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Savaiinaea officially declared for the NFL Draft Sunday evening and will forego his senior season, he announced on his social media accounts. Savaiinaea is a projected first- or second-round pick.

Savaiinaea is projected by to land at No. 31 overall to the Detroit Lions. ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller said Savaiinaea is “a mauler in the run game and has shown improved footwork and poise in pass-blocking.� Miller also projects wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan as the first Wildcat taken at eighth overall by the Carolina Panthers.

It’s conceivable ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ has two first-round picks in the same draft since linebacker Chris Singleton (New England Patriots) and defensive end Anthony Smith (Oakland Raiders) in 1990. After Jordan Morgan was selected 27th overall by the Green Bay Packers earlier this year, the Wildcats could have first-round tackles in back-to-back drafts.

With Savaiinaea declaring for the NFL Draft, center Josh Baker graduating and guard Wendell Moe entering the transfer portal, the Wildcats have two returning starters on the offensive line: left tackle Rhino Tapa’atoutai, who suffered a season-ending leg injury, and redshirt freshman guard Alexander Doost.

In his farewell post on Instagram, Savaiinaea thanked Jedd Fisch and Brent Brennan, his two coaches at the UA, along with offensive line coaches Brennan Carroll and Josh Oglesby and his family and teammates.

“Finally, to the Wildcat family, thank you all for welcoming me here in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥,â€� Savaiinaea said. “It has been an unforgettable experience the past three years. Thank you for the never-ending support and love.â€�

The 6-5, 336-pound Savaiinaea, a Tafuna, American Samoa native, switched positions thrice since becoming a Wildcat, after signing with ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s stacked 2022 recruiting class following a standout career at St. Louis High School in Honolulu. As an early enrollee in spring of 2022, Savaiinaea wowed longtime NFL offensive line coach Chris Foerster with his stature and talent.

“He said, ‘That’s an NFL player,’� Fisch said last year. “I said, ‘That’s a high school senior.’�

In three seasons, Savaiinaea played 2,418 snaps — including 1,057 at right tackle, 985 at right guard and 345 at left tackle. Savaiinaea took over the reins at left tackle once redshirt freshman Rhino Tapa’atoutai suffered a season-ending leg injury, but missed the season finale against ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ State due to a leg he injury he suffered against TCU.

“He’s so special,â€� ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ quarterback Noah Fifita said of Savaiinaea. “That’s been the case since he got on campus. He started as a true freshman at guard, moved to right tackle last year and then obviously moved to left tackle when Rhino went down. His versatility, his swagger, his confidence — he’s never afraid to do what he needs to do for the team.

“Him being an offensive lineman, he doesn’t get as much attention as he should, but at the end of the day, he’s a first-round draft pick. That’s been that way since he arrived campus. It’s a blessing having him protect us.�

Savaiinaea was ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s most durable, plug-and-play offensive lineman in the last three years. Savaiinaea allowed eight sacks and five quarterback hits in three years, according to Pro Football Focus.

“That speaks to what kind of teammate he is (and) how much he cares about ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ football,â€� said Brennan. “His willingness to move from right tackle to left tackle, then back to right and back to left. That speaks so much about how much he cares about his team, how much he cares about his teammates and how much he cares about the U of A.â€�

Savaiinaea is “an awesome football player and an even better person,� Brennan said.

“Anyone who knows big Jonah know he has a huge heart, definitely a hard worker, crazy competitor and it’s so important to him,� he added.

“I’m excited for the next chapter for him.