Arizona thought it would compete for a spot in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff this season, but among other reasons a lack of size and strength on the defensive line kept that from happening.
To help change that, the Wildcats have added a veteran pass rusher with playoff experience.
Former UT Martin defensive end Deshawn McKnight has committed to Arizona for his final season of eligibility, the second defensive lineman the UA has picked up from the NCAA transfer portal.
I’M HOME ! ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/CoAIR778rx
— Deshawn McKnight (@_DeshawnM2003) December 20, 2024
The 6-foot-3, 290-pound McKnight started 14 games in 2024 for UT Martin, which reached the second round of the FCS playoffs after winning the Ohio Valley Conference. He logged 407 snaps and recorded 21 tackles, 5.5 of them for loss with four sacks and a forced fumble.
McKnight spent two years at UT Martin after playing two seasons at Appalachian State. He was a 3-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class who picked Appalachian State over Duke.
Arizona’s two defensive line pickups are from FCS schools, the other being ex-Northwestern State edge Chancellor Owens. The Wildcats are also pursuing former Northwestern State linebacker Blake Gotcher, an FCS All-American who led that division with 162 tackles.
All told, Arizona has picked up nine players from the portal since it opened on Dec. 9, five on defense.