Here's a player-by-player look at the Arizona Wildcats' 2017 recruiting class
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Star reporter Zack Rosenblatt is previewing Arizona’s recruits in the weeks leading up to the Feb. 1 national signing day.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez has called the 2017 recruiting class potentially the “best ever” for the Wildcats. Coming off a rough 3-9 campaign, the Wildcats need all the help they can get. Star reporter Zack Rosenblatt is previewing Arizona’s recruits in the weeks leading up to the Feb. 1 national signing day. All ratings according to Scout.com.
First up: Defensive lineman Sione Taufahema.
Height: 6 foot 3 inches.
Weight: 320 pounds.
Hometown (high school/junior college): Mission Hills, California (Bishop Alemany/College of the Canyons).
Rating: 2-star.
Other offers: Hawaii, Northern Illinois, Massachusetts, Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
2016 stats: 24 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack.
Who he is: An early enrollee and Arizona’s lone junior college recruit in the 2017 class.
Taufahema already signed his national letter of intent on the junior-college signing day.
How he fits: The Wildcats are desperate for size on the defensive line, and Taufahema instantly becomes the UA’s biggest player for that position group. He’ll compete for immediate playing time.
He said it: “I think I’m definitely prepared to come in and win a starting spot. Being a junior-college guy and going up against other Division I prospects is going to help me a lot just to come in and play right away. That was part of the pitch.” — Taufahema
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Name: Nathan Tilford
Position: Running back
Height: 6 feet 2 inches
Weight: 215 pounds
Hometown (high school): Ontario, California (Colony).
Rating: Four stars, No. 284 overall, No. 24 athlete, No. 4 in West, No. 2 in California
Other offers: USC, UCLA, Tennessee, Nebraska, Arizona State, Michigan
2016 stats: 2,031 rushing yards, 30 touchdowns, 25 receptions, 601 receiving yards, 8 touchdowns, 1 punt return touchdown
Who he is: Tilford is one of the more talented running backs in the 2017 class. He’s a big back with athleticism who dominated in high school.
How he fits: The Wildcats are desperate for running backs after injuries decimated the position last year, and Tilford will help right away as an early enrollee. J.J. Taylor and Nick Wilson are recovering from season-ending injuries, likely opening the door for Tilford to get reps in spring ball.
He said it: “The area I’ve probably improved in most, I’d have to say my vision and my decision-making. There would be some times where I’d decide to do something that I shouldn’t do. I’d run to one side of the field, then there wouldn’t be anything, and then I’d turn around and go all the way back and try to get a couple yards. Now I started learning that even if there’s nothing there, just keep moving your feet and eventually something is gonna happen. If there’s nothing there, at least you picked up a couple yards instead of wasting all your energy going back to the other side of the field.” — Tilford
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Name: Jose Ramirez.
Position: Outside linebacker.
Height: 6-3.
Weight: 209 pounds.
Hometown (high school): Auburndale, Florida (Auburndale Senior).
Rating: Two stars.
Other offers: South Alabama, Northern Illinois, Bowling Green, North Dakota State.
2016 stats: 114 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked punt.
Who he is: A former South Alabama recruit and late Arizona commit. Ramirez played in high school with Jessie Britt, who committed to the UA last year but hasn’t joined the team yet.
How he fits: The Wildcats are desperate for depth at linebacker after losing their top five tacklers at the position . As an early enrollee, Ramirez has a chance to play right away.
He said it: “As a linebacker I just think I’m quick, fast, I can play outside the box, I’m an athletic linebacker so if I have to guard somebody I can do that for you. I know there’s a lot of passing in the Pac-12, so you need diverse linebackers and I just feel like I fit the system. I can guard people and I can stop the run too.” — Ramirez
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Name: Tony Fields
Position: Outside linebacker
Height: 6-2
Weight: 205 pounds
Hometown (high school): Las Vegas (Desert Pines)
Rating: 3-star, No. 92 outside linebacker, No. 12 in the West, No. 1 in Nevada
Other offers: Boise State, BYU, Illinois, Missouri, Oregon State, San Diego State, Washington State
2015 stats (’16 unavailable): 93 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, 4 fumble recoveries
Who he is: Playmaking outside linebacker with a nose for the ball. High school teammates with two other UA commits: offensive lineman Edgar Burrola and cornerback Tony Wallace.
How he fits: Arizona is desperate for help at linebacker after losing their top five tacklers at the position, and Fields — already enrolled at UA — has a chance at immediate playing time on the outside.
He said it: “He’s great. He’ll make plays. I’ve never seen a player like him, to be so hungry and want to get after it.” — Burrola
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Name: Bryce Gilbert
Position: Tight end
Height: 6-4
Weight: 230 pounds
Hometown (high school): Gilbert (Higley)
Rating: Three stars, No. 69 tight end in the country, No. 18 in the West, No. 3 in Arizona
Other offers: Arizona State, Colorado, Louisville, Nebraska, Utah, Oregon State
2016 stats: 15 receptions, 214 yards and four touchdowns
Who he is: An early enrollee and a top in-state recruit. Gilbert missed most of his senior season because of injuries but as a junior amassed 1,056 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns.
How he fits: Gilbert will likely redshirt, as the Wildcats are set to return Trevor Wood, redshirt freshman Jamie Nunley and Brion Anduze, who missed last season with a knee injury.
He said it: “The opportunity to play early because of injuries is a blessing. I’ve got a better opportunity of playing early there (Arizona).” — Gilbert to the Arizona Republic during his senior season
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Name: Colin Schooler
Position: Inside linebacker
Height: 6-2
Weight: 220 pounds
Hometown (high school): Mission Viejo, California (Mission Viejo)
Rating: Three stars, No. 16 inside linebacker, No. 2 in the West, No. 1 in California
Other offers: Nevada, Fresno State, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV
2016 stats: 77 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble
Who he is: A late offer from Arizona, Schooler was a standout for a dominant Mission Viejo team. His numbers dropped a bit from his junior to senior season, but that largely happened because the Diablos won 11 games, on average, by 32.9 points per game, often resting starters in the second half.
How he fits: Arizona lost three players with inside linebacker experience — Cody Ippolito, Michael Barton and Jake Matthews — and are desperate for immediate impact players. Schooler will compete with fellow incoming freshman Joshua Brown, along with redshirt freshman Jacob Colacion, for playing time.
He said it: “Before Coach (Marcel) Yates moved to (defensive backs), he told me that they have five linebacker scholarships this year and they need all of them, and they need every single one of them to be ready to play. I’m excited that they have a spot to compete for there.” — Schooler.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Name: Bryce Wolma
Position: Tight end
Height: 6-4
Weight: 230 pounds
Hometown (high school): Saline, Michigan (Saline)
Rating: Three stars, No. 20 tight end, No. 6 Midwest, No. 1 Michigan
Other offers: Colorado, Tennessee, Iowa State, West Virginia, Northwestern
2016 stats: 46 catches, 694 yards, six touchdowns
Who he is: A childhood friend of Rhett Rodriguez, an Ariozna commit and UA coach Rich Rodriguez’s son, and one of the best tight ends in the Midwest. Scout.com’s Allen Trieu told the Star that Wolma was a “steal” for Arizona.
