Less than a week away from National Signing Day, the Arizona Wildcats continue to add more size and depth on the defensive line.
Arizona added junior college defensive lineman Ezra Funa, who committed to the UA late Wednesday night.
The 6-3, 300-pound Funa, a standout from College of San Mateo (California), selected ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñAV over Oklahoma State, Colorado State, Hawaii, Nevada, San Diego State and San Jose State, among others. Funa, who prepped at Southern California powerhouse Mater Dei, played two seasons at College of San Mateo and recorded 84 tackles, 20.5 stops for loss, 6.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries.
College of San Mateo has been a pipeline for the Wildcats under head coach Brent Brennan. Other former Bulldogs to play for the UA include slot receivers Jeremiah Patterson and Reymello Murphy, defensive end Cyrus Durham and cornerback Johno Price.
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Funa is the fourth player from the junior college ranks to join Arizona’s 2025 recruiting class, along with Cerritos College (California) defensive tackle Leroy Palu, El Camino College (California) cornerback Elijah Brown and Garden City Community College (Kansas) transfer Zac Siulepa, a 6-7, 365-pound defensive lineman from New Zealand.
Funa is joining an interior defensive line group that returns senior Chubba Ma’ae, redshirt sophomore Isaiah Johnson, redshirt freshman Julian Savaiinaea (younger brother of former UA star offensive tackle Jonah Savaiinaea) and former Memphis transfer Jarra Anderson, who suffered a season-ending leg injury at the start of the 2024 season.
Between the portal and the 2025 recruiting class, the Wildcats currently have 11 scholarship newcomers on the defensive line. Arizona has added three defensive linemen in the transfer portal since the hiring of associate head coach and defensive line coach Joe Salave’a: Funa, Alcorn State transfer defensive end Malachi Bailey and Texas transfer defensive tackle Tiaoalii Savea, who played at Arizona in 2022 and ‘23.
Arizona currently has 50 scholarship newcomers for 2025. National Signing Day is on Feb. 5.
Contact Justin Spears, the Star’s Arizona football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports
Justin Spears
Sports Reporter
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