Arizona football transfer tracker: Wildcats land DB Daylen Austin

In the waning hours of the two-week transfer portal cycle, the Arizona Wildcats got a commitment from former Oregon cornerback and four-star prospect Daylen Austin.

Austin was ranked by 247 Sports as the No. 20 cornerback in the portal following a 2025 season in which he produced 10 tackles, three passes defensed and one interception in his 13 games for the Ducks.

The 6-foot-1 and 199-pound defensive back has two years of eligibility remaining and will join seven other transfers in shoring up the Wildcat’s secondary.

Tyrese Boss (Wyoming) was the first addition there, followed by Malcolm Hartzog (Nebraska), Cam Chapa (Northern Colorado), Dwight Bootle (Charlotte), Lee Molette III (UConn) and Zuri Watson (Howard). Arizona also added Valley prep product Brandon Holmes out of the JUCO ranks.

Arizona recently added its first running back in the portal window on Wednesday, former Marshall back Antwan Roberts, reuniting him with offensive coordinator Seth Doege.

Roberts had 512 yards and four touchdowns on 90 carries (5.7 yards per carry) in 2025 at Marshall and medically redshirted in 2024 when Doege was the Thundering Herd’s coordinator. He had just three total touches in 2023, his first campaign with Marshall.

The 6-foot-1, 203-pound back began his career at Wisconsin as the 80th running back in the 2021 class, but he transferred early in his first season as a Badger after a suspension stemming from a dorm fight that also saw a teammate dismissed from the team.

With 2025 leading rusher (978 total yards and five total touchdowns) Ismail Mahdi now out of eligibility, Roberts could compete for the starting role along with expected returner Kedrick Reescano (396 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns).

The rest of the offensive haul has focused on pass catchers for returning signal-caller Noah Fifita, including former Colorado State receiver Jordan Ross.

Ross was a top pass-catching prospect for the high school class of 2024, coming in at No. 68 in the country, according to 247 Sports. A broken collarbone his junior year brought his stock down, but Ross has flashed “big play ability” and been clocked at a top speed of 20.62 mph while at Colorado State for two seasons.

The Wildcats have brought in three wide receivers total, and WildcatAuthority.com reporter Jason Scheer said he believes that will be it for the positional group barring an “unexpected transfer.” The receivers joining Ross at the program are DJ Jordan (USC) and Rodney Gallagher III (West Virginia).

Incoming freshmen R.J. Mosley (California Pittsburgh High School) and Caleb Smith (Texas Allen High School) round out the current receivers room.

USC linebacker Matai Tagoa’i was added to the fold as well, a four-star prospect in the 2025 class.

Across eight games played for USC last season, the linebacker recorded four tackles and a forced fumble.

To the offensive line, Arizona added Nate Hale from San Jose State, who is reuniting with head coach Brent Brennan after redshirting in Brennan’s final year coaching the Spartans. Redshirt junior Jake Griffin from BYU followed Hale as another O-line piece.

Illinois tight end Cole Rusk has a 0.91 transfer grade on 247Sports to lead all Wildcat additions, with Austin and safety Cam Chapa sharing second at 0.87.

The transfer portal has changed, not only in its activity due to NIL but also in its timing. The NCAA moved the transfer portal from December to January, and it is only open from Jan. 2-16 in a single window.

A tracker of new Wildcats arriving from the portal and those on their way out of Tucson:

Arizona transfer tracker: Incoming transfers

LS Drew Nicolson (Arkansas State) — Jan. 5

TE Cole Rusk (Illinois) — Jan. 6

LB Cooper Blomstrom (Georgetown) — Jan. 6

DB Tyrese Boss (Wyoming) — Jan. 7

TE Shane King (Southern Mississippi) — Jan. 7

TE Arthur Ban (San Diego State) — Jan. 8

LB Everett Roussaw Jr. (Memphis) — Jan. 8

WR DJ Jordan (USC) — Jan. 8

OL Zachary Henning (Washington) — Jan. 9

DB Malcolm Hartzog (Nebraska) — Jan. 10

DB Cam Chapa (Northern Colorado) — Jan. 10

WR Rodney Gallagher III (West Virginia) — Jan. 10

DB Brandon Holmes (JUCO; Fresno City College) — Jan. 10

OL Nate Hale (San Jose State) — Jan. 11

DB Dwight Bootle (Charlotte) — Jan. 11

LB Matai Tagoa’i (USC) — Jan. 11

P Ryan Harris (Washington State) — Jan. 12

WR Jordan Ross (Colorado State) — Jan. 12

OT Jake Griffin (BYU) — Jan. 12

DB Lee Molette III (UConn) — Jan. 13

RB Antwan Roberts (Marshall) — Jan. 14

DB Daylen Austin (Oregon) — Jan. 15

DB Zuri Watson (Howard) — Jan. 16

Outgoing transfers

S Jack Luttrell

DL Jarra Anderson — Sam Houston

WR Devin Hyatt — Miami (OH)

DL Kaleb Bilal-Jones

QB Braedyn Locke — Tarleton State

DE Eduwa Okundaye — Washington State

LB Stacy Bey — Sam Houston

OL Michael Wooten — USF

DL Chancellor Owens

TE Keyan Burnett — UNLV

WR Jeremiah Patterson

S Jshawn Frausto-Ramos — Washington State

FB Kayden Luke

S Gianni Edwards

CB Marquis Groves-Killebrew — Cal

LB Chase Randall

OT Siale Uluave

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