Tuesday marks the official opening of the April transfer window opening which last from the 16 to 30 before closing again. This means, you will see a larger amount of players hitting the portal from all across the country.
Right now, the Wildcats have had two players enter in Joseph Borjon and Bill Norton. With that, Arizona will have 16 available scholarships to give out in order to fill out the 2024 roster and fix some areas of need to sure things up.
With that, we took at look at Arizona roster and put together the five areas of need that the Wildcats need to address through the transfer portal in order to fill gaps before training came and the start of the 2024 season.
Since Brent Brennan took over the program and the transition of the new coaching staff happened, Arizona have seen numerous defensive linemen leave the program and enter the portal with five players from the 2023 roster.
The departures have created a lack of depth on the defensive line. Right now, the starting unit on the line this spring has been Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei, Isaiah Johnson, Chubba Ma’ae and Tre Smith, which has been a solid group that has created issues for the offensive line.
However that’s were things get thin for Arizona. The second unit consists of Sterling Lane, Keanu Mailoto, Julian Savaiinaea and Dominic Lolesio. The major problem with this group is that Savaiinaea is an edge rusher that has had to move inside because of the lack of depth on the defensive line.
Also, in the second unit, only Lane and Lolesio have experience playing snaps in games during the 2023 season.
With that, the defensive line is the top priority for Arizona to attack in the transfer portal and build depth in order to have a solid steady rotation for the 2024 season.
Arizona could use adding two to three defensive linemen to sure things up and steady the second-unit defensive line.
Right now, the top cornerback on Arizona’s roster is Tacario Davis, who originally entered the transfer portal. It is unclear if Davis is still in the portal even though he ha been working out with the team all spring practice long.
Behind Davis has been a mix of Jai-Ayviauynn Celestine and Emmanuel Karnley as the No. 2 cornerback on the starting defensive unit. Both players have had good moments throughout spring and other moments where its clear that they are still developing as players.
Plus, Celestine saw little playing time during the 2023 season while Karnley used his redshirt and didn’t make any appearances on the field.
Getting a solid No. 2 cornerback that had experience playing would be big for Arizona and give the team depth in the secondary when lining up in a dime package when going up against Big 12 offenses that love to sling the ball all over the field.
In terms of the starting quarterback position, that is already figured out with Noah Fifita and Arizona has no issues with who will be leading the offense for the 2024 season. However, the problem line behind Fifita and the fact that the Wildcats only have three quarterbacks on the roster and only two of which are scholarship players.
It has been Brayden Dorman working with the second-unit offense and he has looked good and been making throws that he wasn’t a season ago in practice. But, although the development is progressing, he still has things to work on and doesn’t look like he can be thrown into a fire to help calm things down if Fifita goes down in the middle of a game.
Dorman has the ability to be the backup and prepare to start a game if need be, but that would be with a week of preparation and practice leading up to the opponent.
Right now, Arizona doesn’t have that break glass player that they can rely upon in case of an emergency situation.
Brennan stated in a press conference that the staff will be looking to add ‘one, maybe two’ quarterbacks from the portal.
Arizona will be looking for depth at the quarterback position and a player that can be that steady force off the bench for a middle of the game situation.
The starting offensive line for Arizona has been rock-solid this spring when everyone is out on the field with Jonah Savaiinaea, Wendell Moe, Josh Baker, Leif Magnuson and Raymond Pulido.
After that, Arizona is a little thin on the line with Alexander Doost being first option that rotates on the starting unit. But, that when it get tough because outside of that, there isn’t much experience on the second-unit line.
When it comes to football, the game is won on the line of scrimmage and you can never have too much depth on the offensive line. Having another player like Doost that can be used in the rotation could be the difference in win a close game, or losing a game that costs you a spot in the conference title game.
Outside of linebacker Jacob Manu, the second linebacking spot in the Wildcats’ 4-2-5 defense is wide open for the taking. So far this spring, Taye Brown has been the guy manning the position and has been holding his own.
