Recruiting a 'critical piece of this bye week' for Arizona football

With the Arizona football team off this week, Wildcats head coach Brent Brennan said a “critical piece of this bye week is our coaches are going all over the country recruiting.”

As another week of the high school football season approaches, the UA coaching staff will trek around the US to “find the next great Wildcat and do everything we can to keep our recruiting class intact and also find the pieces that we know will make us better in the future.”

Arizona’s 21-player recruiting class for 2025 currently ranks fourth in the Big 12, according 247Sports and Rivals; both websites rank the Wildcats’ ‘25 class in the Top 40 nationally. The Wildcats have eight commits from California, seven from Texas, four from Arizona and one apiece in Hawaii and Florida.

The Wildcats aren’t anticipating losing their top commitments for the upcoming recruiting cycle in the wake of a five-game losing streak, “but that’s an ongoing conversation,” Brennan said.

“Recruiting is about relationships and trust, and those kids that chose to commit to us chose to do so because they believe in us and put trust in us,” said Brennan said. “We have to continue to ensure and help them see that when you come here, you are going to get developed at a really high level, you are going to be a part of great football teams, you are going to be a part of a great college football experience. ... I think we’re moving in the right direction. I still think we have some pieces to add to it.”

If anything, Brennan is hopeful Arizona’s losing skid and lack of depth can solidify the Wildcats’ commits with the early signing period on the horizon in December.

“It doesn’t matter what position, every player that you recruit thinks they’re going to walk in the door and start,” said Brennan. “If they can look at some of the struggles and say, ‘Hey, I think I can have a positive impact on that football team,’ I think that has a chance to help.”

Brennan noted the “fluid nature of college football” with the transfer portal opening in December adds to the challenges of forming a recruiting class, because “there are so many unknowns,” he said.

Sometimes an exodus of transfers can poke holes on the depth chart despite the Wildcats targeting that position for their upcoming recruiting class.

“I don’t know who is going to walk into my office someday and say, ‘Hey, I’m going to hit the (transfer) portal.’ Everything is based on your best guess,” Brennan said. “It’s an educated projection on what you think the roster is going to look like, but then there’s also going to be some surprises there, so you have to have contingency plans upon contingency plans, so you can make sure to build the program the right way to have the proper depth, proper talent, proper size, speed, everything at every position.

“That’s a constant evaluation and we’re working at that. The recruiting effort has been awesome. I love where we’re at. I think we have great recruiters on our staff and I think we have a great plan with how we’re going to build it. ... I’m excited about where we’re going.”

Here’s a look at five Arizona commits and how they’re performing this season:

Luke Haugo

Position: Quarterback

Height, weight: 6-5, 200 pounds

Hometown (High school): Gilbert (Higley)

Rating: Three stars (247/Rivals)

How they’re doing: Haugo has completed 118 of 177 passes for 1,545 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions in nine games. Haugo and Higley wrap up the regular season on Friday against Gilbert Williams Field before preparing for the Class 5A playoffs.

Robert McDaniel

Position: Quarterback

Height, weight: 6-1, 195 pounds

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Hometown (High school): Hughson, California (Hughson)

Rating: Three stars (247/Rivals)

How they’re doing: Following a summer that included a spot at the “Elite 11,” a quarterback camp and showcase that features 11 of the top high quarterbacks nationally, McDaniel has risen to elite status in California, completing 132 of 212 passes for 2,201 yards, 29 touchdowns and three interceptions for the undefeated Hughson Huskies (10-0). In his four-year career, McDaniel, whose family owns 150 goats, has passed for 7,172 yards, 91 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

Isaiah Mizell

Position: Wide receiver

Height, weight: 6-0, 160 pounds

Hometown (High school): Orlando, Florida (Boone)

Rating: Three stars (247/Rivals)

How they’re doing: The lone commit from Florida has 35 catches for 810 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. Mizell visited Notre Dame in September and received an official offer from the Fighting Irish. Mizell told IrishSportsDaily.com that his visit to Notre Dame “opened my eyes.” Said Mizell: “I wasn’t expecting to come here and just decommit from Arizona, but I’ve definitely got a couple things to think about and what’s best for me in the future. Like I said, all my expectations were fulfilled. It’s a very nice place, somewhere I could definitely see myself being (at) the next couple years.”

Gio Richardson

Position: Wide receiver

Height, weight: 5-11, 170 pounds

Hometown (High school): Chandler (Basha)

Rating: Three stars (247/Rivals)

How they’re doing: Richardson leads Basha with 38 receptions for 721 yards and seven touchdowns. The Bears (8-1) conclude the regular season on Friday against Gilbert Perry. A win would likely solidify Basha’s spot in the Open Division bracket. Richardson committed to Arizona on the Fourth of July, but recently received significant interest from Vanderbilt. Richardson is taking an official visit to Vanderbilt this week in Nashville.

Wesley Yarbrough

Position: Running back

Height, weight: 5-10, 195 pounds

Hometown (High school): Crosby, Texas (Crosby)

Rating: Four stars (Rivals), three stars (247)

How they’re doing: Yarbrough eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his three-year career at Crosby. This season, the Houston-area product has 176 rushes for 1,371 yards and 15 touchdowns — more than his previous two seasons combined. Yarbrough will play his final high school football game on Friday, when Crosby (5-4) hosts Angleton (8-1). Yarbrough is the only running back committed to Arizona for ‘25.