Former Arizona Safety Gunner Maldonado Transferring to Kansas State
After a challenging 2024 season, Arizona has seen all three of its defensive captains enter the NCAA transfer portal, with two already finding new teams.
The latest departure is safety Gunner Maldonado, who, according to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz, will transfer to Kansas State. Maldonado spent four seasons with the Wildcats, starting 31 games, including four of the first five in 2024 before a knee injury against Texas Tech sidelined him for the remainder of the year. Following surgery in November, his participation in Kansas State’s spring practices is uncertain. If healthy, Maldonado could face his former team in a nonconference matchup at Arizona Stadium this September.
Fellow defensive captains Jacob Manu and Treydan Stukes also entered the portal earlier this month. Manu has committed to Washington, reuniting with former Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch, while Stukes, who is also recovering from a knee injury, remains in the portal but may return to Arizona for a sixth season.
Despite the loss of Maldonado, Arizona has retained key defensive contributors, including safeties Dalton Johnson and Genesis Smith, who withdrew from the portal. The Wildcats have also bolstered their secondary with the addition of three defensive backs, including former Stanford safety Jshawn Frausto-Ramos.
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