How he fits: Wolma will likely redshirt, as it will be tough to emerge as a true freshman with Trevor Wood, Jamie Nunley and Brion Anduze returning, along with the addition of freshman Bryce Gilbert as an early enrollee.
He said it: “When I went out and visited (Arizona) and went to the facility and watched practice and stuff like that, I looked around and thought ‘this is pretty freakin cool’. I wanted to go there.” — Wolma
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Name: Joshua Brown
Position: Inside linebacker
Height: 6-1
Weight: 222 pounds
Hometown (high school): Long Beach, California (Poly)
Rating: Three stars, No. 32 inside linebacker, No. 5 West, No. 4 California
Other offers: Fresno State, New Mexico, UNLV, Ohio
2016 stats: 95 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries
Who he is: A product of Long Beach Poly, one of the powers in Southern California prep football. At Poly, He played for Arizona alum Antonio Pierce, a longtime NFL player.
How he fits: Brown will compete with fellow true freshman Colin Schooler, along with redshirt freshman Jacob Colacion, for immediate playing time, with the potential to start.
He said it: “This has been one of the better years from my high school career. I’m a lot better. I’ve had a lot of pro linebackers in my life. My head coach is Antonio Pierce, my linebackers coach is LaVar Arrington,
“I worked in the offseason with Willie McGinest and Chris Claiborne. Those were some high level guys.” — Brown
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Name: Kurtis Brown
Position: Defensive tackle
Height: 6-3
Weight: 295 pounds
Hometown: (high school): Bakersfield, California (Liberty)
Rating: Three stars, No. 45 defensive tackle
Other offers: Colorado, Washington State, Oregon State, Purdue, San Diego State
2016 stats: 28 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 8 quarterback hurries, 1 forced fumble
Who he is: Brown only played in six games as a senior after a knee injury, but had nine sacks, 15 tackles for loss and 38 quarterback hurries the previous two years combined. He was high school teammates with Arizona safety Anthony Mariscal.
How he fits: With the decommitments of Matthew Leo, Elijah Watson and Austin Faoliu, Brown is one of only two interior defensive linemen in the 2017 class. If he’s healthy, he’ll compete for playing time.
He said it: “The connection with the coaches was off the charts, but also when they were talking to me, they made me believe I can be something special there and compete right away, the second I step on campus. So that was a huge thing not many other schools have told me. It was great that they liked me that much already.” — Brown
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Name: Rhedi Short
Position: Safety
Height: 6-1
Weight: 175 pounds
Hometown (high school): Los Angeles (Cathedral).
Rating: Three stars, No. 50 safety, No. 8 West, No. 4 California.
Other offers: UCLA, Oregon, Penn State, Washington, Colorado.
2016 stats: 47 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 12 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles.
Who he is: A former UCLA commit, Short flipped to the Wildcats not long after visiting Arizona’s campus in the fall. He’s expressed some interest in Illinois since, but visited the UA campus over the weekend.
How he fits: Short is one of four safeties in Arizona’s 2017 class, and the Wildcats return a bunch of safeties with experience from last year — namely, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Tristan Cooper and Isaiah Hayes. Playing time will be hard to come by, though Arizona is desperate for defensive depth.
He said it: “The biggest thing is, I was most comfortable there (at Arizona). So when I was up there, and I was talking to everybody, it just felt like home.” — Short
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Name: My-King Johnson
Position: Defensive end
Height: 6-3
Weight: 225 pounds
Hometown (high school): Tempe (Tempe)
Rating: Three stars, No. 50 defensive end, No. 8 in the West, No. 1 in Arizona
Other offers: Oregon, UCLA, USC, Texas A&M, Arizona State
2016 stats: 89 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 21.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles
Who he is: The top-rated defensive end in the state of Arizona. Johnson was previously committed to UCLA before he surprisingly flipped to the Wildcats less than three weeks before Signing Day. Johnson faced Catalina Foothills quarterback Rhett Rodriguez, a UA commit, this season and sacked him three times.
How he fits: He fills a need as a talented pass rusher. Johnson is listed at just 225 pounds and could stand to gain some weight, but he has the talent to play right away.
He said it: “He’s the No. 1 defensive end in the state who is probably ready to step in a role of some sort. They’re going to have to find a way to put him on the field in that defense and get after the quarterback.” — Scout.com analyst Blair Angulo
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Name: Jalen Harris
Position: Athlete (defensive end/linebacker)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 210 pounds
Hometown (high school): Mesa (Desert Ridge)
Rating: Three stars, No. 56 athlete, No. 10 in the West, No. 1 Arizona
Other offers: Notre Dame, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Arizona State, Illinois
2016 stats: 34 tackles, 3 tackles-for-loss, 8.5 sacks, 15 quarterback hurries
Who he is: The son of Sean Harris, a linebacker in Arizona’s “Desert Swarm” era. He had 17 sacks as a junior and has blown up as a recruit since committing to Arizona in August. Recently he’s taken official visits to Notre Dame, Washington, Illinois and Colorado.
How he fits: Harris is a talented pass rusher who would likely see time as a “stud” linebacker, which is essentially an outside linebacker-defensive end hybrid. With Harris and Tempe’s My-King Johnson, Arizona reeled in two of the best pass rushers in the state.
He said it: “(Arizona) talked to me about they were my first offer because they know what I can do, they need to take the top players in the state of Arizona because if you want to win, you have to recruit the best players in your state first.” — Harris
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Name: Scott Young
Position: Safety
Height: 6-0
Weight: 190 pounds
Hometown (high school): La Mesa, California (Helix)
Rating: Three stars, No. 58 safety, No. 10 in the West, No. 6 in California
Other offers: Colorado, Washington State, San Diego State
2016 stats: 68 catches, 1,046 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns (defensive stats not available)
Who he is: An athletic safety from the San Diego area who committed to the Wildcats in June and has been one of the most passionate UA commits on social media. Young had a close relationship with cornerbacks coach Donté Williams before he departed for Nebraska, but he said he understood Williams’ decision.
How he fits: Young is one of three safeties in Arizona’s 2017 class. The Wildcats also have a handful of young returners from last year — Isaiah Hayes, Tristan Cooper, Chacho Ulloa, Jarrius Wallace among them — so playing time will be hard to come by. Young still has a chance to compete for immediate playing time.
He said it: “First and foremost, they’re getting a hard-working player who’s gonna come out there every day to compete and get better. They can expect a leader. I feel like I’m just a natural leader, emotionally or physically, I do everything the right away.” — Young, on what he'll being to the UA
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Name: Kylan Wilborn
Position: Outside linebacker
Height: 6-1
Weight: 235 pounds
Hometown (high school): Sherman Oaks, California (Notre Dame Prep)
Rating: Three stars, No. 68 outside linebacker, No. 9 in the West, No. 6 in California
Other offers: Hawaii, Idaho
2016 stats: 43 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble
Who he is: One of Arizona’s first commitments of the 2017 class. In a hectic recruiting cycle for UA he’s had one of the quietest recruitments.
