Like every college football team, Arizona reached into the NCAA transfer portal to help fill out its roster for the 2026 season. The Wildcats added more than 20 transfers, a few of which will start on Saturday’s opener against NAU.
We asked our readers which newcomer would make the biggest impact for the UA this season, and the top choices were a pair of transplants from Big 12 schools:
Malcolm Hartzog started his entire career at Nebraska, playing both cornerback and safety and recording eight interceptions.
With Arizona he’ll play slot corner, the position that Treydan Stukes parlayed into getting drafted in April.
Hartzog has been described by coaches and teammates as a bulldog, playing much bigger than his listed 5-foot-8 height.
Readers’ second choice, Cole Rusk, is a 6th-year senior who most recently played at Illinois. The 6-foot-5 tight end could make for a big target for Noah Fifita.
Arizona is coming off a 9-4 season in 2025 but its win total for this fall is 7.5, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
