Danny Gonzales was officially announced as Arizona’s defensive coordinator on Thursday, and on Friday he said his scheme each game will be based on which of his players are the best fit for that opponent. He’s recruited as such the last month, loading up on potential pieces for that unit.
The Wildcats have landed a third linebacker from the NCAA transfer portal, picking up a commitment from former Texas State linebacker Max Harris. He will have one season of eligibility remaining.
The 6-foot, 232-pound Harris started 11 games for the Bobcats in 2024, recording 44 tackles with three for loss along with a half sack and a forced fumble. That was his lone season with Texas State, having made previous stops at Lousiana-Monroe and Incarnate Word where he combined to make 12 starts.
Harris is the second ex-Texas State player the UA has picked up from the portal, along with running back Ismail Mahdi. He’s the 25th overall transfer addition, 10th on defense including fellow linebackers Blake Gotcher (Northwestern State) and Riley Wilson (Montana).
Taye Brown is the only returning linebacker on the roster who started for Arizona last season, doing so 11 times. Justin Flowe made five starts in 2023.