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When Arizona defensive tackle Leroy Palu was exploring his options after a two-year career at Cerritos College (California), he was committed to West Virginia to play for new head coach and former Arizona leader Rich Rodriguez. 

Palu was a silent commit to WVU (or "West V" as Palu called it) and "really liked it" and took an official visit to Morgantown just days after Arizona hired Joe Salave'a as its defensive line coach. 

Arizona defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales told Salave'a about a Cerritos College defensive tackle he was recruiting and needed assistance persuading Palu to flip to the UA. Salave'a called Palu, who said, "it was a big surprise," because he knew Salave'a from his previous stint at Miami. 

"He let me know that he's hopping on the Arizona train and he would love for me to hop on with him," Palu said. "That's how I got here. ... When he called me, I probably had the biggest smile on my face. For him to give me that call and say, 'I want you here, I want to be your coach.' I really loved that. I'm happy I'm here now." 

Notable tips and tricks Palu picked up from Salave'a — a longtime defensive line coach and former UA "Desert Swarm" standout — include "technique and fundamentals" and "just striking and getting off the ball," Palu said. 

Palu has ascended into a mainstay role for the Wildcats after a windy path to Tucson. The 6-3, 301-pound Palu graduated from Mayfair High School in Corona, California, but wasn't heavily recruited, so he went the junior college route and starred at Cerritos College in Southern California. Palu "wasn't really recruited my first year. My second year, I kinda blew up." 

Palu played in 18 games in two seasons at Cerritos College and recorded 83 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss. 

"Year 1, coming out of high school, I don't think I took it as serious as I should have," Palu added. "My second year, it was my last year, so if I don't make it, I don't make it. I just continued to grow my game and take it serious more than the first year. That's what made me blow up." 

Palu was one of a few defensive tackles Arizona signed from the junior college level in 2025, including College of San Mateo's Ezra Funa, who is redshirting this season, and Zac Siulepa, a 6-6, 389-pound Gold Coast, Australia product. All three are eligible to return next season.  

Siulepa didn't join the team until right before the season started. He logged a season-high 13 defensive snaps and had a sack last week against Colorado. Siulepa has 1.5 tackles for loss in 19 defensive snaps this season. 

"For him to move like that at 400 pounds is crazy," Palu said of Siulepa. "That motivates me to run faster, because Zac runs fast for a big guy. I love being around him. He's funny — and he's a hard worker, too. He comes every day and wants to work. He's beside us every day and wants to learn." 

Arizona head coach Brent Brennan said, "it was great to see big Zac start to get his feet on the ground."

"That's one of those things for Zac, he joined us late as he was working through his process of getting here and his academic stuff in the summer time, but he's a player that we're really, really excited about," Brennan said. "As he gets more comfortable in the scheme, gets stronger and gets in better football shape, you're going to see him have more of a bigger impact on the field." 

When Palu first started practices at Arizona in the spring, "it was a big reality check. JuCo wasn't as hard as it is right now," he said. The most "eye-opening moment for me" was the thousands of fans at Arizona Stadium for a game day — or even opposing stadiums, when there were "probably like 20 fans in our stands" at Cerritos College.

"That's what I like about Arizona," Palu said. 

Palu has been playing alongside veteran defensive tackles and starters Deshawn McKnight and Tiaoalii Savea, who are both seniors this year. 

"I love playing by them," Palu said of Savea and McKnight. "Tia has been teaching me a lot film-wise and off the field. Watching Deshawn on the field, it's crazy how fast he is and how he moves at his size. I get a lot of hope from him and Tia." 

Meanwhile, Palu was "one that we thought showed tremendous toughness. Not flashy, but he's been reliable, steady," Salave'a said. Palu "keeps showing up and he's starting to gain confidence and understand concepts," added Salave'a. 

Palu earned his first start at Arizona and played the most snaps (41) on Arizona's defensive line in a 52-17 win over Colorado, according to Pro Football Focus. Palu started over Savea in Boulder. Savea played 36 snaps.  

"We don't have a set depth chart," Salave'a said. "We have an organizational chart. Those are earned every week and every day. We're always discussing leading up to the end of the week to see who's consistent. Leroy, Tia, Deshawn, those are all starters, they just can't be on the field at the same time. ... It's so awesome to have the buy-in on their part. If the kids are not buying in, it really doesn't work. We, as a defensive staff, just try not to mess it up." 

Palu recovered a strip sack forced by linebacker Chase Kennedy, which set up a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Noah Fifita to wide receiver Kris Hutson to take a 17-0 lead. Palu has 19 tackles, two stops for loss and a pass deflection this season. 

"I do think it's awesome because we want to be a program that has a track record of developing players and being able to give proof that they're getting better through their process here at the University of Arizona," Brennan said. "I think Coach Salave'a has been really impactful for Leroy, but it also has a lot to do with how he attacks the work and how he attacks the opportunity he's gotten to play." 

If Salave'a could, he'd duplicate Palu for Arizona's defensive line. 

"If you could get three or four Palus every year, then you're good, because it's all about trust, accountability and being reliable to be there for us," Salave'a said. "That's what Palu is for us."