Arizona had a busy Monday on the recruiting trail to start the week.
The Wildcats picked up a commitment from four-star 2024 defensive back Rahshawn Clark, who was previously committed to the Cal Golden Bears, along with junior-college defensive lineman Bryce Butler and former Tennessee safety Jack Luttrell.
Clark is the third-highest-rated prospect in Arizona’s ’24 class behind Los Angeles-area running back Jordan Washington and Chandler quarterback Demond Williams, according to 247Sports.com. Those three are the Wildcats’ only four-star commits for this upcoming recruiting cycle.
Clark, a 6-foot, 180-pound star at Garfield High School in Seattle, also held offers from Colorado, Louisville, Michigan State, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Mississippi State and Georgia Tech, among others.
As a three-star prospect last year, Luttrell, a 6-foot, 180-pounder from Moultrie, Georgia, signed with the Volunteers over Texas A&M, Colorado, Arkansas and Notre Dame.
A standout at Colquitt County High School, the two-way Luttrell had 211 tackles, five interceptions and eight pass breakups, along with 850 receiving yards, 495 rushing yards and 247 passing yards, in addition to 1,061 kickoff return yards and 280 punt return yards. He didn’t appear in any games for the Volunteers in his lone season at Tennessee.
Luttrell is the third addition through the transfer portal for Arizona, joining Indiana transfer cornerback Jordan Shaw and UC Davis defensive tackle Chubba Maae. Former four-star recruit and Missouri transfer D.J. Wesolak, a 6-4, 235-pound edge rusher, was also in Tucson visiting over the weekend, and is strongly considering the Wildcats.
Clark, Shaw and Luttrell are set to join an Arizona secondary that’s expected to return every starter from this season, including cornerbacks Ephesians Prysock and Tacario Davis, safeties Gunner Maldonado and Dalton Johnson, and nickelback Treydan Stukes. The Wildcats will lose graduate transfers Martell Irby and Dylan Wyatt after this season.
Arizona’s cornerback room in 2024 will consist of Prysock, Davis, Stukes, Shaw, redshirt freshman Jai-Ayviauynn Celestine, freshman Emmanuel Karnley and incoming three-star 2024 prospect Rahim Wright. At safety, besides Maldonado and Johnson, the Wildcats are expected to return freshmen Genesis Smith, Gavin Hunter and Arian Parish and junior DJ Warnell.
Butler was the first commit for the Wildcats on Monday. The 6-5, 295-pound Butler is rated by 247Sports.com as the 13th-best junior-college defensive lineman nationally.
In one season at Garden City Community College in Kansas, the Toronto native logged 31 tackles, 13.5 stops for loss and five sacks.
Arizona has the seventh-best 2024 recruiting class in the Big 12, per 247 Sports. The Wildcats’ ’24 class ranks 49th nationally.
The early signing period begins Wednesday.
Extra points
Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch was named one of five finalists for the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award, along with Kalen DeBoer (Washington), Mike Norvell (Florida State), Eliah Drinkwitz (Missouri) and Nick Saban (Alabama), a three-time finalist for award.
Arizona left tackle Jordan Morgan, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan and cornerback Tacario Davis were named to Pro Football Focus’ All-Pac-12 Team. Morgan, who is opting out of the 14th-ranked Wildcats’ matchup with No. 12 Oklahoma in the Valero Alamo Bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft, was also selected to the All-Pac-12 First Team. Morgan’s 89.9 pass-blocking grade by PFF is the fourth-best nationally amongst tackles with at least 700 snaps played this season. McMillan, who was recently named an Associated Press All-American, is eighth among FBS wideouts with 1,242 yards, which is the fourth-most by a Wildcat in a single season. Davis leads the Pac-12 in pass breakups (15) and is the Wildcats’ highest-graded defender (81.1) on PFF.
Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch says the Wildcats are "a very close-knit team with the coaches and players alike," which has been essential in the program's ascension. Video by Justin Spears / Arizona Daily Star
