Arizona football: Breaking down all 26 players in Cats' 2017 recruiting class
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The Arizona Wildcats have received 26 verbal commitments for their 2017 recruiting class.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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If there was ever a reason to think Rich Rodriguez might be sticking around Tucson long-term, news about Arizona's latest recruit commitment should aid that belief.
The recruit is a quarterback in the 2017 class from Catalina Foothills. His name — Rhett Rodriguez.
Yes, Rodriguez's son Rhett committed to the UA on Jan. 16. He received the scholarship offer on Jan. 12, he told the Star.
"It’s just really cool," Rodriguez said. "Just because I know the coaching staff and a lot of the players, and I just know so much about this program that’s always been something I've wanted to do. Playing for my dad is something I've always thought about, and it’s just awesome to see that it'll come true."
Rhett Rodriguez is listed at 6 foot 1, 165 pounds. As a junior at Catalina Foothills in 2015, Rodriguez passed for 2,503 yards, 20 touchdowns and two interceptions, and added 624 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. (You can view Rodriguez's junior-season highlights here).
Rich Rodriguez said this about his son at a press conference back in November before the Utah game:
"The football IQ part is easy because Rhett has been around it his whole life. Whenever I come home he's usually sitting in front of the computer watching game film. He will want me to sit and watch it with him. I love that because I like talking ball.
"He has been around it his whole life. He has such a high football IQ, he wants to be a coach. He will probably be a coach before he is 30. He will be a whole lot better than me because he has a better demeanor.
"I am really proud of him and his team. I am proud of the way he handles himself. I think there is pressure on all these kids because there is more scrutiny on all levels, even high school levels. A coach’s kid, whether you're female or male and playing a particular sport you have more eyes and scrutiny on you there. He has handled that phenomenally.
"His mom has been more responsible for his maturity than I have. I am proud of him, proud of my daughter, she cheered at the game. I have been lucky."
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Arizona is making early moves on its 2017 recruiting class, and the Wildcats are aiming high.
Athlete Greg Johnson announced on Twitter his verbal commitment to the Wildcats on March 1. From Augustus Hawkins High School in Los Angeles, Johnson is rated as a four-star recruit by Scout.com and the No. 1 athlete in the West. He's the No. 50 recruit overall.
In a note posted to Twitter, Johnson said "this decision wasn't as hard as I thought it would be" and that he "felt the time and the situation was right."
#BearDown 🔴🐻⬇️ #HawkinsFootball 😈 pic.twitter.com/HMXaAOgzyP
— Greg Johnson (@quick6gjohnson) March 2, 2016
The lead recruiter on Johnson was cornerbacks coach Donté Williams, who was hired in January as part of a defensive coaching staff overhaul for UA coach Rich Rodriguez.
When Williams was hired from his assistant coaching position at San Jose State, the word was that he had strong recruiting ties to Southern California. Johnson's commitment, at the very least, confirmed Williams is already a player in that area.
Johnson, listed at 5 foot 10 and 180 pounds, picked the Wildcats over offers from 19 other schools, including Michigan, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Tennessee, UCLA and USC.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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If defense is Arizona's biggest concern going forward, Rich Rodriguez's revamped UA defensive staff is quickly doing its best to remedy that situation in next year's recruiting class.
The Wildcats received a verbal commitment from linebacker Kylan Wilborn on April 5.
Wilborn is rated a three-star recruit by Scout.com, and is listed as the No. 10 linebacker in the West.
Wilborn, listed at 6 foot 1 and 235 pounds, was an avid fan of the Pac-12 while growing up in Sherman Oaks, California, so it meant a lot to him when Arizona was his first offer from that conference.
He picked the Wildcats over offers from Hawaii and Idaho after taking an unofficial visit to campus.
For Wilborn, the biggest selling point was Arizona's coaching staff, combined with the chance to play right away.
"I really liked the way the coaches talked to me," Wilborn told the Star. "They said they had a need at the position (outside linebacker) and think I’m the man to do it. I can come in and compete for a starting position on the first day. That’s definitely something I’m looking forward to."
Marcel Yates, Arizona's new defensive coordinator, was Wilborn's primary recruiter, and the linebacker said he appreciated how Yates "kept it real" with him.
Further proof of the new UA staff's impact — Wilborn said the first people he told of his decision were Yates and new recruiting coordinator Chris Singletary, along with receivers coach Tony Dews.
"Everything he (Yates) said was not selling me, he was just telling me the facts," Wilborn said. Yates said "'Nothing is going to be easy, nothing is going to be given. You have to come in and work for it.' He’s just a great coach and I’m looking forward to spending more time with him."
