Offensive linemen Jonah Savaiinaea and Wendell Moe announce return to Arizona

The Arizona football team will return two more key pieces in 2024, both on the offensive line.

According to posts the two made on social media on Sunday, offensive linemen Jonah Savaiinaea and Wendell Moe have both decided to return for another season rather than enter the NFL Draft or hit the NCAA transfer portal.

Both are quality starters, with Moe earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors from the Associated Press in 2023 and Savaiinaea earning honorable mention. Having them both back will be a huge, immediate lift for new head coach Brent Brennan.

Brennan has had to battle the transfer portal following the departure of previous coach Jedd Fisch for the Washington job. Star running back Jonah Coleman opted to follow Fisch to the Pacific Northwest, while two other Wildcats players have also followed suit.

So keeping some talent home for the 2024 season has to be seen as a massive win for Brennan.

He’ll do his best to keep the success that Fisch saw rolling, on the heels of a 10-win season for the program. Fisch did wonders in his three years, turning Arizona into a highly competitive Pac-12 team. Of course, now the Wildcats will be headed to the new-look Big 12 in 2024.

Two other Arizona stars also returning

Perhaps the single biggest order of business for Brennan upon arrival at Arizona was the retention of budding star quarterback Noah Fifita. But not only did Brennan secure that, he also locked down the return of star wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan.

The offensive duo made the announcement during the first-half under-16 timeout at the basketball game. A video played on the jumbotron before some Arizona football players gathered at center court. Everyone in the crowd went crazy, knowing how important Fifita and McMillan will be moving forward.

While McMillan was an instant impact addition, Fifita took some time to get on the field. Jayden De Laura suffered an injury early in the 2023 season and when Fifita took over, he never gave the job back. The quarterback wound up throwing for 2,869 yards, 25 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 12 appearances.

To no surprise, McMillan was on the receiving end of a bunch of those stats. He hauled in 90 receptions for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns. Had he decided to enter the portal, nearly every single big-time program in college football would have fought for his services.

Instead, it should be another fun offensive season at Arizona, even if they are breaking in a new head coach.

On3’s Griffin McVeigh also contributed to this report.