The Arizona Wildcats have added three former players to the roster ahead of the Big 12 opener against the No. 15 BYU Cougars on Saturday. Last year's leading rusher Ismail Mahdi, third-leading tackler Max Harris and punter Sullivan Moon have joined the team after a Pima County Judge granted them a temporary restraining order against the NCAA .
Harris spent time with the Denver Broncos in rookie minicamp over the offseason. He's the only out of the group to receive an NFL invite. The Arizona football program announced Friday that all three have been cleared for competition. Harris and Mahdi traveled with the team to Provo. This is perfect timing for the Wildcats, who need any help they can find to try and defeat BYU.
Like many athletes in the 2022 recruiting class, the second chance Arizona players are taking advantage of the ruling that gives them an extra year of eligibility. All four Power Four conferences have banned former professional athletes from competition. None of the three players signed an NFL contract and wouldn't be considered professional. This is one of the blurred lines currently within college sports.
Harris was in camp with the Broncos and accepted the invitation to tryout. Many believe this should forfeit his right to come back and play for a college team. However, considering no contract was actually signed, they're allowed to return. That's the basis for all three to play under the five-for-five rule, which other 2022 recruits have used.
This abrupt move adds depth on both sides of the ball for the Wildcats. Mahdi had 859 yards and five touchdowns last season. Harris had 78 tackles (3.5 for loss) with a forced fumble, earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention recognition.
BYU faces Arizona in an early Big 12 matchup. The Wildcats have dropped five straight against the Cougars, including three in conference play. BYU was on the ropes during last year's contest in Tucson before overcoming a double-digit deficit to beat Arizona 33-27 in double overtime.
BYU coach Kalani Sitake faces his former neighbor Brent Brennan on Saturday. The two coaches were at Oregon State together and were very close. Brennan recalls their days in the heart of the Pacific Northwest.
"Kalani's one of my favorite people in this profession, a lot of respect for him," Brennan said. "He moved into our neighborhood. So they lived five houses away, and our kids ran around the neighborhood together. This was so fun. All of our kids are grown up now. It was a really, really fun time, just spending time with him and his family."
BYU welcomes Arizona into town on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff from LaVell Edwards Stadium is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX. Connor Onion (play-by-play), Robert Griffin III (analyst), and Alexa Landestoy (sideline reporter) will be on the call in Provo.
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