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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The Wildcats received a verbal commitment from defensive lineman Kurtis Brown on April 5.
Brown is rated a three-star recruit by Scout.com, and is the No. 9 defensive lineman in the same region.
Brown, listed at 6 foot 3 and 260 pounds, visited the Wildcats in March, and picked Arizona over offers from nine other schools, including Colorado, Oregon State and Washington State. He played at Liberty High School in Bakersfield, California, with UA safety Anthony Mariscal.
"Arizona just felt like home," Brown said in a text message to the Star. "I had a great connection with all the coaches, I love the new coaching staff they have there, and they truly believed that I can be something special, and I took that to heart."
Defensive line coach Vince Amey was Brown's primary recruiter.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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It’s only April, but Arizona is already flipping recruits from their verbal commitments to other teams.
Tight end Bryce Wolma announced on April 6 that he was backing out of a verbal commitment to Northwestern and will instead join Arizona’s 2017 recruiting class.
The Scout.com recruiting service lists Wolma as a three-star recruit and the No. 1 tight end in Michigan, though he might play receiver in college. Wolma is listed at 6 feet 4 inches and 230 pounds.
Wolma verbally committed to Northwestern on April 3, but in a Twitter message on April 6 said that “the timing and process around my commitment created a decision that was not right for me” and that it was “a dream of mine to play at the UofA for a long time.”
Wolma is friends with Rhett Rodriguez dating back to when Rhett still lived in Michigan and Rich Rodriguez, Rhett’s father, was the Wolverines’ coach.
He had offers from 12 other schools, including Tennessee, Colorado, West Virginia and Wake Forest.
#Beardown #DesertGang17 🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/SX1pHogRWB
— Bryce Wolma (@brycewolma2) April 6, 2016
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Arizona just keeps plugging away at its 2017 recruiting class.
On April 12, the Wildcats added a verbal commitment from four-star athlete Nathan Tilford from Colony High School in Ontario, California.
He's the sixth player to verbally commit to Arizona's 2017 class, jumping in on the wave of momentum the Wildcats have experienced with recent commitments.
The 6-foot-1-inch, 200-pound Tilford is the latest highly-touted Southern California recruit the Wildcats have stolen from the grips of that area's powers. He chose Arizona over offers from hometown teams USC and UCLA, as well as Nebraska, Arizona State and Michigan.
With Tilford's verbal commitment, the Wildcats now have the No. 1 and No. 3 athletes in the West, according to Scout.com. Fellow UA commit Greg Johnson, from Hawkins High School in Los Angeles, is rated the top athlete in the region.
Scout also rates Tilford the No. 186 overall recruit in the nation, and the No. 13 athlete. He is expected to play running back at Arizona, which is a position of need going forward with Nick Wilson set to run out of eligibility after the 2017 season.
Much attention has been paid to Arizona's new defensive coaches, but it was actually offensive coordinator/running backs coach Calvin Magee who led the charge for Tilford. UA analyst Miguel Reveles, who was an assistant coach at Colony for two seasons before joining Rich Rodriguez's staff, helped with the recruitment. UA receiver Samajie Grant also attended Colony.
Scout.com's Greg Biggins had this to say about Tilford...
Been watching Tilford since he was in 8th grade, multi-position player who could end up at RB, WR, LB or safety, very nice pickup for #UA
— Greg Biggins (@GregBiggins) April 12, 2016
- Michael Lev
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Arizona’s offseason theme of building a bigger, better defense continued April 30 when a beefy defensive tackle committed to the Wildcats.
Arizona received a verbal commitment from 6-foot-4, 275-pound Elijah Watson of Mountain View High in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
Watson, rated a two-star prospect by Rivals, is the second defensive tackle to commit to Arizona for 2017, joining Kurtis Brown of Bakersfield, California.
Watson participated in the Wildcats’ recent junior day on the UA campus. He tweeted the news on April 30:
I have decided to Commit to The University of Arizona! 🐻🔴⭕ #DesertGang17 #BearDown pic.twitter.com/SQXDjMS1WE
— HOLLYWOOD (@WatsonElijah_) April 30, 2016
Defensive line might be Arizona’s biggest area of need. Coach Rich Rodriguez is determined to enhance Arizona's size and talent in the front seven, and Watson fits that profile.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Arizona doesn't appear to be slowing down with its 2017 recruiting class.
On May 7, the Wildcats added a verbal commitment from linebacker Tony Fields, from Desert Pines High School in Las Vegas.
Fields is already the eighth commitment of Arizona's 2017 class, and the fifth on defense. Fields tweeted out the announcement on May 7.
#BearDown 🐻⬇️💰 pic.twitter.com/VhvQQlfMY9
— Tony Fields II (@T_Fieldss21) May 8, 2016
Fields is rated a three-star recruit by Scout.com, the No. 13 linebacker in the West and the No. 1 linebacker in Nevada. He picked the Wildcats over offers from 15 schools, including Boise State, BYU, Missouri, Oregon State and Washington State.
Safeties coach Jahmile Addae was the lead recruiter on Fields, who is listed at 6 foot 2 and 200 pounds.
- Zack Rosenblatt
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Well, Braxton Burmeister has verbally committed to Arizona.
Again.
The four-star quarterback from La Jolla, California, announced on May 13 that he was committing to play for the Wildcats. Braxton, No. 19-rated quarterback in the class of 2017 according to Scout.com, had initially committed to Arizona back in 2014, then re-opened his recruitment in March.
Now he's back.
Burmeister made the announcement in a live video on Periscope, and then posted a message on Twitter saying the process "had its ups and downs." Before the announcement, Burmeister said he also considered Indiana, Utah, Washington, South Carolina and San Diego State.
He's the ninth commitment in Arizona's 2017 class, and the third four-star recruit, joining athletes Greg Johnson and Nathan Tilford. He's also the second quarterback in the class, the other being Catalina Foothills' Rhett Rodriguez.
After his initial decommitment, Burmeister had heavy interest from Washington in particular, received offers from California and Oregon State, and visited South Carolina, Utah, Indiana and Washington.
COMMITTED #BearDown 🐻⬇️❤️ pic.twitter.com/aA5aJCuJij
— Braxton Burmeister (@Braxton1B) May 13, 2016
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Drew Dixon experienced an out-of-body experience when he sat in coach Rich Rodriguez’s office at Arizona Stadium late last week.
Growing up in Tucson, the Sabino High School star would attend home games with a close friend. They’d talk about his future. “That could be you on the field one day,” his friend would tell him.
Dixon thought about all of that when he returned to Rodriguez’s office on Sunday afternoon, June 5, following a football camp hosted by the UA. Rhett Rodriguez, the Catalina Foothills quarterback, future Wildcat and Rich’s son, was there, too.
Dixon uttered the six words UA coaches love to hear at the end of a high school player’s recruitment: “I want to be a Wildcat.”
On June 5, Dixon verbally committed to Arizona’s 2017 class. He was offered a scholarship by Arizona in February.
“I went there two days ago (June 3), and we were talking about it. I was telling him that I was really interested, and I think he knew, but he wasn’t sure it was going to be so soon,” Dixon said.
Then, Dixon told Rodriguez he’d be committing. The coach hugged him, and Rhett Rodriguez cheered.
Dixon had originally planned to wait until February’s National Signing Day to make his decision. With Arizona hard after him, that plan changed quickly.
“I just didn’t want to wait any longer. It’s my dream school, so I had to pull the trigger,” Dixon said. “It’s a relief. I knew from the beginning it was the school I wanted to go to, so it just feels great.”
Dixon is the 10th player to verbally commit to Arizona’s 2017 recruiting class, which is presently rated No. 22 in the nation and second-best in the Pac-12, thanks to some high-level commitments over the last couple of months.
Dixon is rated the No. 1 athlete in Arizona, No. 9 in the West and No. 47 overall by Scout.com.
Dixon played quarterback for the Sabercats last year, and Rodriguez told him he has a shot to compete at the position for Arizona. Still, Dixon is most likely going to play receiver for UA. At 6 feet 4 inches and 210 pounds, he brings some much-needed size to the receiving corps.
As a junior at Sabino, he led the Sabercats to an 8-2 record and finished with 1,146 passing yards and 17 touchdowns. He also rushed for 446 yards and 12 scores.
“He’s a very versatile athlete; he can do a lot of things,” Sabino coach Jay Campos said on June 5. “He can play quarterback, he can play receiver. A lot of people were actually thinking about playing him on defense as well at the college level. There’s a lot of things he can do as a 6-4 athlete who can run well. He’s very strong. I think the sky’s the limit for him in terms of what he’ll be able to do for the Cats.”
Dixon chose Arizona over offers from Hawaii, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Northern Arizona and San Jose State. Other schools showed interest, too, but Dixon said he knew from the beginning where he wanted to go. Or, rather, where he wants to stay.
The relationships he built with Rodriguez, offensive coordinator Calvin Magee, and recruiting coordinators Matt Dudek and Chris Singletary were the main selling point, Dixon said.
“From the beginning when I visited the U of A, I knew that’s where I wanted to be at, it’s where I wanted to go,” Dixon said. “It was a dream growing up, and now, one day pretty soon from here, I will be that guy on the field.”