How he fits: Wilborn will likely play the “stud” position as a sort of defensive end-linebacker hybrid. There is ample playing time available all across Arizona’s defense, so if Wilborn adjusts quickly to the college level in fall camp, he can compete for playing time.
He said it: “I really liked the way the coaches talked to me. They said they had a need at the position and think I’m the man to do it. I can come in and compete for a starting position on the first day. That’s definitely something I’m looking forward to.” — Wilborn
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Name: Drew Dixon
Position: Athlete (wide receiver/defensive back)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 195 pounds
Hometown (high school): Tucson (Sabino)
Rating: Three stars, No. 69 athlete, No. 12 in the West, No. 2 in Arizona
Other offers: Hawaii, New Mexico, San Jose State, Northern Arizona
2016 stats: 1,795 all purpose yards, 11 passing touchdowns, 16 rushing touchdowns, 6 receiving touchdowns, 2 punt return touchdowns
Who he is: One of the best all-purpose stars Tucson has ever had. Dixon spent time at quarterback, running back, receiver, tight end, defensive back and returning both kickoffs and punts.
How he fits: The versatile Tucsonan is expected to play receiver at UA, and he brings some much-needed size into the receiving corps. The Wildcats lost Trey Griffey from last year’s team and only return one scholarship receiver taller than 6-feet. That would be the 6-5 Shawn Poindexter, with six career catches to his name.
He said it: “From the beginning when I went to the U of A, I knew that’s where I wanted to be at, it’s where I wanted to go. As a kid going to the games with my close friend and his dad saying that could be you on the field one day. It was a dream and now, one day pretty soon from here, I will be that guy on the field.” — Dixon
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Name: Edgar Burrola
Position: Offensive lineman
Height: 6-6
Weight: 295 pounds
Hometown (high school): Las Vegas (Desert Pines)
Rating: 3-star, No. 84 guard, No. 16 West, No. 2 Nevada
Other offers: Louisville, UNLV, Idaho, Adams State
2016 stats: Burrola missed all but four games due to a reoccurring shoulder injury and subsequent surgery, but says he’s on track for a full recovery by March and will be ready in time for summer workouts and fall camp.
Who he is: An offensive lineman who committed to Arizona under-the-radar in June following a standout performance at one of the UA’s summer skills camps. Burrola said he was in UA coach Rich Rodriguez’s office, along with Wildcat commit Malik Hausman and USC commit Randal Grimes, as a camp MVP when Rodriguez offered him a scholarship. Two days later, Burrola committed.
How he fits: Arizona is set to lose three of its projected starters — Jacob Alsadek, Layth Friekh and Gerhard de Beer — following the 2017 season, so after a likely redshirt season Burrola has a chance to compete for a starting spot in 2018.
He said it: “They didn’t promise me a starting position or playing time, but they did tell me they don’t offer anybody to be a back-up, so I’m just excited to go out there and do my best to help my team win any way I can, whether it be playing time, or whatever it is.” — Burrola
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Name: Brian Casteel
Position: Wide receiver
Height: 6-1
Weight: 200 pounds
Hometown (high school): Covina, California (Charter Oak)
Rating: Three stars, No. 89 receiver, No. 14 in the West, No. 11 in California
Other offers: Washington State, San Diego State, Nevada, New Mexico
2016 stats: 644 rushing yards, 766 receiving yards, 25 total touchdowns
Who he is: A versatile receiver who did a little bit of everything at Charter Oak — he rushed for 17 touchdowns and had eight receiving, on defense he amassed 72 tackles, two sacks and three interceptions and helped out in the return game. Casteel was initially upset by the departure of cornerbacks coach Donté Williams, but said he’s still committed to the Wildcats. Coaches from UCLA, Oregon and Washington State have been in contact with Casteel with hopes he changes his mind.
How he fits: Arizona needs playmakers at wide receiver, particularly with Samajie Grant, Trey Griffey and Nate Phillips all gone, and if Casteel can pick up Arizona’s system he has a shot to play. Just two returning Wildcats have more than 20 career catches: Shun Brown (33) and Tyrell Johnson (23).
He said it: “What caught my eye the most (about Arizona) was how everybody treated each other like family.” — Casteel
California receiver Brian Casteel remains firm with Arizona Wildcats despite outside interest
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Name: Xavier Bell
Position: Safety
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190 pounds
Hometown (high school): Santa Ana, California (Mater Dei)
Rating: Three stars, No. 92 safety, No. 16 in the West, No. 9 in California
Other offers: Nevada, Fresno State, Howard
2016 stats: 40 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass deflection
Who he is: An athletic, hard-hitting safety. Bell missed most of his junior season due to injury and wasn’t 100 percent during his senior season, but Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson calls Bell a “raw talent” with a lot of potential.
How he fits: Bell is one of four safeties in Arizona’s 2017 class, and will likely have to compete with all three of them — along with a handful of young returners — for immediate playing time. Even if he doesn’t play right away, Bell is expected to eventually make an impact.
He said it: “He’s one of those physically imposing, great sculpted body and he can flat out run. He’s got speed and gears like we’ve never seen in a while around here. And he’s a violent kid, in the sense of controlled violence, but when he brings that, which he likes to do, he can turn it up a notch.” — Rollinson
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Name: Cody Shear
Position: Offensive lineman
Height: 6-4
Weight: 285 pounds
Hometown (high school): Eugene, Oregon (Sheldon)
Rating: Three stars, No. 94 tackle, No. 14 in the West, No. 3 in Oregon
Other offers: Oregon State, Washington State, BYU, Georgia Tech, Memphis
2016 stats: 116 pancake blocks, two carries, six yards, one touchdown
Who he is: An athletic offensive tackle and one of the most highly-recruited players in the state of Oregon. Both Oregon and California have showed interest in Shear recently; he already carries 30 offers.
How he fits: Offensive linemen rarely play right away for UA coach Rich Rodriguez, but there might be playing time open as soon as 2018. Tackles Layth Friekh and Gerhard de Beer, starters last year, will be seniors this fall.
He said it: “Cody’s an outstanding player. Good size, good feet for that size of a kid. We’ve had lots of really good linemen in the 20 years I’ve been at Sheldon and Cody he would rank right up there at the top…he likes to practice. He likes to lift weights. He likes being in the locker room before and after practice. But once we get out and start getting after it, he’s a leader by example, that’s for sure.” — Sheldon coach Lane Johnson
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Name: Tony Wallace
Position: Cornerback
Height: 5-10
Weight: 170 pounds
Hometown (high school): Las Vegas (Desert Pines)
Rating: Three stars, No. 110 cornerback, No. 28 in the West, No. 3 in Nevada
Other offers: USC, Oregon, Nebraska, Utah, Colorado
2016 stats: Not available
Who he is: A late-blooming cornerback recruit who didn’t play his sophomore or junior years of high school due to academic issues. Wallace burst onto the recruiting scene after his senior season.
