Tucson native Flavio Gonzalez transfers to Arizona Wildcats

A Tucson native is returning home to play for the Arizona Wildcats football program.

Former Oregon State interior offensive lineman and Pueblo High School graduate Flavio Gonzalez transferred to Arizona on Wednesday, he announced on social media.

The 6-5, 293-pound Gonzalez played for the Pueblo Warriors under head coach Brandon Sanders, a former Wildcat and “Desert Swarm” defensive back, who is now the UA’s coordinator of football alumni high school relations.

Gonzalez joins a short list of Warriors to play for the hometown Wildcats, which includes running back David Eldridge, punter James Molina, two-way standout Charley Quihuis, running back Fernando Santa Cruz and defensive end Bill McKinley.

Gonzalez started his collegiate career at the junior college level at Southwestern Community College (California) and Butler Community College (Kansas). Gonzalez transferred to Oregon State in 2022 and played in a combined eight games his first two seasons with the Beavers.

As a redshirt senior this past season, Gonzalez played 723 offensive snaps in 12 games, per Pro Football Focus. Gonzales played 713 snaps at right guard for the Beavers in 2024. He allowed one sack this season, per PFF.

At Oregon State, Gonzalez played for offensive line coaches Jim Michalczik and Kyle DeVan, who both coached at Arizona. Michalczik coached under former Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez, while DeVan, a former NFL center, was a part of the Kevin Sumlin regime.

After losing starting tackle and NFL-bound Jonah Savaiinaea, veteran center Josh Baker and guard Wendell Moe Jr., who transferred to Tennessee, the Wildcats’ only returning starters are right guard Alexander Doost, who was recently named a Freshman All-American by The Athletic, and left tackle Rhino Tapa’atoutai, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2024.

Between high school and junior college prospects, along with additions in the transfer portal, Arizona has 10 newcomers on the offensive line. The high school additions are Northern California tackle Louis Akpa, Hawaii guard Javian Goo, Los Angeles-area guard Sione Tohi, Bay Area guard Losipini Tupou and in-state tackle Jaxon Griffin.

The Wildcats’ pickups in the transfer portal are Gonzalez, tackle Tristan Bounds (Michigan), tackle Ty Buchanan (Texas Tech) and tackle-guard hybrids in Ka’ena Decambra (Hawaii) and Jordan Brown (Georgia Tech).

Back to homepage

Subscriber Login

Keep reading with a digital access subscription.

Subscribe now

UA adds Chattanooga receiver

Arizona added depth to its wide receiver corps on Wednesday with a commitment from Chattanooga slot receiver Javin “Nunu” Whatley.

Whatley selected the Wildcats over North Carolina and Memphis.

The 5-10, 167-pound Rockmart, Georgia, native recorded 108 catches for 1,810 yards and 12 touchdowns in the last three seasons at Chattanooga. Whatley was a second-team All-Southern Conference selection the last two seasons at Chattanooga.

After losing likely first-round NFL Draft pick Tetairoa McMillan and senior receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig, along with several receivers to the transfer portal, Arizona is returning redshirt sophomore Chris Hunter, who ascended in the second half of the season and had 35 catches for 323 yards and three touchdowns. The New Orleans native is Arizona’s top returning receiver. Arizona is also returning starting slot receiver Jeremiah Patterson, who had 26 catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns this season after transferring from College of San Mateo (California).

Whatley is Arizona’s fourth addition at receiver via the transfer portal, joining Luke Wysong (New Mexico), Kris Hutson (Washington State) and Tre Spivey (Kansas State). The Wildcats also signed Orlando native Isaiah Mizell and in-state standout Gio Richardson in the 2025 recruiting class; both will be early enrollees in the spring.

Overall, Arizona has 21 newcomers from the transfer portal.

Extra points