- Arizona Daily Star
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The Arizona Wildcats have added another recruit to their 2017 class, and he's a big one.
Offensive lineman Edgar Burrola — all 6 feet 6 inches and 295 pounds of him — verbally committed to the UA on June 8, two days after receiving a scholarship offer. Burrola took to Twitter to announce his college choice.
Glory to God🙏🏼!! 🐻⬇️🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/o98oHdpwWR
— Edgar2x (@EdgaarBurrola) June 8, 2016
Burrola is the first offensive lineman in the UA's 11-person (and growing) class. You can check out his high school highlights here.
Burrola, who projects as a guard, is about to enter his senior year at Las Vegas' Desert Pines High School. He is teammates with linebacker Tony Fields, who verbally committed to the UA in May.
The Scout.com recruiting service rates Burrola as a two-star prospect. He chose the UA over offers from Idaho and Adams State.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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The Arizona Wildcats have added another player to their 2017 class.
Covina (California) Charter Oak High School wide receiver Brian Casteel, a three-star commit according to Scout.com, verbally committed to the UA on June 11. Casteel, who is not related to former UA defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel, is ranked the West’s 13th-best receiver and the No. 11 receiver in the state of California.
As a junior, he caught 57 passes for 913 yards and nine touchdowns. He is the only true wide receiver in Arizona’s 12-person (and growing) recruiting class, though a few of the incoming athletes — notably, Greg Johnson, Nathan Tilford and Drew Dixon — could be moved to the position.
The 6-foot-1-inch, 200-pound Casteel chose the UA over Nevada, Colorado State, Washington State, New Mexico, San Diego State and San Jose State.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Arizona football just keeps going.
Late on Sunday, June 12, the Wildcats received a verbal commitment from 2017 linebacker Joshua Brown. He's the 12th commitment in Arizona's upcoming class, and the fourth in the last week alone.
Brown is a standout at Long Beach Poly (California), where former Arizona and NFL standout Antonio Pierce is the head coach. The Wildcats were at Poly on June 12 for a satellite camp.
Brown, listed at 6 foot 1 and 222 pounds, is rated a three-star recruit by Scout.com and the No. 4 inside linebacker in the West. He also had offers from Fresno State, New Mexico, Ohio and UNLV.
Here's Brown's highlight video from his junior season.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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The Wildcats have long talked about making a bigger dent on in-state recruiting.
In the 2017 cycle, they're off to a good start — on June 13, the Wildcats added a verbal commitment from Higley tight end Bryce Gilbert. He's the third verbal commitment from the state of Arizona in the 2017 class, joining Sabino athlete Drew Dixon and Catalina Foothills quarterback Rhett Rodriguez.
Gilbert is rated a three-star recruit and the No. 18 tight end in the West by Scout.com, which also has him as the sixth-best overall recruit in the state.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound tight end also had offers from Arizona State, Louisville, Nebraska, Utah and others. He's the second tight end in Arizona's 2017 class, joining three-star Bryce Wolma of Saline, Michigan.
Arizona's class now has 14 verbal commitments and is rated the 17th-best class in the nation by Scout.com.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Name: Bryce Brand
Position: Defensive end/outside linebacker
From: IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)
Height/weight: 6-1, 235
Scout.com rating: Three stars, No. 109 defensive end, No. 43 in the South, No. 18 in Florida.
Also considered: Louisville, Maryland, Mississippi State, Air Force, Temple.
How he fits: Brand fits the mold of the hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker type with a pass-rushing specialty that the new UA defensive coaching staff has been recruiting heavily. On a team lacking a good pass rush in recent years, Brand should help in that area.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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At this rate, Arizona football will complete its 2017 recruiting class by the end of the summer.
That's only kind of a joke.
On June 15, three-star safety Scott Young announced a verbal commitment to the Wildcats for 2017. He's the 16th commitment in the upcoming class for Arizona. It's important to note that each school has a maximum of 25 scholarships for each recruiting class.
In a Twitter message, Young said he's "finally getting the chance to fulfill my dreams" by picking Arizona.
The Wildcats offered Young a scholarship in February, not long after National Signing Day, but cornerbacks coach Donte Williams has been recruiting Young since he was still an assistant coach at San Jose State.
Now, Young is the seventh recruit to commit to Arizona's 2017 class in the last 10 days.
Young is rated the No. 55 overall safety by Scout.com, also No. 9 in the West and No. 5 in California. He's the eighth 2017 commit hailing from California. He also had offers from Colorado, San Diego State, Washington State and others.
