Salpointe Football | Sept. 15, 2023

Valley Vista’s Damir Ilicic (15) releases the ball as Salpointe’s Keona Davis (50) goes in for the tackle during a matchup at Salpointe Catholic High School on Sept. 15, 2023

Keona Wilhite, a standout defensive end at Salpointe Catholic, is on the market after the three-star edge rusher announced on X (Twitter) Sunday afternoon that he's re-opening his recruitment in the wake of Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer accepting the same role at Alabama. 

Wilhite was prepared to join the Huskies for the upcoming season after signing with UW over the hometown Arizona Wildcats, UCLA, BYU, Oregon State, Colorado, Nebraska and Arizona State. 

"Please respect the decision I have made," Wilhite posted. "After much discussion and (prayer) with my family, I have decided to decommit from UW. I want to thank the UW community for all the love and support! With that said I am officially reopening my recruitment."

The 6-5, 245-pound Wilhite was previously committed to Arizona, along with Salpointe Catholic teammate and five-star edge rusher Elijah Rushing, but both decommitted from the UA in October; Rushing signed with Oregon.

In two seasons at Salpointe Catholic, Wilhite registered 84 tackles and 24 stops for loss, including 12.5 sacks. 

VIDEO: Alamo Bowl: Arizona football coach Jedd Fisch shares his desire to let the Wildcats’ bowl win be a true conclusion to the 2023 season for his team, rather than a jumpstart so quickly to what might come to be in 2024. Fisch shared his remarks after the No. 14 Wildcats’ 38-24 win over No. 12 Oklahoma in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, in San Antonio, Texas. (Courtesy Valero Alamo Bowl)


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Contact Justin Spears, the Star's Arizona football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports