Arizona’s first addition in the transfer portal is a wide receiver.
Former New Mexico Lobo Luke Wysong committed to the Wildcats on Friday, he announced on social media. Arizona officially signed Wysong Saturday morning.
The 5-10, 184-pound Wysong joins Arizona after four seasons at New Mexico.
As a junior this season, Wysong hauled in a career-high 69 catches for 840 yards and a touchdown. In Arizona’s season-opening win over the Lobos in August, Wysong had eight catches for 129 yards and a touchdown.
Arizona defensive back Emmanuel Karnley (23) puts the pressure on New Mexico wide receiver Luke Wysong (15), getting him out of bounds before the catch in the fourth quarter at Arizona Stadium, Aug. 31, 2024.
Wysong finished his New Mexico career with 134 catches for 1,465 yards and three touchdowns. He was a Second-Team All-Mountain West selection this season.
The Rio Rancho, New Mexico, native signed with UNM in 2021 under former head coach Danny Gonzales, who is on the UA staff in a role that will be determined later. Gonzales spent this season as a linebackers coach and special teams coordinator.
With the Wildcats losing Tetairoa McMillan to the NFL Draft, Montana Lemonious-Craig to graduation and others to the transfer portal, wide receiver is a position of need for Arizona in 2025. Arizona receivers Malachi Riley, AJ Jones, Reymello Murphy and Jackson Holman entered the transfer portal.
New Mexico wide receiver Luke Wysong runs during a game against San Diego State on Nov 8, 2024, in San Diego.
Arizona is expected to return 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.
In 745 offensive snaps at New Mexico this season, Wysong lined up as a slot receiver for 384 of them, according to Pro Football Focus. Arizona is returning starting slot receiver Jeremiah Patterson, who had 26 catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Arizona defensive back Genesis Smith (12) during a game against Texas Tech on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024.
Smith to enter portal
Another prominent Arizona defensive player is exploring the transfer portal market.
Arizona sophomore defensive back Genesis Smith is planning to enter the portal, reported On3.com.
Smith will join linebacker Jacob Manu, cornerback Tacario Davis, nickel back Treydan Stukes, safety Gunner Maldonado, safety Dalton Johnson and defensive lineman Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei as notable UA defensive players to enter the transfer portal.
Smith is the 28th scholarship Wildcat to enter the transfer portal.
Arizona coach Brent Brennan walks defensive back Genesis Smith (12) to the bench after the Wildcat defense surrendered a second-quarter touchdown to Arizona State in the 98th Territorial Cup on Nov. 30, 2024, at Arizona Stadium.
After the Chandler native and Hamilton High School product signed with Arizona in 2023, Smith contributed as a true freshman last season, and his first interception as a Wildcat was one of Arizona’s six takeaways in the Alamo Bowl win over Oklahoma.
As a sophomore, the 6-2, 203-pound Smith tied safety Jack Luttrell for a team-high three interceptions and was third in tackles (63) after starting in three different positions in Arizona’s defensive secondary due to so many injuries this season.
Once Stukes went down with a season-ending ACL injury, Smith stepped in as Arizona’s starting nickel back, with Luttrell at free safety.
Smith was named Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Week after his two-takeaway performance in Arizona’s win over Houston.
Smith, Manu, Stukes, Maldonado, Johnson, Davis and Uiagalelei played a combined 7,888 snaps in the last two seasons. If none of the aforementioned players withdraw their name from the transfer portal, the Wildcats won’t have any starters from the Alamo Bowl team in 2023. Retaining those players “remains to be seen,” Arizona head coach Brent Brennan said on Friday.
“As a I look at it, college football is way different than what it was five years ago,” Brennan said. “Shoot, it’s way different than what it was five months ago. Everybody is doing this and navigating this for the first time. ... Those guys are great guys. I love those guys and however it works out over the next few weeks, I understand it and I’m optimistic that some of those guys will come back.”
Extra points
- Brennan, on McMillan and offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea declaring for the NFL Draft: “Those are two great Wildcats. I’m so happy for them. Obviously whoever gets them is going to get two incredible players and two outstanding people. I think that’s something that’s really, really cool. Those guys a year ago chose to stay and play together. Even through the season not being what they wanted it to be, they still showed up and worked their tails off for each other, for this team and for this university, and I think that just defines how special those people are.”
- Maldonado took an official visit to Indiana on Friday. He posted a photo from Indiana University Memorial Stadium on his Instagram page. Tenth-ranked Indiana (11-1), led by Home Depot Coach of the Year Curt Cignetti, is preparing for its College Football Playoff first-round matchup at seventh-ranked Notre Dame.
- Tucson native and former Salpointe Catholic High School defensive end Keona Davis withdrew his name from the transfer portal to stay at Nebraska. In 11 games as a true freshman, the 6-5, 255-pound Davis recorded nine tackles for the Cornhuskers. Nebraska faces Boston College in New York City for the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 28.