With the addition of Young, Scout.com has Arizona rated with the No. 12 recruiting class in the nation and No. 1 in the Pac-12. Of all the teams ranked in the Top-25, Arizona has the most total commitments to this point.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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These days, one day without a new addition to Arizona's 2017 recruiting class can be considered a drought.
On June 17, Arizona added another safety — three-star Xavier Bell from Mater Dei in Santa Ana, California. Bell is the 17th commitment to Arizona's 2017 class and the eighth in the last two weeks for the Wildcats.
In a Twitter message, Bell said "after talking it over with my family I have decided to further my education and my football career at the University of Arizona."
🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/NDzQMM3c0A
— Xavier Bell (@Young_xb) June 18, 2016
Bell's only other offer was from Nevada, but the 6-foot-2, 190-pound safety also received interest from a number of schools, including Arizona State and Oregon State.
Scout.com rates Bell the No. 10 safety in California and No. 17 in the West.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Well, it's on to the next one.
On June 20, Arizona added the 18th member of its 2017 recruiting class when three-star cornerback Malik Hausman announced his verbal commitment to the Wildcats.
In a tweet, Hausman said "excited to say that I'm committed to the University of Arizona."
He's a 6-foot, 165-pound corner from Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, the same school UA quarterback Anu Solomon attended.
Hausman is rated the No. 28 corner in the West and No. 2 in Nevada by Scout.com. He also had offers from Boise State, Colorado State, Hawaii, New Mexico, UNLV.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Arizona has been after tall wide receivers since even before Cayleb Jones left for the NFL and David Richards ran out of eligibility.
For 2017, the Wildcats will add a tall receiver to their stable — Warren Jackson announced his verbal commitment to Arizona on June 27. Jackson is a 6-foot-5 receiver from Bishop Alemany in Mission Hills, California.
Jackson, rated a three-star recruit by Scout.com, announced his commitment on Twitter. He's Arizona's 19th commit for 2017 and their third receiver (counting athlete Drew Dixon). Scout also has Jackson rated the No. 15 receiver in the West and No. 13 in California, with offers from eight other schools including Colorado, Oregon State and Fresno State.
In terms of that goal of filling the tall receiver void left by the departures of Jones and Richards, and with 2016 being 6-foot-3 Trey Griffey's senior season, the Wildcats have done well. In the incoming class, Arizona added the 6-foot-7 Shawn Poindexter from Glendale Community College and for 2017 the Wildcats are set to bring in Jackson, 6-foot-4 Dixon and 6-foot-1 Brian Casteel.
Also, USF transfer Zach Benjamin, a redshirt sophomore listed at 6 foot 4, is expected to sit out the upcoming season per transfer rules, making him first eligible in 2017.
Proud to announce that I will be continuing my education and football career at The University of Arizona #beardown pic.twitter.com/66c4vQhOZ6
— Warren Jackson (@WideOutNation18) June 28, 2016
- Arizona Daily Star
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To the Arizona Wildcats' coaches, there's no such thing as a summer vacation. And weekends? Forget about it.
The UA landed its 20th recruit on July 1, when Oregon offensive lineman Cody Shear verbally committed to the 2017 class. The Scout.com recruiting service ranks Shear, a 6-foot-4-inch, 285-pound senior-to be, as a three-star recruit. He chose the UA over offers from Oregon State and Washington State.
Shear took to Twitter to announce his commitment:
BearDown! 🔵🐻⬇️🔴 pic.twitter.com/Fnai3rLaTt
— Cody Shear (@Codyshear7) July 2, 2016
That Shear hails from Oregon Ducks country is a bonus. Shear preps at Sheldon High School in Eugene, Oregon.
- Michael Lev
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The Arizona football program continues to scoop up prospects at a frenetic pace.
The UA secured its 21st commitment for 2017 on July 3 when safety Rhedi Short pledged his allegiance to the Wildcats.
Scout rates Short, a one-time UCLA commit, as a three-star prospect and the No. 7 safety in the West. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Short attends Cathedral High in Los Angeles.
Short tweeted the news early Sunday, July 3:
I am Proud to announce that I have committed to the University of Arizona!!#BearDown#DesertSwarm17 #CaliZona 🐻🔽🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/sS2KGvJHBD
— Rhedi Short (@Rhedoggy) July 3, 2016
Short is the fourth defensive back to join the 2017 class — fifth if you include four-star athlete Greg Johnson of L.A.’s Augustus Hawkins.
Short also is the 12th player to commit to Arizona since June 5.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Well it's been more than a week since Arizona received its last verbal commitment for the 2017 recruiting class.
Time for another.
On July 11, three-star wide receiver Darrian McNeal announced his commitment to the Wildcats while on a visit to Arizona's campus. He made the announcement on Twitter.
