A long time ago, so far back that it was two coaching staffs ago, Arizona was so interested in Martell Irby it offered the 3-star prospect from San Diego a scholarship to play running back. Six years later he’s preparing for his debut with the Wildcats, but as a defensive back.
And a walk-on.
Of all the players Arizona plucked out of the NCAA transfer portal this offseason, Irby’s path to Tucson is no doubt the most unique. A one-time Wildcat commit, he ultimately chose UCLA to start his career and spent four seasons with the Bruins—with a switch from offense to defense along the way—before medically retiring from football in 2022.