Based on recent events, the lack of recruiting commitments for Arizona football over the last three days feels like an all-out, California water-level drought.
The Wildcats went on a run, well-documented here, where they received eight verbal commitments in a 13-day span, capped by three-star safety Xavier Bell on Friday.
(Update 6/20 at 12:45 p.m.: three-star corner Malik Hausman announced his verbal commitment to Arizona. He's from Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas.)
That sort of recruiting activity this early in the cycle is almost unheard of, and I don't anticipate it slowing down anytime soon. I think it'd be a safe prediction to say the Wildcats might have 20 commitments in total by the end of the summer, if not sooner.
I chatted with one of them, offensive lineman Tucker Robertson, on Monday and he said he's been "paying a lot of attention" to Arizona's buzz building for its 2017 class and that it's been "very persuasive" for him.
So who's next?
Here's my best guess at some of the most likely candidates. All ratings according to Scout.com.
OL Tucker Robertson
- 6-3, 260
- From: Grace Brethren (Simi Valley, California)
- Rating: Three-star, No. 14 defensive end in the West, No. 6 in California
- Visited: June 12
- Other offers: Washington State, San Diego State, Nevada, New Mexico, Fresno State, Hawaii, Air Force, Army, Princeton
- Why him: He's listed as a defensive linemen on most sites, but he'll likely play offensive line in college. He told me his visit last week was "phenomenal" and raved about the coaching staff. He'll decide before July 15.
OL Cody Shear
- 6-4, 285
- From: Henry D. Sheldon (Eugene, Oregon)
- Rating: Three-star, No. 16 offensive tackle in the West, No. 3 in Oregon
- Visited: June 18
- Other offers: 29 offers, including Washington State, Oregon State, Fresno State, Georgia Tech, Hawaii, Utah State, BYU, East Carolina, Toledo, San Diego State
- Why him: He visited on Saturday and the visit went well. Arizona was his first Power Five conference offer, so they're in good shape. If the local Oregon Ducks were to offer at some point, though, UA might lose out.
WR Maurice Bell
- 6-0, 170
- From: Murrieta Valley (Murrieta, California)
- Rating: Three-star, No. 11 WR in the West, No. 9 in California
- Visited: June 12
- Other offers: 10 offers, but narrowed to a Top-5 with Arizona, Michigan, Colorado, Iowa and Washington State.
- Why him: Michigan seems like the team to beat here, but Bell did visit recently, and the Wildcats do well when they can get guys on campus. Arizona is loading up at receiver for 2017 already, though, with commitments from Brian Casteel and Drew Dixon, with a lot of other guys (namely Joseph Lewis) still on the board. Bell told Scout.com he'd be deciding "very soon".
WR Warren Jackson
- 6-5, 165
- From: Bishop Alemany (Mission Hills, California)
- Rating: Three-star, No. 15 WR in the West, No. 13 in California
- Visited: March 23
- Other offers: Has a Top-5 of Fresno State, Colorado State, Oregon State, Arizona and Arizona State.
- Why him: The Wildcats feel like the favorite for Jackson, and he has the size (6-5) at receiver that Arizona has been seeking out recently.
DE Odua Isibor
- 6-5, 215
- From: St. Mary's (Phoenix)
- Rating: Three-star, No. 11 DE in the West, No. 1 in Arizona
- Visited: April 16
- Other offers: ASU, Oregon, USC, Texas A&M, Kansas State, Iowa State, Hawaii, Colorado
- Why him: When Arizona gave him his first scholarship offer on Feb. 21, he was something of an unknown commodity. He has since blown up, garnering offers from USC, Oregon and Texas A&M. Every time a big school like that offers, it likely hurts Arizona's chances, but getting in there with the first offer should help their chances. I don't necessarily think he'll commit anywhere anytime soon, but if he was going to do it early, I could see it being for Arizona.
DB Rhedi Short
- 6-1, 175
- From: Cathedral (Los Angeles)
- Rating: Three-star, No. 7 safety in the West, No. 3 in California
- Visited: May 7
- Other offers: His Top-10 includes Arizona, Oregon, Penn State, ASU, Boise State, California, Colorado, Illinois, Memphis, San Jose State
- Why him: He decommitted from UCLA just one day after visiting Arizona, so I had thought Arizona was the favorite. It's never easy to hold off Oregon, though, so this will be an interesting one. Short will decide on July 3.
