Arizona lost nine players in 30 minutes to transfer portal

Running back Jonah Coleman is among the players who hit the transfer portal. Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona lost whopping nine players in 30 minutes to transfer portal after Jedd Fisch's departure

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 1/17/24

Arizona football is a program without a coach after Jedd Fisch unceremoniously dumped the Wildcats for the Washington Huskies.

It was a sudden change and an unexpected one after Fisch and the university were reportedly "nearing the goal line" on a restructured, better, deal on Saturday.

Arizona knew Fisch — who led the Wildcats to a 10-3 campaign with a win in the Alamo Bowl — was getting interest from the likes of Washington (which lost Kalen DeBoer to Alabama) and even the NFL, and it appeared as if the university was willing to pay up to keep the talented 47-year-old.

A day later, Fisch was hired to replace DeBoer at Washington. Just like that.

And now, Arizona is hemorrhaging, and that's not an understatement.

On Thursday, in the time span of just 30 minutes, nine players announced that they were hitting the transfer portal.

NEWS: 9 Arizona football players have entered the NCAA Transfer Portal in the past 30 minutes, per @PeteNakos_.

Among the group is RB Jonah Coleman, who totaled 1,154 yards and 6 TDs this seasonhttps://t.co/g4KkQwNNVh pic.twitter.com/hZrdKT8s5N
— On3 (@On3sports) January 18, 2024

Brent Brennan, formerly of San Diego State, was quickly hired to replace Fisch, but the damage may have already been done in Tucson. That's not to say Brennan won't be successful at Arizona, though.

A former Arizona graduate assistant (in 2000), Brennan has had the Spartans rolling — posting a 26-19 record since 2020 with three bowl game appearances. He went 34-48 overall at San Diego State in seven seasons as head coach.

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