Arizona added one of the top FCS defensive players in college football on Saturday, with a commitment from Northwestern State linebacker and FCS All-American Blake Gotcher, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports and 247Sports.
The 6-1, 225-pound Gotcher is the second former Demon to transfer to Arizona since the portal opened, joining defensive lineman Chancellor Owens.
Gotcher had 162 tackles, 10.5 stops for loss, 4.5 sacks, two fumbles and an interception in Northwestern State's winless season (0-12) in 2024. Gotcher led FCS in tackles and tallied the fourth-most tackles in Northwestern State history.
Gotcher joins a linebacker room that just lost preseason All-Big 12 linebacker Jacob Manu, who transferred to Washington reunite with former UA head coach Jedd Fisch. 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 in 2023. Manu was the first Wildcat to lead the Pac-12 in tackles since Scooby Wright in 2014.
Manu was the leading tackler for Arizona until he suffered a season-ending knee injury. Second-year linebacker Kamuela Ka'aihue entered the transfer portal after the season. The Wildcats also lost Jared Small to graduation, but still have Justin Flowe, freshmen Stacy Bey and Jabari Mann and redshirt freshman Levicus Su'a. Arizona signed Southern California native Carter Jones and three-star San Antonio linebacker Myron Robinson in its 2025 recruiting class.
Gotcher will be among the names in contention to star alongside sophomore Taye Brown, who had 68 tackles and 2.5 sacks this year.
Gotcher is the first linebacker addition in Arizona's transfer portal class.
