In the wake of a massively disappointing 2024 season, Arizona saw all three of its defensive captains put their names into the NCAA transfer portal. And so far, two of them have found new homes.
The latest ex-Wildcat to commit elsewhere is safety Gunner Maldonado, who plans to transfer to Kansas State according to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz.
Former Arizona safety Gunner Maldonado is expected to transfer to Kansas State, @chris_hummer and I have learned for @cbssports/@247sports.
Has career totals of 173 tackles, six forced fumbles and four interceptions.https://t.co/10Sz3YwNKg pic.twitter.com/l3NGKg2NyN
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 23, 2024
Maldonado spent the past four seasons with the UA, starting 31 games including four of the first five in 2024 before suffering a knee injury against Texas Tech that knocked him out for the year. He had surgery in November, putting his availability for spring practice with Kansas State in doubt.
If healthy, Maldonado will get a chance to play his former team as Kansas State is scheduled to visit Arizona Stadium in a nonconference game in September.
Fellow defensive captains Jacob Manu and Treydan Stukes also entered the portal earlier this month, with Manu since committing to Washington where he’ll be reunited with ex-Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch. Manu is also recovering from season-ending knee surgery as is Stukes, who remains in the portal but could return to the Wildcats for a sixth season.
With losing Maldonado is big, Arizona has gotten two key defensive players back from the portal in safeties Dalton Johnson and Genesis Smith. The Wildcats have also added three defensive backs from the portal including ex-Stanford safety Jshawn Frausto-Ramos.