Michigan Wolverines quarterback Davis Warren (16) celebrates a 13-10 win over Ohio State Buckeyes at the end of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Credit: Kyle Robertson

Michigan Offensive Lineman Commits to Arizona

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nick Wright | Last updated Dec 22, 2024 7:41 PM ET

Arizona's offensive line rebuild continues with the addition of Michigan transfer Tristan Bounds, as new head coach Brent Brennan works to shore up a unit that struggled with consistency last season. The 6-foot-8, 305-pound tackle joins the Wildcats with one year of eligibility remaining after spending four seasons in Ann Arbor.

Bounds's Arizona commitment comes at a crucial time for the Wildcats, which lost star tackle Jonah Savaiinaea to the NFL draft and faces significant questions about its offensive line heading into 2024. While Bounds saw limited action at Michigan - appearing in just six games primarily on special teams and in garbage time - he brings championship pedigree from the Wolverines' 2023 national title run.

Bounds' arrival marks Arizona's third offensive line addition from the transfer portal, joining former Georgia Tech lineman Jordan Brown and ex-Texas Tech lineman Ty Buchanan. These additions become particularly significant as new offensive coordinator Seth Doege implements his spread attack, which demands both power and agility from its linemen.

Standout lineman from Bethesda, MD is heading to Tucson!

Welcome Home, @bounds_tristan ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/fvG9oyuYWb
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) December 22, 2024

A former three-star recruit from Bethesda, Maryland, Bounds chose Michigan over notable offers from Notre Dame, Ole Miss, and UCLA after attending Choate Rosemary Hall School in Connecticut. Despite backing up Andrew Stueber, Trente Jones, and Karsen Barnhart during his time with the Wolverines, Bounds - a Ross Business School graduate - could compete for immediate playing time in Tucson.

The Wildcats return just two starters on the offensive line, and with Rhino Tapa'atoutai recovering from a season-ending knee injury, Bounds has a clear path to significant playing time. As Arizona transitions to Doege's spread system, the program has now added 12 total transfer portal players - split evenly between offense and defense - while convincing two potential departures to withdraw from the portal.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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