McNeal becomes the 22nd player to commit to Arizona's 2017 class. The Wildcats seem to be loading up on receiving options in this recruiting cycle, as McNeal becomes the sixth receiver or tight end to commit to Arizona for next year, counting Sabino athlete Drew Dixon.
With the promotion of Jahmile Addae from staff analyst to assistant coach — he's specifically coaching safeties — the Wildcats have made an increased effort to bring in talent from Florida, one of Addae's main regions. This is where McNeal, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound receiver, is from. He plays for Armwood High School in Seffner, Florida.
Based on his other offers, McNeal would seem to be on the higher end of the three-star spectrum — he holds offers from Louisville, Georgia Tech, Oregon State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Tennessee and Rutgers, amongst others.
#Florizona #BearDown pic.twitter.com/sc2CLISc2q
— Real Deal McNeal (@DarrianMcNeal1) July 12, 2016
Here’s the 2017 class as it currently stands:
- DB Xavier Bell (6-2, 190), Santa Ana, Calif.
- LB Bryce Brand (6-1, 234), Bradenton, Fla.
- LB Joshua Brown (6-1, 231), Long Beach, Calif.
- DT Kurtis Brown (6-3, 285), Bakersfield, Calif.
- QB Braxton Burmeister (6-0, 211), La Jolla, Calif.
- OL Edgar Burrola (6-6, 290), Las Vegas
- WR Brian Casteel (6-1, 190), Covina, Calif.
- ATH Drew Dixon (6-4, 205), Tucson
- LB Tony Fields (6-2, 200), Las Vegas
- TE Bryce Gilbert (6-5, 230), Gilbert
- DB Malik Hausman (5-11, 172), Las Vegas
- WR Warren Jackson (6-5, 177), Mission Hills, Calif.
- ATH Greg Johnson (5-11, 183), Los Angeles
- WR Darrian McNeal (5-10, 175), Seffner, Fla.
- QB Rhett Rodriguez (6-0, 190), Tucson
- OL Cody Shear (6-4, 272), Eugene, Oregon
- DB Rhedi Short (6-1, 175), Los Angeles
- ATH Nathan Tilford (6-1, 201), Ontario, Calif.
- DT Elijah Watson (6-4, 275), Lawrenceville, Ga.
- LB Kylan Wilborn (6-2, 235), Sherman Oaks, Calif.
- TE Bryce Wolma (6-4, 230), Saline, Mich.
- DB Scott Young (5-11, 182), La Mesa, Calif.
- Arizona Daily Star
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The Arizona Wildcats have struck again.
Mobile, Alabama running back/safety Troy Young verbally committed to the UA on Saturday afternoon, becoming the 22nd player in the Wildcats' rapidly growing recruiting class.
Blessed to say I have officially committed to the University of Arizona 🙏🏾🙌🏾🏈 #BearDown
— Troy Young (@Troyy38Troy) July 23, 2016
Young rushed for 1,440 yards and 21 touchdowns, made 83 tackles and intercepted three passes as a junior at Mobile Christian High School, according to AL.com. MC assistant coach Tommy Wasden told AL.com that he Young has "a great combination of size, strength and speed." (Read the full story here.)
"He is really everything a Division 1 football program is looking to find," Wasden told the site. "He had a ton of interest this spring. A number of Division 1 schools we had not seen at Mobile Christian came in to take a look. He had a bunch of offers, and I would guess some more will come despite his commitment."
The Scout.com recruiting service lists the 6-foot-1, 197-pound Young as a two-star recruit. He chose Arizona over offers from Mississippi State, Louisiana Tech and others, and recently visited USC and UCLA.
The Wildcats' class is filling up fast. Click on the attached collection to view the Star's breakdown of all 23 players who have committed.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Arizona has largely focused in California for its 2017 recruiting class so far, mixed in with some Florida, Arizona and Las Vegas recruits as well.
On July 23, the Wildcats expanded their 2017 map, capped by the verbal commitment from Garden Community College linebacker Delshawn Phillips.
Phillips is the first junior college product to commit to the Wildcats for 2017, and the 24th commitment overall. He made the announcement while on campus for an unofficial visit. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound linebacker originally hails from Detroit, and had signed a letter of intent to play at Western Michigan in 2014 but didn't qualify academically.
The commitment is further proof that the Wildcats, with the addition of recruiting coordinator Chris Singletary, are trying to venture out into Michigan for talent. Singletary worked in a similar role for the Wolverines previously, including during UA coach Rich Rodriguez's tenure in Ann Arbor.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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Arizona is digging into its past to help its future.
On Aug. 5, Jalen Harris announced a verbal commitment to Arizona's 2017 recruiting class. This commitment is a significant one for the Wildcats on a few levels.