Behind them has been Kamuela Ka’aihue and Justin Flowe, who have primarily been working with the second-unit defense.
Again, I think the system of the 4-2-5 defense helps the depth at the linebacker position and Arizona doesn’t desperately need to add anyone. However, it is of interest to note that New Mexico transfer Alec Marenco was at practice on Saturday.
Plus, Arizona’s linebacking coach is former New Mexico head coach Danny Gonzales, who recruited and coach Marenco. The linebacker led the Lobos with 66 total tackles and became a force for the defense.
I’m sure Arizona will have more than 16 scholarships available once a few more player transfer out. But as of now, these are the positions the Wildcats could use some added depth.
PHOENIX (AP) — An autopsy report released Monday confirmed that the death of a Haitian man after spending months at an Arizona immigration detention facility was related to his dental problems, as a family member had contended.
But the report also said 56-year-old Emmanuel Damas, whose brother previously said had died from an untreated tooth infection, declined recommendations at dental appointments to have his problematic teeth removed.
The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office concluded Damas died from complications of a chest infection with abscesses in his neck and throat area. The cause of death also referred to his severe dental problems.
Damas, who died after being detained at the Central Arizona Florence Correctional Center in Florence, Arizona, is one of at least 51 detainees who have died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody since President Donald Trump’s second term began in January 2025.
Like his death, medical examiners have ruled the majority of the others to be from natural causes. Experts have said that many of them are from conditions that are preventable with timely and effective medical care.
His death is the only one in which dental problems have been listed as a cause or contributing factor in three dozen deaths where that information has been released by medical examiners and coroners.
Damas’ autopsy report said he was put on a waiting list after it was recommended during an October dental exam that he get a particular tooth extracted. When his chance to get it removed came three months later, the report said he declined, saying it didn’t hurt anymore.
At a subsequent appointment in mid-February, Damas declined another recommendation to have teeth removed. Days later, when Damas complained of a sore throat and abdominal pain, staff at the detention facility asked that he go to the medical unit, but he refused, according to the autopsy report.
He was transported to a hospital on Feb. 19 for respiratory failure and later sent to other hospitals for a higher level of care. He died on March 2 at a hospital in Scottsdale.
In a statement, Raymond Audain, a lawyer representing Damas’ family, said Damas died because of the failures of ICE and the private corrections company that runs the Florence facility to provide him with basic medical care.
The family also had a private pathologist conduct an autopsy on Damas, though Audain declined a request from The Associated Press for that report.
The county’s autopsy “confirms what Mr. Damas’s family has determined through its own investigation: that Mr. Damas died of sepsis as a result of a descending infection from his head and neck that started with him experiencing tooth pain. Mr. Damas begged prison staff for medical care on numerous occasions including the night before he was hospitalized, but he was ignored,” Audain wrote.
In a statement, CoreCivic, which operates the facility in Florence, said it takes the deaths of detainees at its facilities seriously.
“While we’re unable to share specific information about a detainee’s medical care due to federal privacy laws, we are committed to providing safe, humane and respectful care for everyone entrusted to us,” CoreCivic said. “We take seriously our obligation to adhere to all applicable federal detention standards and will continue to ensure that all detainees receive appropriate and timely medical attention
The AP left a message with ICE seeking comment on the autopsy report.
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Associated Press writer Ryan Foley in Iowa City, Iowa, contributed to this report.
Paradise Valley 16-year-old Gadin Arun is one of three American boys who helped lead Team USA to victory at Junior Davis Cup Qualifying in Canada. The Junior Davis Cup, tennis’s premier international team event, will be held later this year, at a time and location yet to be announced. Arun, who is homeschooled, is the 26th ranked American in his age group, and second in the Southwest, according to the USTA.
The Arizona Wildcats needed to win one game on Sunday to advance to regionals. They couldn’t do it.
