Arizona State football adds transfer from rival

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State football continued their offseason work in the portal this weekend with another defensive piece. However, this acquisition comes under abnormal circumstances. The Sun Devils are adding a player from a rival.

Arizona State football adds transfer from arch-rival

Jacob Kongaika is a defensive lineman who began his collegiate career at the University of Arizona. The sophomore compiled 15 total tackles for the Wildcats last season. He also added on two sacks and two fumble recoveries, including one against Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl.

The former Wildcat entered the transfer portal on Dec. 31. Kongaika took his first, and only, official visit to Tempe this past weekend, where he received a scholarship offer from Kenny Dillingham and Co.

The rest is history.

Late Sunday night Kongaika capped off a terrific day of transfer portal pickups for Arizona State football.

FORKS UP 🔱 #FEARTHEFORK pic.twitter.com/ILhsnni68G

— Jacob Rich Kongaika_93ra (@KongaikaRich) January 8, 2024

He joins Myles Rowser, Jeffery Clark, and Roman Pitre as transfers who pledged to the Sun Devils on Sunday.

Kongaika’s background

Kongaika played his high school ball at Southern California powerhouse Mater Dei. Coming out of high school Kongaika was a three-star defensive line prospect and was recruited by several schools including Arizona, UCLA, Colorado State, and others.

The Sun Devils have some holes to fill on the defensive line with the graduation of Dashuan Mallory and the transfer departure of BJ Green.

It’s not often we see players transfer from one rival school to another. Arizona and Arizona State, despite changing conferences, are still scheduled to play each other every season for the foreseeable future.

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