One, it keeps one of Arizona's top recruits — Harris plays at Desert Ridge in Mesa — in state. Harris is rated a 3-star athlete by Scout.com and picked the Wildcats over offers from Arizona State and Oregon, amongst others.
— Jalen Harris (@JHarr8245) August 5, 2016
Two, he's a legacy recruit. His father, Sean Harris, played linebacker for Dick Tomey's Desert Swarm-era defense and his uncle, Lamar Harris, played tight end at Arizona in the early 1990s. Both his father and uncle are also Tucson High products.
Lastly, Harris fills a position of need. He's capable of playing both receiver and defensive end, but will more than likely play defense for the Wildcats. At his size — he's listed at 6 foot 4 and 210 pounds — he has potential as a sort of linebacker/defensive end hybrid. As a junior at Desert Ridge, he had 17.5 sacks.
Harris is the 25th player to commit to Arizona's 2017 class, and the fourth in-state recruit to pledge to UA. The others are Sabino's Drew Dixon, Catalina Foothills' Rhett Rodriguez and Gilbert Higley's Bryce Gilbert.
Simply put " YES" The best in ARIZONA SIMPLY STAY & PLAY @ ARIZONA🔴🔵 BEARDOWN🏆🏆
— Charlie Ragle (@RagleCharlie) August 5, 2016
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
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When Matt Leo arrived in Yuma from Australia last year, Arizona Western College was just three weeks away from its season-opener.
Leo had never played a down of football in his life, nor did he understand much of the lingo associated with it. His experience was all from watching on television. He had never even worn shoulder pads or a helmet.
Leo is now a sophomore at Arizona Western, with a full season of learning, training and practice under his belt.
Next year, he’ll be an Arizona Wildcat.
Leo told the Star that he has verbally committed to Arizona’s 2017 recruiting class. In Leo, Arizona gets a 6-foot-7-inch, 265-pound defensive lineman with loads of promise. Leo is Arizona’s 26th verbal commitment for 2017 and its fourth defensive lineman.
“Straight off the bat, they showed me the most love, so I just see myself fitting in there,” he said. “They’ve always been my top school.”
Leo is a raw prospect, certainly, but the measurables are tantalizing. That Leo will play a position of need — defensive end — only enticed the UA more.
Arizona’s Rich Rodriguez often talks about how every coach wants to find a 6-6, nearly 300-pound defensive lineman who can run a quick 40-yard dash.
Meet Leo.
He fits the mold — the former rugby player does 28 reps of the 225-pound bench press and has run a 4.77-second 40-yard dash. And that’s without practice.
“I ran not even knowing the technique of running the 40 yards,” Leo said, “and not even knowing the little things that help you shave off that time so I can get quicker.”
Leo has primarily played defensive tackle at Arizona Western, but the Wildcats intend to use him at defensive end.
He played sparingly as a freshman, amassing just three tackles, but remember — the season started three weeks after he began his football career.
It was all a whirlwind.
“To be honest, I’m just excited because last year I came out here pretty much with a blindfold on,” Leo said. “I came straight to camp, and I’d never played, never even put a helmet or pads on, so I sort of came into the season without knowing how to play football, understand it.
“The team had already been steamrolling ahead, so I just tried to fit in and do what I was told. But I really didn’t understand why I was doing anything. So now going into this season I understand so much more of the game, I understand my path and what’s next for me.”
Part of that is his Pac-12 future. Leo picked the Wildcats over offers from Iowa State and Central Florida largely because Arizona’s coaching staff made him a priority. Leo intends to graduate from Arizona Western in December so he can enroll at the UA early.
Leo, 22, will have three years to play two at Arizona after playing two seasons of JC ball.
Defensive line coach Vince Amey was Leo’s primary recruiter, and quarterbacks coach Rod Smith and staff analyst Miguel were key contributors, but it was the man at the top that convinced Leo to join the Wildcats’ highly touted 2017 class.
Rodriguez had a heavy presence at Leo’s practices. He invited Leo to Arizona’s campus in May, when the Wildcats offered him a scholarship.
“Even though Coach Amey was the one who was adamant about having me on his D-line, Coach Rod was the one who pushed me to come out,” Leo said.
Leo made the trek from Adelaide to the United States after a friend played football at a Division III school. He picked Arizona Western after watching Jesse Williams, another Aussie, play there for two years before transferring to Alabama.
Now, soon, Leo will be a Pac-12 defensive lineman.
“I told Coach Amey I want to be the best defensive end, maybe not straight away, but my goal is to be one of the best, physical defensive ends in the Pac-12,” Leo said.
