As it's well known by now, Arizona already has 26 commitments for its 2017 recruiting class, the most recent commit coming from Arizona Western defensive end Matt Leo.
Arizona is still recruiting a fair number of players for 2017, though, which begs the question — how do they have the space?
Well, for starters, at least five players — QB Braxton Burmeister, WR Darrian McNeal, LB Delshawn Phillips, DE Matt Leo, LB Tony Fields — plan to enroll early, which bumps them back to the 2016 class in terms of scholarship numbers.
That would leave about four slots for 2017, assuming nobody decommits — a bad assumption — or grayshirts to the 2018 class.
So with that, here are some names to keep an eye on that Arizona still has a real shot at...and might actually still be pursuing.
- WR Joseph Lewis (Augustus Hawkins/Los Angeles): The five-star receiver is still a top priority for the Wildcats, although the wind does seem to be blowing in Nebraska's direction. His lead recruiter, Keith Williams, was arrested for a DUI the weekend Lewis visited Nebraska's campus, but it's unclear if that's impacted anything.
- CB Thomas Graham (Rancho Cucamonga/Calif): While Lewis would be the recruiting home run to end all home runs, Graham is the more likely future Wildcat. Arizona appears to be in the driver's seat for the four-star corner, who is visiting Nebraska this weekend.
- CB Jaylon Johnson (Central High/Fresno, California): It seems unlikely, though not impossible, that Arizona gets both Graham and Johnson, but the Wildcats are still doing well with the four-star corner, and should get at least one of them.
- DE Odua Isibor (St. Mary's/Phoenix): The Wildcats are the front-runner...unless Stanford offers him. If the Cardinal do, the three-star is a likely goner.
- DE My-King Johnson (Tempe): Again, it seems unlikely the Wildcats get both Johnson and Isibor, but should Isibor end up at Stanford, Arizona could certainly do worse than Johnson, a talented pass rusher.
- WR Bryan Thompson (Rancho Verde/Moreno Valley, California): At receiver, it's unclear numbers-wise how many spots the Wildcats have free with Brian Casteel and Warren Jackson already committed. It's probably a wait-and-see on Lewis, but should the Wildcats have room, Thompson feels like a possible UA commit.
- OL Ryan Nelson (Buena Park/California): The three-star offensive lineman is scheduled to visit on Sept. 17. The Wildcats have two offensive lineman committed so far in Edgar Burrola and Cody Shear.
- CB Ambry Thomas (King/Detroit): The four-star corner wasn't on my radar before, then he tweeted this.
- WR K.J. Hamler (IMG Academy/Bradenton, Florida): The four-star receiver tore his ACL and will miss his senior season. The Wildcats were doing well with him, though, so depending on his health, he's a potential grayshirt candidate if the Wildcats still pursue him.
Others: DE Jacob Callier (St. John Bosco/Bellflower/three-star), ATH Chris Brooks (Newbury Park/California/three-star), OL Jonathan Nathaniel (Basha/Chandler, Arizona/three-star)