Arizona offered Wallace in December and he verbally committed, only to days later receive an offer from USC, a place he called his “dream school.” He’s since added offers from Oregon and Nebraska.
Recently, Wallace tweeted (and then deleted) that he was “100 percent” committed to Arizona. He is visiting Nebraska this weekend. Wallace was high school teammates with two Arizona commits: linebacker Tony Fields and offensive lineman Edgar Burrola.
How he fits: Cornerback has been a problem area for Arizona in recent years, and Wallace has a chance to come in and compete for playing time right away if he sticks to his Arizona commitment. Dane Cruikshank and Jace Whittaker both return, as does redshirt freshman Lorenzo Burns.
He said it: “He’s fast, he gets after it. He’s super athletic. I think he’s one of the most underrated corners in the country, to be honest. He plays hard. He can line up against anybody and dominate.” — Burrola
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Name: Troy Young
Position: Safety
Height: 6-1
Weight: 192 pounds
Hometown (high school): Mobile, Alabama (Mobile Christian School)
Rating: Three stars, No. 127 safety, No. 51 in the South, No. 5 in Alabama
Other offers: South Carolina, UAB, South Alabama, NC State, Memphis, UCF, Toledo
2016 stats: 31 tackles, 3 interceptions, 1,149 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns
Who he is: Young was an under-the-radar recruit when he committed to Arizona in July, but has since added a host of offers, including one from South Carolina. Troy and South Alabama have been pushing Young to flip his commitment, according to AL.com. While Young remains committed, he’s planning trips to Western Kentucky and either UAB, South Alabama or Southern Miss.
How he fits: Young would be one of four safeties in Arizona’s 2017 class, all of whom will have a chance to compete for immediate playing time. At the least, Young could play right away on special teams.
He said it: ““Early playing time is a key for me. I want to go somewhere and play early. Education is important. Which school has my major and how well are they known for it? I want to major in physical therapy. All of those things are important to me.” — Young, to AL.com
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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When Tony Wallace was offered a scholarship by Arizona in December, his only other offers were from Colorado, BYU and UNLV.
Two days later, Wallace announced his verbal commitment to the Wildcats. So, of course, that's precisely when his recruitment blew up. Shortly after, Wallace was offered by USC — his "dream school", he said at the time — and eventually Oregon and Nebraska joined the fray.
After exploring his options in recent weeks, Wallace told the Star on Sunday night that he was sticking to his Arizona commitment and planned to sign his National Letter of Intent on Signing Day on Wednesday.
"I started to explore my options but everything didn’t go as planned," Wallace said. "That’s when I decided I was going to stick with Arizona and leave everybody else alone."
Wallace had been scheduled to visit Nebraska over the weekend, but didn't wind up taking the trip. The Cornhuskers became Arizona's biggest threat for Wallace recently as former Arizona coach Donte Williams was pushing for him to flip. Wallace also recently visited USC.
Earlier on Sunday, Scout.com had reported that Wallace said he was leaning toward Nebraska.
With recruiting, of course, it's always possible something changes between now and Wednesday. But for the time being, it appears Wallace plans to stick to his Arizona commitment. The three-star cornerback comes from Desert Pines in Las Vegas, where he was teammates with Arizona enrollee Tony Fields and commit Edgar Burrola. Safeties coach Jahmile Addae is Wallace's lead recruiter.
"I’m committed to Arizona," Wallace said. "They were the first school to show me love. They were my first big-time offer, and they were the first team to recognize me. I went to an Arizona summer camp, and they were the first to notice me."
- By Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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The Star’s Zack Rosenblatt is counting down Arizona’s recruits leading up to Wednesday’s national signing day.
Name: Malik Hausman
Position: Cornerback
Height: 6-0
Weight: 165
Hometown (high school): Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman)
Rating: 3-stars, No. 109 cornerback, No. 27 West, No. 2 Nevada
Other offers: Boise State, Colorado State, Hawaii, New Mexico, UNLV
2016 stats: N/A, missed season due to ACL injury
Who he is: Hausman was headed toward a big senior season at national power Bishop Gorman when he visited Arizona’s campus in June prior to the season.
He was hit by a car in Tucson and tore his left ACL. As a result, Hausman missed his entire senior season and didn’t add any new offers, where he might’ve without the injury.
How he fits: Assuming he’s healthy — Hausman is expected to be recovered by fall camp — he comes in at a cornerback position where the Wildcats could use some depth. He’s unlikely to start ahead of Dane Cruikshank, Jace Whittaker or Lorenzo Burns, though, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Hausman redshirt his freshman year while coming off a serious knee injury.
He said it: “Jahmile Addae has been recruiting me and he was just very straight up about everything. He really loved the way I played and showed me the most love out of the rest of the schools recruiting me.
“He made me feel like I was the only guy he wanted.” — Hausman to Scout.com after committing in June
- By Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Name: Rhett Rodriguez
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6-1
Weight: 165 pounds
Hometown (high school): Tucson (Catalina Foothills)
Rating: Two stars
Other offers: None
2016 stats: 2,887 passing yards, 486 rushing yards, 43 total touchdowns with three interceptions
Who he is: The son of UA coach Rich Rodriguez and one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in Southern Arizona history. Rodriguez started all four years and guided Catalina Foothills to its first-ever state title appearance, before falling to Scottsdale Saguaro.
How he fits: Rodriguez becomes vital to Arizona’s quarterback depth chart following Braxton Burmeister’s flip to Oregon and Anu Solomon’s transfer to Baylor.
At times last year, Arizona was down to a true freshman (Khalil Tate), a walk-on (Zach Werlinger) and a third-string tight end (Matt Morin) at quarterback. Rodriguez will be the only scholarship quarterback behind Tate and Brandon Dawkins. If nothing else, Rodriguez adds a high football IQ and knowledge of his father’s offensive system.
He said it: “It’s just really cool, just because I know the coaching staff and a lot of the players and I just know so much about this program. … Playing for my dad is something I’ve always thought about and it’s just awesome to see that it’ll come true.” — Rodriguez
- By Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Star reporter Zack Rosenblatt is counting down the UA’s recruits in the days leading up to national signing day.
Name: Anthony Pandy
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-2
Weight: 220 pounds
Hometown (high school): Harbor City, California (Narbonne)
Rating: Three stars, No. 32 inside linebacker, No. 5 in the West, No. 3 in California
Other offers: Boise St., Washington St., Syracuse, Nevada, Fresno St.
2016 stats: 125 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 17 QB hurries, two interceptions, three forced fumbles
Who he is: A star linebacker for one of the best football programs in Southern California. Arizona offered him early enough that he stuck with the Wildcats despite some late interest from Oregon.
How he fits: Pandy is listed as a middle linebacker, but is more likely to play on the outside as a defensive end/linebacker hybrid. Pandy spent some time playing down as a defensive end; in three years at Narbonne, he amassed 66 tackles for loss and 36 sacks.