Next time someone says that balls fly out of Hillenbrand because of the “desert air,” point to the home runs in more humid, low-lying areas around the country. Like Durham, NC, where one Duke home run after another put a nail in the Wildcats’ season on Sunday by scores of 8-6 and 9-4.
Duke hit four home runs in the early game. The Blue Devils returned to hit four more in the late game. Durham is at 404 feet above sea level and was supposed to have humidity between 45 and 70 percent on Sunday. So much for the lazy broadcasters’ take of “altitude and dry air.”
There are three parts of a game. Both Duke and Arizona have had their difficulties with pitching. Both are very good offensively. So, defense can make the difference. Both teams made crucial errors in the opener, but Arizona’s turned out to be the deciding one. The officials also made some interesting calls that ended up having huge impacts in the game.
A critical obstruction call was not made in the bottom of the first that would have put runners on the corners with one out. Arizona chose not to challenge, and the inning ended with Duke leading 1-0.
The lack of the challenge evened out an earlier missed call when Sereniti Trice was out of the box but it went unseen. While out of the box isn’t open to challenge, obstruction is. Regardless, missed calls affected both teams in the opening inning and it wasn’t the last time.
A bigger missed obstruction call came in the second. Duke threw the ball away as Regan Shockey got to first, and she took off for second. In the interim, a run scored for the Wildcats.
Centerfielder D’Auna Jennings came in to cover second base, but completely blocked it. As Shockey tried to slide in, Jennings’ knee hit her shoulder. Jennings also lost the ball. Yet, Shockey was called out on the play.
Arizona’s baserunner on third took off when the ball came loose and crossed home plate. A score of 3-1 went up on the ESPN score bug. That’s when the challenges started.
Duke challenged that Shockey was out at first. That was obviously a futile challenge even when looking at the TV replay. The safe call was upheld.
Arizona challenged obstruction at second base. That call of out was overturned and obstruction called. Not only did Jennings slow Shockey down, but she literally left the Arizona centerfielder clutching her shoulder in pain due to contact. It was an easy call.
After that, Duke challenged again. This time, they said Arizona’s second run shouldn’t have scored because it didn’t cross home until after the second base umpire signaled Shockey out. The officials sent the baserunner back to third and took an Arizona run off the board. A 3-1 game became 2-1 in Arizona’s favor.
Arizona likely caught a break that got that run in the third, though. Tayler Biehl was hit on the finger by a pitch, but it looked like it happened when she was swinging. It was called a foul ball. Arizona challenged the foul ball ruling and it was overturned. Biehl took first on a HBP to put two on with no one out.
Biehl came around to score, putting Arizona up 4-3 after three innings.
The obstruction and contact with Shockey in the second had a bigger impact than one play or a couple of runs. Arizona’s centerfielder stayed in the game at the time, but she was obviously in pain. Her next at-bat was taken by Emma Kavanagh, who drew a leadoff walk in the fourth. Shockey then went in to run.
The fourth was the start of the defensive drama. Kavanagh’s walk was followed by a hit-by-pitch that put Trice on base.
Arizona slugger Sydney Stewart continued to press. She has struggled this postseason, chasing pitches that are obviously out of her “plan” and not taking walks as consistently when the pitcher doesn’t throw what she’s looking for. Her foul-out and Biehl’s strikeout left Shockey and Trice standing on first and second.
It looked even more dire when Grace Jenkins popped up onto the infield. What should have been a routine catch for Duke shortstop Jessica Oakland simply went off the end of her glove. While the ACC Network commentators kept talking about the sun, it was the exact location Biehl had been playing without sunglasses or a visor. It looked like Oakland simply let the moment get to her.
It was a big moment. Two runs scored and Jenkins motored into second base. Arizona tied the game at six runs apiece, but that’s all the Wildcats could get. They didn’t score again.
Biehl is an amazing shortstop who gets to balls that many others would not. She’s a former Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. She’s also prone to trying to make the spectacular play and having it go awry. That tendency hurt Arizona in the top of the sixth.
