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5th in a series
The first preseason training camp under Brent Brennan is set to begin next week, a month of workouts and practices ahead of the 2024 season opener Aug. 31 at home against New Mexico.
To get you primed for camp, we’re breaking down each position group on the roster. Today we continue with the offensive line.
Players on roster: 17 (16 scholarship, 1 walk-on)
Projected starters: Josh Baker (Jr.), Jonah Savaiinaea (Jr.), Leif Magnuson (R-Jr.), Wendell Moe (R-Soph.), Raymond Pulido (Soph.)
While getting back Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan were huge for Arizona, just as important was bringing back almost its entire starting offensive line from a year ago. All told, the Wildcats’ roster features six players with a combined 84 starts on the O-line.
Baker is entering his fourth season as the starting center, having held down that spot for 27 consecutive games, while Savaiinaea has started all 25 games in his college career and Moe has 16 starts including the last 13. Magnuson and Pulido each started five last season.
Pulido will get the first chance to replace first-round NFL Draft pick Jordan Morgan at left tackle, with Magnuson taking his spot at right guard. Moe will be back at left guard and Savaiinaea, who has started at both guard and tackle, will handle right tackle.
Top backups: JT Hand (R-Jr.), Grayson Stovall (R-Soph.), Shancco Matautia (R-Soph.), Alexander Doost (R-Fr.), Rhino Tapa’atoutai (R-Fr.)
The five listed here are just a guess since Arizona has three transfers—Matuatia (New Mexico), Jonah Rodriguez (San Diego State) and Michael Wooten (Oregon)—who were not part of spring practice. Matautia started games at New Mexico, giving him the edge over those other newcomers for the time being.
Another transfer, Doost from Northwestern, is considered one of the strongest players on the team by the strength staff. At 6-foot-7 he has a massive frame that with some extra bulk added this summer could make him a top reserve.
Hand started one game for Arizona and has appeared in 12, while Stovall got a handful of snaps in 2024 and Tapa’atoutai did not see action. They’ll each be in the mix for backup spots, as could San Jose State transfer Ryan Stewart.
Next up: Defensive line