Apollo 3: Arizona Wildcats make splash on 2024 recruiting class with Phoenix-area trio, Tucson's Keona Wilhite

Arizona’s 2024 recruiting class received a significant boost — mostly from in-state players — on Monday.

Hours after the Wildcats landed a verbal commitment from Salpointe Catholic High School star defensive end Keona Wilhite, Arizona pulled off a hat trick with three Phoenix-area stars: Glendale Apollo running back Adam Mohammed and offensive linemen Michael Watkins and Matthew Lado. The Apollo trio simultaneously pledged to the UA on Monday afternoon.

Three-star defensive back Kayo Patu, younger brother of Arizona edge rusher and Cal transfer Orin Patu, also committed to the Wildcats on Monday evening. The younger Patu is a 6-foot-1, 170-pound standout at Sacramento’s Capital Christian High School. Then, Jaedon Langley, a 6-3, 230-pound defensive lineman from Fort Worth, Texas, committed to Arizona over Texas Tech, SMU and North Texas.

Wilhite, the Tucson product, selected the hometown Wildcats over Oregon State, UCLA, Washington, Arizona State, BYU, Colorado and Nebraska.

Wilhite, a 6-5, 236-pound senior, is rated by 247Sports.com as a three-star prospect and the 11th-best prospect in Arizona. As a junior, Wilhite recorded 24 tackles and 4.5 sacks for the Lancers.

The Wildcats are also recruiting fellow Salpointe star Elijah Rushing, who’s rated as a five-star prospect and one of the top edge rushers for the ’24 recruiting cycle. Rushing’s older brother, Cruz Rushing, is a reserve safety for the UA. Arizona is also recruiting Salpointe senior offensive lineman Luis Cordova for 2024. Earlier this month, Arizona offered 2026 Salpointe defensive tackle Noah Banhie.

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In recent years, Arizona has struggled to land prospects from Salpointe, one of Arizona’s top high school football programs, which is located less than three miles from Arizona Stadium.

Notable Lancers to not sign with Arizona include Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (Texas), safety Lathan Ransom (Ohio State), offensive lineman Bruno Fina (UCLA), offensive lineman Jonah Miller (Oregon), along with one-time Lancer and former Tanque Verde offensive tackle Jack Endean (Oklahoma State). Arizona also halted recruiting former UA commit Treyson Bourguet, who’s now the starting quarterback at Western Michigan.

The 6-6, 260-pound Lado is rated by 247Sports.com as the 31st-best recruit in Arizona. The 6-3, 282-pound Watkins is a three-star prospect and committed to the Wildcats over Colorado State. The 6-foot, 180-pound Mohammed, who picked the UA over Cal, is rated by 247Sports.com as the 61st-best prospect in Arizona; Rivals.com lists Mohammed as a Top 20 in-state prospect.

In the last two seasons at Glendale Apollo, Mohammed rushed for 2,905 yards and 54 touchdowns and averaged 7.3 yards per carry.

The Wildcats now have 13 commits for ’24. Five of those commits are from Arizona: Wilhite, Mohammed, Wilkins, Lado and Gilbert wide receiver Brandon Phelps — the most in-state high school commits since head coach Jedd Fisch took over the program.