Arizona IOL Michael Watkins enters NCAA Transfer Portal

Following the departure of head coach Jedd Fisch, a number of players have elected to leave the Arizona Wildcats football program. On Thursday, another player opted to find a new college football home. On3 has learned that Arizona interior offensive lineman and native of the state Michael Watkins has entered into the NCAA transfer portal.

What makes this transfer unique is Watkins is a member of the incoming 2024 recruiting class. He committed to playing for Arizona well before Fisch took the head coaching position at Washington following the exit of their former head coach Kalen DeBoer to Alabama.

Watkins played high school football at Apollo High in Glendale, AZ, where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 1612 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. 

The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

Former Arizona DL transfer Russell Davis commits to Washington

The Washington Huskies received some transfer portal news in their favor. Former Arizona Wildcats defensive lineman Russell Davis II announced from his social media page that he is joining his former head coach, Jedd Fisch, in Washington for the 2024 season.

After the departure of Pac-12 championship-winning head coach Kalen DeBoer, watching experienced a high value of departures from the program. But now that Fisch has taken over the program, the Huskies are beginning to see an uptick in commitments, especially those from Fisch’s former head coaching stop, Arizona.

Davis spent the first two years of his collegiate career under Fisch’s tutelage at Arizona. There, he was able to play early and often saw action in a total of 23 games, 12 as a freshman and 11 in his sophomore season. With the Wildcats, Davis recorded 28 total tackles, 20 solo, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. The majority of his stats came in 2023, his sophomore season, when he recorded 16 total tackles, 13 solo, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks.

Davis played high school football at Hamilton High in Chandler, AZ, where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 837 overall recruit in the 2022 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.