He said it: “The more we talked, I just got a feeling that Arizona is where I’m supposed to be. I feel like I can really flourish in that system and just as importantly, I have a great comfort level with the coaches, players and the other recruits coming in.” — Pandy to Scout.com
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez has called the 2017 recruiting class potentially the “best ever” for the Wildcats. Coming off a rough 3-9 campaign, the Wildcats need all the help they can get. Star reporter Zack Rosenblatt is previewing Arizona’s recruits in the weeks leading up to the Feb. 1 national signing day. All ratings according to Scout.com.
First up: Defensive lineman Sione Taufahema.
Height: 6 foot 3 inches.
Weight: 320 pounds.
Hometown (high school/junior college): Mission Hills, California (Bishop Alemany/College of the Canyons).
Rating: 2-star.
Other offers: Hawaii, Northern Illinois, Massachusetts, Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
2016 stats: 24 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack.
Who he is: An early enrollee and Arizona’s lone junior college recruit in the 2017 class.
Taufahema already signed his national letter of intent on the junior-college signing day.
How he fits: The Wildcats are desperate for size on the defensive line, and Taufahema instantly becomes the UA’s biggest player for that position group. He’ll compete for immediate playing time.
He said it: “I think I’m definitely prepared to come in and win a starting spot. Being a junior-college guy and going up against other Division I prospects is going to help me a lot just to come in and play right away. That was part of the pitch.” — Taufahema
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Name: Nathan Tilford
Position: Running back
Height: 6 feet 2 inches
Weight: 215 pounds
Hometown (high school): Ontario, California (Colony).
Rating: Four stars, No. 284 overall, No. 24 athlete, No. 4 in West, No. 2 in California
Other offers: USC, UCLA, Tennessee, Nebraska, Arizona State, Michigan
2016 stats: 2,031 rushing yards, 30 touchdowns, 25 receptions, 601 receiving yards, 8 touchdowns, 1 punt return touchdown
Who he is: Tilford is one of the more talented running backs in the 2017 class. He’s a big back with athleticism who dominated in high school.
How he fits: The Wildcats are desperate for running backs after injuries decimated the position last year, and Tilford will help right away as an early enrollee. J.J. Taylor and Nick Wilson are recovering from season-ending injuries, likely opening the door for Tilford to get reps in spring ball.
He said it: “The area I’ve probably improved in most, I’d have to say my vision and my decision-making. There would be some times where I’d decide to do something that I shouldn’t do. I’d run to one side of the field, then there wouldn’t be anything, and then I’d turn around and go all the way back and try to get a couple yards. Now I started learning that even if there’s nothing there, just keep moving your feet and eventually something is gonna happen. If there’s nothing there, at least you picked up a couple yards instead of wasting all your energy going back to the other side of the field.” — Tilford
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Name: Jose Ramirez.
Position: Outside linebacker.
Height: 6-3.
Weight: 209 pounds.
Hometown (high school): Auburndale, Florida (Auburndale Senior).
Rating: Two stars.
Other offers: South Alabama, Northern Illinois, Bowling Green, North Dakota State.
2016 stats: 114 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked punt.
Who he is: A former South Alabama recruit and late Arizona commit. Ramirez played in high school with Jessie Britt, who committed to the UA last year but hasn’t joined the team yet.
How he fits: The Wildcats are desperate for depth at linebacker after losing their top five tacklers at the position . As an early enrollee, Ramirez has a chance to play right away.
He said it: “As a linebacker I just think I’m quick, fast, I can play outside the box, I’m an athletic linebacker so if I have to guard somebody I can do that for you. I know there’s a lot of passing in the Pac-12, so you need diverse linebackers and I just feel like I fit the system. I can guard people and I can stop the run too.” — Ramirez
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Name: Tony Fields
Position: Outside linebacker
Height: 6-2
Weight: 205 pounds
Hometown (high school): Las Vegas (Desert Pines)
Rating: 3-star, No. 92 outside linebacker, No. 12 in the West, No. 1 in Nevada
Other offers: Boise State, BYU, Illinois, Missouri, Oregon State, San Diego State, Washington State
2015 stats (’16 unavailable): 93 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, 4 fumble recoveries
Who he is: Playmaking outside linebacker with a nose for the ball. High school teammates with two other UA commits: offensive lineman Edgar Burrola and cornerback Tony Wallace.
How he fits: Arizona is desperate for help at linebacker after losing their top five tacklers at the position, and Fields — already enrolled at UA — has a chance at immediate playing time on the outside.
He said it: “He’s great. He’ll make plays. I’ve never seen a player like him, to be so hungry and want to get after it.” — Burrola
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Name: Bryce Gilbert
Position: Tight end
Height: 6-4
Weight: 230 pounds
Hometown (high school): Gilbert (Higley)
Rating: Three stars, No. 69 tight end in the country, No. 18 in the West, No. 3 in Arizona
Other offers: Arizona State, Colorado, Louisville, Nebraska, Utah, Oregon State
2016 stats: 15 receptions, 214 yards and four touchdowns
Who he is: An early enrollee and a top in-state recruit. Gilbert missed most of his senior season because of injuries but as a junior amassed 1,056 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns.
How he fits: Gilbert will likely redshirt, as the Wildcats are set to return Trevor Wood, redshirt freshman Jamie Nunley and Brion Anduze, who missed last season with a knee injury.
He said it: “The opportunity to play early because of injuries is a blessing. I’ve got a better opportunity of playing early there (Arizona).” — Gilbert to the Arizona Republic during his senior season
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Name: Colin Schooler
Position: Inside linebacker
Height: 6-2
Weight: 220 pounds
Hometown (high school): Mission Viejo, California (Mission Viejo)
Rating: Three stars, No. 16 inside linebacker, No. 2 in the West, No. 1 in California
Other offers: Nevada, Fresno State, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV
2016 stats: 77 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble
Who he is: A late offer from Arizona, Schooler was a standout for a dominant Mission Viejo team. His numbers dropped a bit from his junior to senior season, but that largely happened because the Diablos won 11 games, on average, by 32.9 points per game, often resting starters in the second half.
How he fits: Arizona lost three players with inside linebacker experience — Cody Ippolito, Michael Barton and Jake Matthews — and are desperate for immediate impact players. Schooler will compete with fellow incoming freshman Joshua Brown, along with redshirt freshman Jacob Colacion, for playing time.
He said it: “Before Coach (Marcel) Yates moved to (defensive backs), he told me that they have five linebacker scholarships this year and they need all of them, and they need every single one of them to be ready to play. I’m excited that they have a spot to compete for there.” — Schooler.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Name: Bryce Wolma
Position: Tight end
Height: 6-4
Weight: 230 pounds
Hometown (high school): Saline, Michigan (Saline)
Rating: Three stars, No. 20 tight end, No. 6 Midwest, No. 1 Michigan
Other offers: Colorado, Tennessee, Iowa State, West Virginia, Northwestern
2016 stats: 46 catches, 694 yards, six touchdowns
Who he is: A childhood friend of Rhett Rodriguez, an Ariozna commit and UA coach Rich Rodriguez’s son, and one of the best tight ends in the Midwest. Scout.com’s Allen Trieu told the Star that Wolma was a “steal” for Arizona.
How he fits: Wolma will likely redshirt, as it will be tough to emerge as a true freshman with Trevor Wood, Jamie Nunley and Brion Anduze returning, along with the addition of freshman Bryce Gilbert as an early enrollee.
He said it: “When I went out and visited (Arizona) and went to the facility and watched practice and stuff like that, I looked around and thought ‘this is pretty freakin cool’. I wanted to go there.” — Wolma
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Name: Joshua Brown
Position: Inside linebacker
Height: 6-1
Weight: 222 pounds
Hometown (high school): Long Beach, California (Poly)
Rating: Three stars, No. 32 inside linebacker, No. 5 West, No. 4 California
Other offers: Fresno State, New Mexico, UNLV, Ohio
2016 stats: 95 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries
Who he is: A product of Long Beach Poly, one of the powers in Southern California prep football. At Poly, He played for Arizona alum Antonio Pierce, a longtime NFL player.
How he fits: Brown will compete with fellow true freshman Colin Schooler, along with redshirt freshman Jacob Colacion, for immediate playing time, with the potential to start.
He said it: “This has been one of the better years from my high school career. I’m a lot better. I’ve had a lot of pro linebackers in my life. My head coach is Antonio Pierce, my linebackers coach is LaVar Arrington,
“I worked in the offseason with Willie McGinest and Chris Claiborne. Those were some high level guys.” — Brown
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Name: Kurtis Brown
Position: Defensive tackle
Height: 6-3
Weight: 295 pounds
Hometown: (high school): Bakersfield, California (Liberty)
Rating: Three stars, No. 45 defensive tackle
Other offers: Colorado, Washington State, Oregon State, Purdue, San Diego State
2016 stats: 28 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 8 quarterback hurries, 1 forced fumble
Who he is: Brown only played in six games as a senior after a knee injury, but had nine sacks, 15 tackles for loss and 38 quarterback hurries the previous two years combined. He was high school teammates with Arizona safety Anthony Mariscal.
How he fits: With the decommitments of Matthew Leo, Elijah Watson and Austin Faoliu, Brown is one of only two interior defensive linemen in the 2017 class. If he’s healthy, he’ll compete for playing time.
He said it: “The connection with the coaches was off the charts, but also when they were talking to me, they made me believe I can be something special there and compete right away, the second I step on campus. So that was a huge thing not many other schools have told me. It was great that they liked me that much already.” — Brown
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Name: Rhedi Short
Position: Safety
Height: 6-1
Weight: 175 pounds
Hometown (high school): Los Angeles (Cathedral).
Rating: Three stars, No. 50 safety, No. 8 West, No. 4 California.
Other offers: UCLA, Oregon, Penn State, Washington, Colorado.
2016 stats: 47 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 12 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles.
Who he is: A former UCLA commit, Short flipped to the Wildcats not long after visiting Arizona’s campus in the fall. He’s expressed some interest in Illinois since, but visited the UA campus over the weekend.
How he fits: Short is one of four safeties in Arizona’s 2017 class, and the Wildcats return a bunch of safeties with experience from last year — namely, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Tristan Cooper and Isaiah Hayes. Playing time will be hard to come by, though Arizona is desperate for defensive depth.
He said it: “The biggest thing is, I was most comfortable there (at Arizona). So when I was up there, and I was talking to everybody, it just felt like home.” — Short
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Name: My-King Johnson
Position: Defensive end
Height: 6-3
Weight: 225 pounds
Hometown (high school): Tempe (Tempe)
Rating: Three stars, No. 50 defensive end, No. 8 in the West, No. 1 in Arizona
Other offers: Oregon, UCLA, USC, Texas A&M, Arizona State
2016 stats: 89 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 21.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles
Who he is: The top-rated defensive end in the state of Arizona. Johnson was previously committed to UCLA before he surprisingly flipped to the Wildcats less than three weeks before Signing Day. Johnson faced Catalina Foothills quarterback Rhett Rodriguez, a UA commit, this season and sacked him three times.
How he fits: He fills a need as a talented pass rusher. Johnson is listed at just 225 pounds and could stand to gain some weight, but he has the talent to play right away.
He said it: “He’s the No. 1 defensive end in the state who is probably ready to step in a role of some sort. They’re going to have to find a way to put him on the field in that defense and get after the quarterback.” — Scout.com analyst Blair Angulo
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Name: Jalen Harris
Position: Athlete (defensive end/linebacker)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 210 pounds
Hometown (high school): Mesa (Desert Ridge)
Rating: Three stars, No. 56 athlete, No. 10 in the West, No. 1 Arizona
Other offers: Notre Dame, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Arizona State, Illinois
2016 stats: 34 tackles, 3 tackles-for-loss, 8.5 sacks, 15 quarterback hurries
Who he is: The son of Sean Harris, a linebacker in Arizona’s “Desert Swarm” era. He had 17 sacks as a junior and has blown up as a recruit since committing to Arizona in August. Recently he’s taken official visits to Notre Dame, Washington, Illinois and Colorado.
How he fits: Harris is a talented pass rusher who would likely see time as a “stud” linebacker, which is essentially an outside linebacker-defensive end hybrid. With Harris and Tempe’s My-King Johnson, Arizona reeled in two of the best pass rushers in the state.
He said it: “(Arizona) talked to me about they were my first offer because they know what I can do, they need to take the top players in the state of Arizona because if you want to win, you have to recruit the best players in your state first.” — Harris
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Name: Scott Young
Position: Safety
Height: 6-0
Weight: 190 pounds
Hometown (high school): La Mesa, California (Helix)
Rating: Three stars, No. 58 safety, No. 10 in the West, No. 6 in California
Other offers: Colorado, Washington State, San Diego State
2016 stats: 68 catches, 1,046 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns (defensive stats not available)
Who he is: An athletic safety from the San Diego area who committed to the Wildcats in June and has been one of the most passionate UA commits on social media. Young had a close relationship with cornerbacks coach Donté Williams before he departed for Nebraska, but he said he understood Williams’ decision.
How he fits: Young is one of three safeties in Arizona’s 2017 class. The Wildcats also have a handful of young returners from last year — Isaiah Hayes, Tristan Cooper, Chacho Ulloa, Jarrius Wallace among them — so playing time will be hard to come by. Young still has a chance to compete for immediate playing time.
He said it: “First and foremost, they’re getting a hard-working player who’s gonna come out there every day to compete and get better. They can expect a leader. I feel like I’m just a natural leader, emotionally or physically, I do everything the right away.” — Young, on what he'll being to the UA
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Name: Kylan Wilborn
Position: Outside linebacker
Height: 6-1
Weight: 235 pounds
Hometown (high school): Sherman Oaks, California (Notre Dame Prep)
Rating: Three stars, No. 68 outside linebacker, No. 9 in the West, No. 6 in California
Other offers: Hawaii, Idaho
2016 stats: 43 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble
Who he is: One of Arizona’s first commitments of the 2017 class. In a hectic recruiting cycle for UA he’s had one of the quietest recruitments.
How he fits: Wilborn will likely play the “stud” position as a sort of defensive end-linebacker hybrid. There is ample playing time available all across Arizona’s defense, so if Wilborn adjusts quickly to the college level in fall camp, he can compete for playing time.
He said it: “I really liked the way the coaches talked to me. They said they had a need at the position and think I’m the man to do it. I can come in and compete for a starting position on the first day. That’s definitely something I’m looking forward to.” — Wilborn
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Name: Drew Dixon
Position: Athlete (wide receiver/defensive back)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 195 pounds
Hometown (high school): Tucson (Sabino)
Rating: Three stars, No. 69 athlete, No. 12 in the West, No. 2 in Arizona
Other offers: Hawaii, New Mexico, San Jose State, Northern Arizona
2016 stats: 1,795 all purpose yards, 11 passing touchdowns, 16 rushing touchdowns, 6 receiving touchdowns, 2 punt return touchdowns
Who he is: One of the best all-purpose stars Tucson has ever had. Dixon spent time at quarterback, running back, receiver, tight end, defensive back and returning both kickoffs and punts.
How he fits: The versatile Tucsonan is expected to play receiver at UA, and he brings some much-needed size into the receiving corps. The Wildcats lost Trey Griffey from last year’s team and only return one scholarship receiver taller than 6-feet. That would be the 6-5 Shawn Poindexter, with six career catches to his name.
He said it: “From the beginning when I went to the U of A, I knew that’s where I wanted to be at, it’s where I wanted to go. As a kid going to the games with my close friend and his dad saying that could be you on the field one day. It was a dream and now, one day pretty soon from here, I will be that guy on the field.” — Dixon
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Name: Edgar Burrola
Position: Offensive lineman
Height: 6-6
Weight: 295 pounds
Hometown (high school): Las Vegas (Desert Pines)
Rating: 3-star, No. 84 guard, No. 16 West, No. 2 Nevada
Other offers: Louisville, UNLV, Idaho, Adams State
2016 stats: Burrola missed all but four games due to a reoccurring shoulder injury and subsequent surgery, but says he’s on track for a full recovery by March and will be ready in time for summer workouts and fall camp.
Who he is: An offensive lineman who committed to Arizona under-the-radar in June following a standout performance at one of the UA’s summer skills camps. Burrola said he was in UA coach Rich Rodriguez’s office, along with Wildcat commit Malik Hausman and USC commit Randal Grimes, as a camp MVP when Rodriguez offered him a scholarship. Two days later, Burrola committed.
How he fits: Arizona is set to lose three of its projected starters — Jacob Alsadek, Layth Friekh and Gerhard de Beer — following the 2017 season, so after a likely redshirt season Burrola has a chance to compete for a starting spot in 2018.
He said it: “They didn’t promise me a starting position or playing time, but they did tell me they don’t offer anybody to be a back-up, so I’m just excited to go out there and do my best to help my team win any way I can, whether it be playing time, or whatever it is.” — Burrola
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Name: Brian Casteel
Position: Wide receiver
Height: 6-1
Weight: 200 pounds
Hometown (high school): Covina, California (Charter Oak)
Rating: Three stars, No. 89 receiver, No. 14 in the West, No. 11 in California
Other offers: Washington State, San Diego State, Nevada, New Mexico
2016 stats: 644 rushing yards, 766 receiving yards, 25 total touchdowns
Who he is: A versatile receiver who did a little bit of everything at Charter Oak — he rushed for 17 touchdowns and had eight receiving, on defense he amassed 72 tackles, two sacks and three interceptions and helped out in the return game. Casteel was initially upset by the departure of cornerbacks coach Donté Williams, but said he’s still committed to the Wildcats. Coaches from UCLA, Oregon and Washington State have been in contact with Casteel with hopes he changes his mind.
How he fits: Arizona needs playmakers at wide receiver, particularly with Samajie Grant, Trey Griffey and Nate Phillips all gone, and if Casteel can pick up Arizona’s system he has a shot to play. Just two returning Wildcats have more than 20 career catches: Shun Brown (33) and Tyrell Johnson (23).
He said it: “What caught my eye the most (about Arizona) was how everybody treated each other like family.” — Casteel
California receiver Brian Casteel remains firm with Arizona Wildcats despite outside interest
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Name: Xavier Bell
Position: Safety
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190 pounds
Hometown (high school): Santa Ana, California (Mater Dei)
Rating: Three stars, No. 92 safety, No. 16 in the West, No. 9 in California
Other offers: Nevada, Fresno State, Howard
2016 stats: 40 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass deflection
Who he is: An athletic, hard-hitting safety. Bell missed most of his junior season due to injury and wasn’t 100 percent during his senior season, but Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson calls Bell a “raw talent” with a lot of potential.
How he fits: Bell is one of four safeties in Arizona’s 2017 class, and will likely have to compete with all three of them — along with a handful of young returners — for immediate playing time. Even if he doesn’t play right away, Bell is expected to eventually make an impact.
He said it: “He’s one of those physically imposing, great sculpted body and he can flat out run. He’s got speed and gears like we’ve never seen in a while around here. And he’s a violent kid, in the sense of controlled violence, but when he brings that, which he likes to do, he can turn it up a notch.” — Rollinson
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Name: Cody Shear
Position: Offensive lineman
Height: 6-4
Weight: 285 pounds
Hometown (high school): Eugene, Oregon (Sheldon)
Rating: Three stars, No. 94 tackle, No. 14 in the West, No. 3 in Oregon
Other offers: Oregon State, Washington State, BYU, Georgia Tech, Memphis
2016 stats: 116 pancake blocks, two carries, six yards, one touchdown
Who he is: An athletic offensive tackle and one of the most highly-recruited players in the state of Oregon. Both Oregon and California have showed interest in Shear recently; he already carries 30 offers.
How he fits: Offensive linemen rarely play right away for UA coach Rich Rodriguez, but there might be playing time open as soon as 2018. Tackles Layth Friekh and Gerhard de Beer, starters last year, will be seniors this fall.
He said it: “Cody’s an outstanding player. Good size, good feet for that size of a kid. We’ve had lots of really good linemen in the 20 years I’ve been at Sheldon and Cody he would rank right up there at the top…he likes to practice. He likes to lift weights. He likes being in the locker room before and after practice. But once we get out and start getting after it, he’s a leader by example, that’s for sure.” — Sheldon coach Lane Johnson
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Name: Tony Wallace
Position: Cornerback
Height: 5-10
Weight: 170 pounds
Hometown (high school): Las Vegas (Desert Pines)
Rating: Three stars, No. 110 cornerback, No. 28 in the West, No. 3 in Nevada
Other offers: USC, Oregon, Nebraska, Utah, Colorado
2016 stats: Not available
Who he is: A late-blooming cornerback recruit who didn’t play his sophomore or junior years of high school due to academic issues. Wallace burst onto the recruiting scene after his senior season.
Arizona offered Wallace in December and he verbally committed, only to days later receive an offer from USC, a place he called his “dream school.” He’s since added offers from Oregon and Nebraska.
Recently, Wallace tweeted (and then deleted) that he was “100 percent” committed to Arizona. He is visiting Nebraska this weekend. Wallace was high school teammates with two Arizona commits: linebacker Tony Fields and offensive lineman Edgar Burrola.
How he fits: Cornerback has been a problem area for Arizona in recent years, and Wallace has a chance to come in and compete for playing time right away if he sticks to his Arizona commitment. Dane Cruikshank and Jace Whittaker both return, as does redshirt freshman Lorenzo Burns.
He said it: “He’s fast, he gets after it. He’s super athletic. I think he’s one of the most underrated corners in the country, to be honest. He plays hard. He can line up against anybody and dominate.” — Burrola
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Name: Troy Young
Position: Safety
Height: 6-1
Weight: 192 pounds
Hometown (high school): Mobile, Alabama (Mobile Christian School)
Rating: Three stars, No. 127 safety, No. 51 in the South, No. 5 in Alabama
Other offers: South Carolina, UAB, South Alabama, NC State, Memphis, UCF, Toledo
2016 stats: 31 tackles, 3 interceptions, 1,149 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns
Who he is: Young was an under-the-radar recruit when he committed to Arizona in July, but has since added a host of offers, including one from South Carolina. Troy and South Alabama have been pushing Young to flip his commitment, according to AL.com. While Young remains committed, he’s planning trips to Western Kentucky and either UAB, South Alabama or Southern Miss.
How he fits: Young would be one of four safeties in Arizona’s 2017 class, all of whom will have a chance to compete for immediate playing time. At the least, Young could play right away on special teams.
He said it: ““Early playing time is a key for me. I want to go somewhere and play early. Education is important. Which school has my major and how well are they known for it? I want to major in physical therapy. All of those things are important to me.” — Young, to AL.com
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
When Tony Wallace was offered a scholarship by Arizona in December, his only other offers were from Colorado, BYU and UNLV.
Two days later, Wallace announced his verbal commitment to the Wildcats. So, of course, that's precisely when his recruitment blew up. Shortly after, Wallace was offered by USC — his "dream school", he said at the time — and eventually Oregon and Nebraska joined the fray.
After exploring his options in recent weeks, Wallace told the Star on Sunday night that he was sticking to his Arizona commitment and planned to sign his National Letter of Intent on Signing Day on Wednesday.
"I started to explore my options but everything didn’t go as planned," Wallace said. "That’s when I decided I was going to stick with Arizona and leave everybody else alone."
Wallace had been scheduled to visit Nebraska over the weekend, but didn't wind up taking the trip. The Cornhuskers became Arizona's biggest threat for Wallace recently as former Arizona coach Donte Williams was pushing for him to flip. Wallace also recently visited USC.
Earlier on Sunday, Scout.com had reported that Wallace said he was leaning toward Nebraska.
With recruiting, of course, it's always possible something changes between now and Wednesday. But for the time being, it appears Wallace plans to stick to his Arizona commitment. The three-star cornerback comes from Desert Pines in Las Vegas, where he was teammates with Arizona enrollee Tony Fields and commit Edgar Burrola. Safeties coach Jahmile Addae is Wallace's lead recruiter.
"I’m committed to Arizona," Wallace said. "They were the first school to show me love. They were my first big-time offer, and they were the first team to recognize me. I went to an Arizona summer camp, and they were the first to notice me."
- By Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
The Star’s Zack Rosenblatt is counting down Arizona’s recruits leading up to Wednesday’s national signing day.
Name: Malik Hausman
Position: Cornerback
Height: 6-0
Weight: 165
Hometown (high school): Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman)
Rating: 3-stars, No. 109 cornerback, No. 27 West, No. 2 Nevada
Other offers: Boise State, Colorado State, Hawaii, New Mexico, UNLV
2016 stats: N/A, missed season due to ACL injury
Who he is: Hausman was headed toward a big senior season at national power Bishop Gorman when he visited Arizona’s campus in June prior to the season.
He was hit by a car in Tucson and tore his left ACL. As a result, Hausman missed his entire senior season and didn’t add any new offers, where he might’ve without the injury.
How he fits: Assuming he’s healthy — Hausman is expected to be recovered by fall camp — he comes in at a cornerback position where the Wildcats could use some depth. He’s unlikely to start ahead of Dane Cruikshank, Jace Whittaker or Lorenzo Burns, though, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Hausman redshirt his freshman year while coming off a serious knee injury.
He said it: “Jahmile Addae has been recruiting me and he was just very straight up about everything. He really loved the way I played and showed me the most love out of the rest of the schools recruiting me.
“He made me feel like I was the only guy he wanted.” — Hausman to Scout.com after committing in June
- By Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Name: Rhett Rodriguez
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6-1
Weight: 165 pounds
Hometown (high school): Tucson (Catalina Foothills)
Rating: Two stars
Other offers: None
2016 stats: 2,887 passing yards, 486 rushing yards, 43 total touchdowns with three interceptions
Who he is: The son of UA coach Rich Rodriguez and one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in Southern Arizona history. Rodriguez started all four years and guided Catalina Foothills to its first-ever state title appearance, before falling to Scottsdale Saguaro.
How he fits: Rodriguez becomes vital to Arizona’s quarterback depth chart following Braxton Burmeister’s flip to Oregon and Anu Solomon’s transfer to Baylor.
At times last year, Arizona was down to a true freshman (Khalil Tate), a walk-on (Zach Werlinger) and a third-string tight end (Matt Morin) at quarterback. Rodriguez will be the only scholarship quarterback behind Tate and Brandon Dawkins. If nothing else, Rodriguez adds a high football IQ and knowledge of his father’s offensive system.
He said it: “It’s just really cool, just because I know the coaching staff and a lot of the players and I just know so much about this program. … Playing for my dad is something I’ve always thought about and it’s just awesome to see that it’ll come true.” — Rodriguez
- By Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Star reporter Zack Rosenblatt is counting down the UA’s recruits in the days leading up to national signing day.
Name: Anthony Pandy
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-2
Weight: 220 pounds
Hometown (high school): Harbor City, California (Narbonne)
Rating: Three stars, No. 32 inside linebacker, No. 5 in the West, No. 3 in California
Other offers: Boise St., Washington St., Syracuse, Nevada, Fresno St.
2016 stats: 125 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 17 QB hurries, two interceptions, three forced fumbles
Who he is: A star linebacker for one of the best football programs in Southern California. Arizona offered him early enough that he stuck with the Wildcats despite some late interest from Oregon.
How he fits: Pandy is listed as a middle linebacker, but is more likely to play on the outside as a defensive end/linebacker hybrid. Pandy spent some time playing down as a defensive end; in three years at Narbonne, he amassed 66 tackles for loss and 36 sacks.
He said it: “The more we talked, I just got a feeling that Arizona is where I’m supposed to be. I feel like I can really flourish in that system and just as importantly, I have a great comfort level with the coaches, players and the other recruits coming in.” — Pandy to Scout.com
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Q&A with the UA redshirt sophomore who missed last season after getting hurt during the first spring practice of 2016.
Losing the three-star prospect is a blow to the UA, which is seeking to bulk up its defensive front.
The Cats and Rams have met 17 times, most recently in 1994.
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