Another Brent Brennan product from San Jose State is reuniting their former (and now current) head coach at Arizona.
San Jose State offensive tackle transfer Nate Hale, who signed to play for the Spartans in 2023, signed with the Wildcats. Hale is also reuniting with ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñAV offensive line coach Josh Oglesby, who recruited Hale to San Jose State and coached him for a season. Â
The 6-5, 295-pound Hale, who was also offered by UCLA, has two years of eligibility and is the latest San Jose State player to play for Brennan at Arizona. Â
Other players to transfer from San Jose State to Arizona since Brennan was hired by the UA in January of 2024 include defensive end Tre Smith, tight end Sam Olson, cornerbacks Michael Dansby and Jay'Vion Cole (who played one season at Texas prior to signing with Arizona), running back Quali Conley, offensive lineman Ryan Stewart and quarterback Anthony Garcia. Arizona linebacker Jabari Mann was signed to play for Brennan at San Jose State, but was released due to the coaching change and followed Brennan to Tucson.Â
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Hale prepped at Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California. Hale redshirted his freshman season before contributing to special teams in 2024 and then starting at right tackle in 10 games during the 2025 season.
Hale bolsters Arizona's tackle spots following the loss of starting left tackle Ty Buchanan and right tackle Tristan Bounds, who was sidelined the final three games of the season with a leg injury. After Buchanan exited Arizona's loss to SMU in the Holiday Bowl, redshirt sophomore Rhino Tapa'atoutai replaced the starter at left tackle — opposite side of redshirt freshman right tackle Matthew Lado.Â
Tapa'atoutai, who was Arizona's starter at left tackle in 2024 before suffering a season-ending knee injury halfway through the season, and Lado are both set to return to the Wildcats in 2026. Lado and Tapa'atoutai played both right and left tackle this past season.Â
The UA coaches are also encouraged with the development of tackle Louis Akpa, a 6-6, 280-pound redshirt freshman from San Francisco. Other tackles on Arizona roster are freshman and Phoenix-area native Jaxon Griffen and walk-on Zarius Wells.Â
Find out the latest updates on Arizona football's activity in the transfer portal with the Star's tracker on Tucson.com and The Wildcaster mobile app. Â
Contact Justin Spears, the Star's Arizona football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports

