An injury suffered in mid-November will keep Arizona offensive lineman Jordan Morgan at the UA next season.

Head coach Jedd Fisch confirmed Wednesday during his signing day press conference that Morgan — who suffered an ACL injury in his left knee, forcing him to miss the Wildcats’ final two games — plans to return next season, rather than declare for the 2023 NFL Draft. Had he entered the draft, Morgan had a strong chance of becoming the Cats’ first offensive lineman drafted since 2009.

Instead, he’ll return and anchor an offensive line that should return several other starters from this year’s group.

 

The Arizona Daily Star’s Michael Lev shared that Fisch expects Morgan to be 100% and ready for the start of fall camp next season.

The 6-foot-6, 320-pound Morgan started the first 10 games of 2022 at left tackle. In four years with the program, he has 25 career starts, which will give Arizona some serious experience at one of the most important spots on the offense. A first-team All-Pac-12 selection by the Associated Press, Morgan was Arizona’s highest-graded lineman this fall. He earned an 82.8 overall offensive grade from Pro Football Focus. That was a top-20 grade among all qualified linemen in the FBS, top-15 among Power Five linemen, and fourth among Pac-12 linemen.

Center Josh Baker and right guard Jonah Savaiinaea — starters in all 12 games this season — are both expected back. Wendell Moe should also be back after starting at left guard in three of the Wildcats’ final four games.