Bear Down Wildcats

Postmaster wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2024 2:35 pm

azgreg wrote: Tue Dec 17, 2024 1:24 pm

Was Doege recruiting this guy while at Marshal?

I believe Doege was the TE coach at Purdue when he committed there.

Sounds to me like Noah is continuing on his path to being the all time greatest wildcat. He's again helping to recruit players!

Amazing, amazing kid.

Every kid who stays is a win in my book.

Confirmed

https://arizonasports.com/story/3566482 ... sis-smith/

Arizona Wildcats defensive back Genesis Smith has exited the transfer portal after he decided to return for the 2025 season, he told On3.com.

Smith’s role grew early in 2024 after a string of injuries, and he produced 64 tackles to go with three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two passes defensed.

News of his return came Thursday morning, a day after quarterback Noah Fifita, who was not entered into the transfer portal, announced he would return under new offensive coordinator Seth Doege.

While Smith’s return keeps more talent in Tucson, the defensive backfield has lost several key players. Starting cornerbacks Tacario Davis and Treydan Stukes, plus safety Gunner Maldonado have hit the portal lately. Starting safety Dalton Johnson is additionally in the transfer portal.

Davis is the most notable entrant for the football team so far. Before the 2024 season, he was projected as a potential first-round NFL Draft pick.

The junior finished 2024 with 43 tackles and six passes defensed.

Brent Brennan’s first year leading the Wildcats went far south of expectations with a good portion of the roster returning from a 10-win club a year prior. Arizona football was projected to finish fifth in the Big 12 but fell flat with a 4-8 record that ended with a 49-7 rivalry loss to Arizona State.

The first starter to leave was starting left guard Wendell Moe, a redshirt sophomore.

Also in the portal are linebacker Jacob Manu and tight end Keyan Barnett, two of the four Servite High School products who could defect with receiver Tetairoa McMillan leaving for the NFL.

Offensive tackle Jonah Savaiinaea has also declared for the draft.

Beyond that, here’s who is incoming and outgoing via the transfer portal by date.

Set the O/U for returnee’s at three, so we have one. Manu and Stukes to me seem like guys who could return although Manu might not like Gonzales who coached his position group last season

No DC named yet?

gouacats wrote: Thu Dec 19, 2024 11:12 am No DC named yet?

Expect it to be Gonzalez until it isn't.

Chicat wrote: Thu Dec 19, 2024 10:26 am Every kid who stays is a win in my book.

Scheer thinks they'll be more.

I wonder if there is one name above DG for DC and they are coaching this weekend

That would make the most sense when the official announcement hasn't happened yet

Is Brennen going to take Smith back?

Postmaster wrote: Thu Dec 19, 2024 8:37 pm Is Brennen going to take Smith back?

Never heard he was a bad teammate in any way. Has to take him back as he was our best defensive guy

Yeah, it was tongue in cheek based on Brennan talking about not wanting guys who were ready to look for other options.


Also, I am all for keeping Smith.

Oh I like that

Hmm a wise man once said to chill out and relax and let everything play out

Yep. Good to see both Dalton and Genesis back. C'mon Treydan and Gunner. Love you guys.

Jacob, you too.

Be Wildcats for life!

Burnett to Kansas.

Well this interesting, Jedd wanted him bad originally and he's from the area. Wonder what the story is there if he's not taking a visit at Washington

azgreg wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 10:56 am Burnett to Kansas.

Really wish we could have seen him shine here, hope he plays up to his potential (just not against us)

azgreg wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 10:56 am Burnett to Kansas.

I hope he gets 60+ targets and shows out.

Lineman from Texas Tech

Nike needs to make him a bigger jacket.

Merkin wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 11:43 am Nike needs to make him a bigger jacket.

WSU receiver

Hmm

Looks like the wait and see people knew a thing or two

Not just freak out like the losers and podcasters did

Well we have bodies but we are still missing Davis, Maldonado and Manu so not sure we should be booking rooms for a bowl game next year

It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out. Inheriting the core of a 10-3 team, going 4-8 with the statistical nosedives, having a player exodus, and replacing all three coordinators still speaks for itself. At this point, the hiring of Seth Doege as OC seems to be playing well. As far as key personnel impact from the transfer portal, you can't include McMillan in that equation, as he would've been gone regardless, and it's obviously a massive loss. Despite the overall number leaving, from a quick review, it seems that the incoming group of transfers so far roughly covers the key two-deep losses. But that still leaves you with similar talent (less McMillan) as this past season's team. Hopefully there will still be a significant number of additions, particularly in the DL and probably at RB. And hopefully Doege can get the offense going. Meanwhile, we're still waiting for a ST coordinator (who may still be coaching in a bowl) and the assumed shift at DC. Who knows...maybe if they can avoid the rash of injuries, improve as a coaching staff, and get a few bounces, they might even be able to limp into a minor bowl as they were expected to in 2024. But I'll be a skeptic about that until I see it happen.

Celebrating because we got a few guys back and got a couple guys in the portal when we still need to replace 20 other players is a super odd flex but keyboard warriors are everlasting.

