Arizona had 10 different players log at least 100 snaps on the defensive line last season, a way of keeping those big bodies fresh for late in games. Six are set from that group, including starters Tre Smith and Chase Kennedy, but for the rotation to work there has to be ample depth, and the Wildcats have attacked that need in the portal.
The latest D-line addition is ex-Wyoming end Braden Siders, the UA’s 22nd transfer addition–third to commit on Wednesday–and fifth for the defensive front seven. He has one season of eligibility remaining.
The 6-foot-3, 252-pound Siders spent five seasons with the Cowboys, appearing in 33 games with 26 starts including seven in 2024. In his career he has 91 tackles, including 23.5 for loss, and 14 sacks.
Siders was a Freshman All-American in 2022 when he had seven sacks and 13.5 TFL, including two sacks and three TFL against Ohio in the Arizona Bowl played in Tucson.
Arizona’s other defensive line portal pickups are Chancellor Owens (Northwestern State) and DeShawn McKnight (UT Martin). The Wildcats have also added linebackers Blake Gotcher (Northwestern State) and Riley Wilson (Montana) and in the 2025 recruiting class signed five high school players and one JUCO prospect for the front seven.