Freshman righthander Rylie Holder walked the first batter in the sixth, but she followed that with two quick outs. The third out proved elusive.
A double put runners on the corners with two outs. Aminah Vega then singled up the middle. Biehl stopped the ball just behind second base and tried to throw to first. It was obvious that the ball was never going to catch Vega. It not only wasn’t there in time, but it went sailing into foul territory. A second run scored, giving Duke an 8-6 lead.
Arizona made nothing out of its final six outs, although Shockey showed the Wildcat faithful some hope by reaching on a bunt single in her final at-bat. How much her shoulder is hindering her could be important in the next game.
Arizona used all three of its pitchers.
Errors at critical times were big in the late game, too. Duke scored its first run after a throwing error by Sniffen allowed Duke leadoff hitter Jennings to take an extra base to start the game. She moved to third on a fielder’s choice that had Sniffen fail to get a tag down at third. That wasn’t an official error, but it was one of the “miscues” that are just as damaging.
From there, a run scored on a sacrifice fly. Adams got out of it with only one run despite another error by her defense in the inning.
Once again, Arizona showed that blaming the desert environment for giving up home runs is an easy explanation for broadcasters and perhaps those who want to sell the line to pitchers when going up against Arizona on the recruiting trail.
Duke put up its second run off a solo shot to lead off the second inning. Two different Blue Devils had two-run shots in the fourth.
The four runs in the bottom of the fourth were especially difficult for the Wildcats. They had just cut Duke’s lead to one on RBI singles by Emma Kavanagh and Shockey.
Even worse, the first home run knocked Shockey from the game. That outcome was so close to happening in the first game when Jennings’ obstruction led to a collision at second base. This time, there was no way for Shockey to come back from it.
The Big 12 co-Defensive Player of the Year showed that it’s not just about skill but about heart. She did everything she could for her team, running towards the wall, timing her jump perfectly, and getting the ball in her glove. It looked like a tremendous out.
Then, Shockey collided with the outfield wall. First, it was her shoulder, then it was her face.
Shockey dropped the ball and fell to the ground with her face forward. The trainers and coaching staff huddled around her for an extended period, then walked with her back to the dugout. Shockey was holding her nose as if it was bleeding or broken.
The second two-run homer really put the Wildcats’ back against the wall. Duke was up 7-2 with only three more offensive innings to go for Arizona. That also meant three more offensive innings for the Blue Devils, and neither Arizona’s pitching nor its defense had been up to that task.
The loss of Shockey made a big impact on everything Arizona does. She was 2-for-3 with an RBI in both games on top of being the center of the outfield defense.
Arizona had to move Kiki Escobar to left field and move Addison Duke to center. Escobar started at first base, so Kez Lucas took over there. That also made Lucas the leadoff hitter in Arizona’s lineup.
The Wildcats cut the Duke lead to three runs in the fifth. The sixth would have presented a prime opportunity to cut further into that lead. Shockey should have been leading off the inning. Instead, the freshman first baseman who has been scuffling at the plate was in her place. Lucas got into a 2-1 count then swung at two pitches out of the zone.
Both Trice and Stewart went down without much trouble, as well. The 1-2-3 inning was the last thing Arizona needed.
Jenae Berry had her usual outings in both games. She threw a strong inning or so, but then the opposing offense caught up to her. The same was the case for Holder earlier in the contest.
Adams started the game and was brought back in during the bottom of the sixth to finish her career on the field. She surrendered the final Duke home run of the day.
The Arizona offense went down quietly, going 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh.
The game ends Arizona’s season at 37-18. With Biehl, Stewart, Jenkins, Adams, Escobar, and reserve Camilla Zepeda all completing their eligibility, next year will be another round of new faces trying to break through. With the portal opening soon, the Arizona faithful will also have to wait and see whether money, playing time, and more attention in bigger leagues lure away some of those they’ve come to love.
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