Manu to UDub, so my shocked face.

azcat49 wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 2:42 pm Well we have bodies but we are still missing Davis, Maldonado and Manu so not sure we should be booking rooms for a bowl game next year

No one is saying that

Still a lot more spots to fill but so far so good and the doom and gloom was obviously ignorant and pushed by agendas

Remember how excited everyone was when last year so many people jumped back out of the portal…. and then the season happened?

Might not want to break your arm patting yourself on your back so quickly….

Alieberman wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 3:00 pm Remember how excited everyone was when last year so many people jumped back out of the portal…. and then the season happened?

Might not want to break your arm patting yourself on your back so quickly….

Point is clearly over your head

The exodus was very real, and a reflection of player confidence in the coaches. But, the transfer portal era is a different environment, and in any organization, there can be a bit of the addition by subtraction effect. Not saying anybody had a bad attitude, and I don't know that anyone did. But if you've been around for awhile and you're taking up space and not on the two-deep, I'm not going to get too concerned about the impact of the overall number leaving on our near-term prospects. It's kind of like you don't want to see too many redshirt seniors on your third and fourth strings. But, by the same token, even if the two-deep talent outs and ins were a wash, the talent level would be the same as 4-8 (only without McMillan.)

PHXCATS wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 3:03 pm

Alieberman wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 3:00 pm Remember how excited everyone was when last year so many people jumped back out of the portal…. and then the season happened?

Might not want to break your arm patting yourself on your back so quickly….

Point is clearly over your head

You are the #1 UofA Superfan and the rest of us are horrible human beings.

Explain to me what is over my head.

Some people just need to be told they’re the prettiest girl at the dance even though they’re actually dog ugly and there is no dance.

The count so far:

https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/ ... nan-roster

UA players entering the portal

S Gunner Maldonado
CB Treydan Stukes
LB Jacob Manu (committed to Washington)
OL Wendell Moe Jr. (committed to Tennessee)
S Dalton Johnson (withdrew)
CB Tacario Davis
DB Genesis Smith (withdrew)
DL Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei
TE Keyan Burnett (committed to Kansas)
RB Rayshon ‘Speedy’ Luke
CB Emmanuel Karnley
LB Kamuela Ka’aihue
WR Malachi Riley
DL Keanu Mailoto
WR Reymello Murphy
CB Demetrius Freeney (committed to Boise State)
WR AJ Jones (committed to Middle Tennessee State)
CB Jai-Ayviauynn Celestine
RB Brandon Johnson
WR Jackson Holman
QB Brayden Dorman
TE Dorian Thomas
OL JT Hand (committed to Oregon State)
DL Nolan Clement
DL Bryce Echols (committed to Nevada)
DE Tristan Davis
QB Anthony Garcia
OL Jonah Rodriguez
DL Nicholas Fernandez
OL Elijha Payne
DE Cyrus Durham

Portal pickups

Former New Mexico WR Luke Wysong. He has one season of eligibility remaining.
Former Northwestern State defensive lineman Chancellor Owens. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.
Former San Jose State cornerback Michael Dansby. He has one season of eligibility remaining.
Former Texas cornerback Jay’Vion Cole. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Former Stanford safety Jshawn Frausto-Ramos. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Former Washington State wide receiver Kris Hutson. He has one season of eligibility remaining.
Former Texas Tech offensive lineman Ty Buchanan. He has one season of eligibility remaining.
Former Georgia Tech offensive lineman Jordan Brown. He has one season of eligibility remaining.

Alieberman wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 3:14 pm

PHXCATS wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 3:03 pm

Alieberman wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 3:00 pm Remember how excited everyone was when last year so many people jumped back out of the portal…. and then the season happened?

Might not want to break your arm patting yourself on your back so quickly….

Point is clearly over your head

You are the #1 UofA Superfan and the rest of us are horrible human beings.

Explain to me what is over my head.

Agendas

Are the agendas in the room with you right now?

If I didn’t know better I’d swear Machina was Chief.

I.C.'s gonna I.C.

Regarding the numbers game. I think it's a great idea to track where people land (assuming they'll get to play there.) To use a basketball analogy, it's concerning when an Oumar Ballo winds up as a key contributor at an Indiana (particularly if we don't have an appropriate replacement.) It's not as concerning when a Rolf Jacobs winds up at a Long Beach St.

Well I can't say that I wish Manu well.

Postmaster wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 5:56 pm Well I can't say that I wish Manu well.

I do.

But I hope UDub goes winless.

Chicat wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 5:59 pm

Postmaster wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 5:56 pm Well I can't say that I wish Manu well.

I do.

But I hope UDub goes winless.

Same. I have no problems whatsoever with players going to play for the coach that recruited them and they played for.

But fuck Fisch. Haven't hated any UA coach as much since Larry Smith.

Hating Fisch is such a loser move

PHXCATS wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 6:06 pm Hating Fisch is such a loser move

Dude, never respond to my posts. How many times do I need to tell you that?

To me Manu going to UDub tells me he really disliked Gonzales and his scheme. I think the same with Burnett and Adkins

We have made strides but we will have to wait and see if these guys can play at the Big 12 level

PHXCATS wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 6:06 pm Hating Fisch is such a loser move

This contributes nothing and these types of posts need to end right now.