Arizona safety Tra’Mayne Bondurant, a defensive leader for the 2013 Wildcats, will no longer be a part of the defensive secondary for Arizona in 2014. Head coach Rich Rodriguez announced Bondurant is no longer with the team due to some disciplinary issues, but the door is not locked behind him just yet.
“Tra’Mayne Bondurant had some discipline things that he had to do, and he chose to leave the program, so he’s no longer a Wildcat as of today,” Rodriguez said (via Arizona Daily Star). “You can do the discipline and be part of the team, or, I never lock the doors from the inside out. The doors are never locked.”
It is important to know Rodriguez has not spoken to Bondurant face-to-face at this time, so the head coach may be willing to welcome the safety back if the two can have a conversation.
“I wouldn’t say no chance (he doesn’t return) because his position coach has talked to him, but I haven’t,” Rodriguez said. “He had some discipline to do and he decided to quit instead. So that’s where we’re at.”
Bondurant led Arizona with four interceptions in 2013, two of which were returned for touchdowns. He also recorded 72 tackles, good for sixth on the Arizona defensive roster. Losing him mean the Wildcats lose a player capable of coming up with a big play that could turn the momentum of a game around at any moment. Bondurant flirted with the idea of turning pro and entering the NFL Draft this past spring but ultimately decided to return for one more season to improve his overall draft stock, a decision Rodriguez was thrilled about at the time.
