Former Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura has declared for the NFL Draft and said he will participate in the UA’s pro day next month.
De Laura, who played the past two seasons for the Wildcats, made the announcement Thursday night on social media.
De Laura entered the transfer portal in December and committed to Texas State. But de Laura withdrew from the school in late January after settling a lawsuit over a sexual assault case from 2017, when he was a minor.
De Laura’s involvement in that case caused a backlash among Texas State supporters. Additionally, Craig Stutzmann, an assistant coach who had worked with de Laura at Washington State, left Texas State for San Jose State last month. Two days later, de Laura left Texas State.
De Laura came to the UA from WSU in January 2022. He established himself as the Wildcats’ starting quarterback, passing for 3,685 yards and 25 touchdowns and leading the Wildcats to a 5-7 record — a four-win improvement over the previous season.
During the offseason between the 2022 and ’23 football campaigns, it was first reported that de Laura and a former high school teammate were among those trying to settle a civil suit tied to an alleged sexual-assault case in Hawaii. De Laura and a high school teammate were accused of sexual assault when both were minors. The civil suit finally was settled last month.
The UA and former head coach Jedd Fisch stood by de Laura, who remained the Wildcats’ starter to open the ’23 season. But in Week 4, de Laura suffered an ankle injury at Stanford. Noah Fifita took over, led Arizona to a comeback victory and established himself as the team’s long-term starter. The Wildcats finished the season on a seven-game winning streak, capped by a victory in the Alamo Bowl.
Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura (7) participates in warmups before the Wildcats' game at Stanford on Sept. 23, 2023. De Laura would get injured in the third quarter, and the game against the Cardinal would mark his final start as a Wildcat.
De Laura finished his UA career with 4,805 passing yards, 35 passing touchdowns and seven rushing TDs in 19 games. Arizona’s pro day is slated for March 14.
“Thank you Wildcat and Cougar Nations!” de Laura wrote in his social post. “You changed my life. You invited me in and allowed me to be the best I could be for each of you. To my coaches, my teachers, my support team and, most of all, my brothers, the men who I had the honor of leading, playing and winning with — thank you from the very bottom of my heart. You have helped me grow and develop in so many amazing ways. To each of you, I am forever grateful for your belief, your trust and your support. You stood with me in the good times and tough ones. And I will ALWAYS stand with you and be there for you.
“For four years, I proudly represented Arizona, Washington State and the Pac-12, earning the opportunity to start in 32 NCAA games. Over that time, I have been able to accomplish so much on the field with and for my teammates. It was a dream come true for me. But my lifelong dream is to play professional football. After much thought, prayer and encouragement by those closest to me, I have made the decision to officially declare for the 2024 NFL Draft.
“While I look forward to the challenging work ahead preparing for the game at the highest level (starting with Arizona pro day), I will always take the friendships and collegiate experience with me wherever I play next.”
VIDEO: At a press conference introducing her as the University of Arizona's new athletic director on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, Desireé Reed-Francois gives her introductory remarks after being introduced by UA president Robert Robbins. (Courtesy Arizona Athletics)
