Following a disappointing 2024 season, Arizona saw all three of its defensive captains enter the NCAA transfer portal, and two of them have already found new teams.
The latest player to commit elsewhere is safety Gunner Maldonado, who plans to transfer to Kansas State, according to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz. Maldonado spent four seasons at Arizona, starting 31 games, including four of the first five in 2024.
However, a knee injury sustained during a game against Texas Tech ended his season early. He underwent surgery in November, casting doubt on his availability for Kansas State’s spring practices.
If healthy, Maldonado will have the opportunity to face his former team when Kansas State visits Arizona Stadium for a nonconference game in September.
In addition to Maldonado, fellow defensive captains Jacob Manu and Treydan Stukes also entered the portal earlier this month. Manu has already committed to Washington, where he will reunite with former Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch.
Manu is also recovering from season-ending knee surgery, a recovery that Stukes is also facing. Stukes remains in the portal but could return to Arizona for a sixth season.
While losing Maldonado is a blow to the Wildcats, Arizona has strengthened its defense by securing commitments from two key defensive backs who were also in the transfer portal: safeties Dalton Johnson and Genesis Smith. The Wildcats have also added three more defensive backs, including former Stanford safety Jshawn Frausto-Ramos.
