rundown: Chapa is the latest player Arizona signed from the FCS market — and he's been one of the most productive defensive players at that level the last two seasons.
Chapa recorded 171 tackles, eight interceptions, 12 pass deflections, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Chapa, who was a first-team All-Big Sky selection in 2025, led the conference with 63 solo tackles.
Chapa, who will also contend for one of Arizona's safety spots, joins defensive tackle Deshawn McKnight, wide receiver Javin Whatley, tight end Cameron Barmore, linebacker Riley Wilson, running back Quincy Craig and defensive lineman Malachi Bailey as players to sign with Arizona after starting their careers at FCS programs. Arizona also added Georgetown edge rusher Cooper Blomstrom from the FCS ranks in the transfer portal.
West Virginia wide receiver Rodney Gallagher III runs the ball between Arizona defensive lineman Kevon Darton and defensive back Genesis Smith (12) in the first half, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tucson.
Rodney Gallagher III
Position: Wide receiver
Height, weight: 5-10, 177 pounds
Hometown (previous school): Uniontown, Pennsylvania (West Virginia)
The rundown: Gallagher is one of three wide receivers the Wildcats added in the transfer portal, along with Jordan Ross (Colorado State) and D.J. Jordan (USC).
Gallagher was a four-star prospect and was recruited as a receiver and defensive back in 2023. Gallagher signed with nearby West Virginia over Michigan, Oregon, Cincinnati, Nebraska, Penn State and Texas, among others.
When West Virginia beat Arizona, 31-16, in Tucson in 2024, Gallagher had two catches for 14 yards and had a season-high 21 rushing yards.
In three years at West Virginia, Gallagher had 64 receptions for 605 yards and three touchdowns. He had the second-most receptions (28) for the Mountaineers this past season — his only season under former Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez.
Gallagher's speed, experience and versatility as a slot receiver could position him as a potential replacement for Whatley, who had the second-most receiving yards at Arizona behind Kris Hutson.
Nebraska defensive back Malcolm Hartzog runs after an interception against Ohio State, Oct. 26, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio.
Malcolm Hartzog
Position: Safety
Height, weight: 5-8, 184 pounds
Hometown (previous school): Silver Creek, Mississippi (Nebraska)
The rundown: Hartzog, who had a game-sealing interception against Cincinnati in 2025, recorded 108 tackles, 4½ tackles for loss, 21 pass deflections and eight interceptions during his four-year career at Nebraska.
Hartzog, who could replace either Johnson or Stukes, played multiple positions in Nebraska's secondary, including 909 snaps at cornerback, 474 snaps at slot cornerback, 237 snaps at strong safety and 67 at free safety.
Former San Jose State offensive tackle Nate Hale will compete for a starting role on Arizona's offensive line in 2026.
Nathan Hale
Position: Offensive tackle
Height, weight: 6-4, 307 pounds
Hometown (previous school): Orange, California (San Jose State)
The rundown: Hale, who was recruited to San Jose State by head coach Brent Brennan and offensive line coach Josh Oglesby, played 670 snaps at right tackle after signing with SJSU in 2023.
With Tristan Bounds returning at right tackle, Hale, redshirt junior Rhino Tapa'atoutai, redshirt sophomore Matthew Lado, redshirt freshman Louis Akpa and BYU transfer Jake Griffin could be potential successors to Ty Buchanan at left tackle.
Washington offensive lineman Zachary Henning (58) during practice, Aug. 2, 2023, in Seattle.
Zachary Henning
Position: Center
Height, weight: 6-4, 299 pounds
Hometown (previous school): Centennial, Colorado (Washington)
The rundown: Arizona likely found its next center, who signed with Washington as a three-star prospect in 2023 and played three seasons for the Huskies — one under former UW head coach Kalen DeBoer and the last two under former UA head coach Jedd Fisch.
Henning appeared in 13 games in 2024, but primarily played special teams for the Huskies in his second year. Henning played in 13 games last season and recorded 333 offensive snaps. Henning took over starting duties in November after starter Landen Hatchett broke his hand.
Henning will be the third starting center in as many years for Arizona.
Marshall running back Antwan Roberts is joining Arizona for his final season of eligibility.
Antwan Roberts
Position: Running back
Height, weight: 6-foot, 204 pounds
Hometown (previous school): Nashville, Tennessee (Marshall)
The rundown: After four-star freshman Brandon Smith was granted release from his contract at Arizona, the Fresno, California, star flipped his commitment to Oregon. With Smith on the way out, Arizona signed Roberts.
Roberts reunites with Arizona offensive coordinator Seth Doege, who was Marshall's offensive play-caller in 2024. Roberts didn't play in 2024 due to injury.
Roberts had 90 rushes for 512 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 5.7 yards per carry in 2025. Roberts joined Marshall in 2023 after starting his collegiate career at Independence Community College in Kansas.
Roberts has the third-most offensive snaps (314) played by a UA running back behind Craig (1,013) and Kedrick Reescano (431).
Linebacker Everett Roussaw is joining Arizona following a productive season at Memphis. The Atlanta native started his career at UAB.
Everett Roussaw
Position: Linebacker
Height, weight: 6-2, 235 pounds
Hometown (previous school): Atlanta, Georgia (Memphis)
The rundown: Roussaw started his career at UAB in 2023 and played two seasons in Birmingham.
At UAB, Roussaw played in 23 games and made eight starts as a true freshman. He recorded 125 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks and two fumble recoveries.
Roussaw Memphis and had 64 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, four pass breakups and an interception in his lone year with the Tigers. He'll look to fill the void of the edge rusher-linebacker role in Arizona's defense — a role that belonged to Wilson.
Roussaw and Chase Kennedy "will be bookends when we do the four-linebacker stuff," Gonzales said.
Illinois tight end Cole Rusk (14) runs the ball against Washington safety Makell Esteen (24), Oct. 25, 2025, in Seattle.
Cole Rusk
Position: Tight end
Height, weight: 6-5, 250 pounds
Hometown (previous school): Rock Island, Illinois (Illinois)
The rundown: Between his stops at Murray State and Illinois, Rusk has played 642 offensive snaps and recorded 729 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
Rusk will be a veteran in a UA tight ends room chock-full of youth. The additions at tight end this spring: Rusk, redshirt freshman Shane King, redshirt sophomore Arthur Ban and early enrollee Henry Gabalis.
Linebacker Matai Tagoa'i transferred to Arizona after a season at USC.
Matai Tagoa'i
Position: Defensive back
Height, weight: 6-4, 200 pounds
Hometown (previous school): San Clemente, California (USC)
The rundown: Tagoa'i was recruited to Arizona to play linebacker, but the Wildcats are moving the USC transfer to the defensive backs room to play a safety-linebacker role. Second-year safety Coleman Patmon, who started in the Holiday Bowl, is moving to linebacker for the spring.
Gonzales said Tagoa'i "is a freak athlete."
Said Gonzales: "He's a slimmer version of (defensive lineman) Mays Pese, as far as their physical and violent nature, except what (Tagoa'i) can do in space. ... He's a freak athlete and when we get to spring ball, this is the mad scientist in me, I get to play with him like a little toy and see where he best fits in, and I love spring ball, because there's no pressure to win games."