“People back home in Australia don’t even believe how big of a sport, business and lifestyle football is in America. I was blown away, and I love the ride.”
More like this...
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
If there was ever a reason to think Rich Rodriguez might be sticking around Tucson long-term, news about Arizona's latest recruit commitment should aid that belief.
The recruit is a quarterback in the 2017 class from Catalina Foothills. His name — Rhett Rodriguez.
Yes, Rodriguez's son Rhett committed to the UA on Jan. 16. He received the scholarship offer on Jan. 12, he told the Star.
"It’s just really cool," Rodriguez said. "Just because I know the coaching staff and a lot of the players, and I just know so much about this program that’s always been something I've wanted to do. Playing for my dad is something I've always thought about, and it’s just awesome to see that it'll come true."
Rhett Rodriguez is listed at 6 foot 1, 165 pounds. As a junior at Catalina Foothills in 2015, Rodriguez passed for 2,503 yards, 20 touchdowns and two interceptions, and added 624 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. (You can view Rodriguez's junior-season highlights here).
Rich Rodriguez said this about his son at a press conference back in November before the Utah game:
"The football IQ part is easy because Rhett has been around it his whole life. Whenever I come home he's usually sitting in front of the computer watching game film. He will want me to sit and watch it with him. I love that because I like talking ball.
"He has been around it his whole life. He has such a high football IQ, he wants to be a coach. He will probably be a coach before he is 30. He will be a whole lot better than me because he has a better demeanor.
"I am really proud of him and his team. I am proud of the way he handles himself. I think there is pressure on all these kids because there is more scrutiny on all levels, even high school levels. A coach’s kid, whether you're female or male and playing a particular sport you have more eyes and scrutiny on you there. He has handled that phenomenally.
"His mom has been more responsible for his maturity than I have. I am proud of him, proud of my daughter, she cheered at the game. I have been lucky."
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Arizona is making early moves on its 2017 recruiting class, and the Wildcats are aiming high.
Athlete Greg Johnson announced on Twitter his verbal commitment to the Wildcats on March 1. From Augustus Hawkins High School in Los Angeles, Johnson is rated as a four-star recruit by Scout.com and the No. 1 athlete in the West. He's the No. 50 recruit overall.
In a note posted to Twitter, Johnson said "this decision wasn't as hard as I thought it would be" and that he "felt the time and the situation was right."
#BearDown 🔴🐻⬇️ #HawkinsFootball 😈 pic.twitter.com/HMXaAOgzyP
— Greg Johnson (@quick6gjohnson) March 2, 2016
The lead recruiter on Johnson was cornerbacks coach Donté Williams, who was hired in January as part of a defensive coaching staff overhaul for UA coach Rich Rodriguez.
When Williams was hired from his assistant coaching position at San Jose State, the word was that he had strong recruiting ties to Southern California. Johnson's commitment, at the very least, confirmed Williams is already a player in that area.
Johnson, listed at 5 foot 10 and 180 pounds, picked the Wildcats over offers from 19 other schools, including Michigan, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Tennessee, UCLA and USC.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
If defense is Arizona's biggest concern going forward, Rich Rodriguez's revamped UA defensive staff is quickly doing its best to remedy that situation in next year's recruiting class.
The Wildcats received a verbal commitment from linebacker Kylan Wilborn on April 5.
Wilborn is rated a three-star recruit by Scout.com, and is listed as the No. 10 linebacker in the West.
Wilborn, listed at 6 foot 1 and 235 pounds, was an avid fan of the Pac-12 while growing up in Sherman Oaks, California, so it meant a lot to him when Arizona was his first offer from that conference.
He picked the Wildcats over offers from Hawaii and Idaho after taking an unofficial visit to campus.
For Wilborn, the biggest selling point was Arizona's coaching staff, combined with the chance to play right away.
"I really liked the way the coaches talked to me," Wilborn told the Star. "They said they had a need at the position (outside linebacker) and think I’m the man to do it. I can come in and compete for a starting position on the first day. That’s definitely something I’m looking forward to."
Marcel Yates, Arizona's new defensive coordinator, was Wilborn's primary recruiter, and the linebacker said he appreciated how Yates "kept it real" with him.
Further proof of the new UA staff's impact — Wilborn said the first people he told of his decision were Yates and new recruiting coordinator Chris Singletary, along with receivers coach Tony Dews.
"Everything he (Yates) said was not selling me, he was just telling me the facts," Wilborn said. Yates said "'Nothing is going to be easy, nothing is going to be given. You have to come in and work for it.' He’s just a great coach and I’m looking forward to spending more time with him."
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
The Wildcats received a verbal commitment from defensive lineman Kurtis Brown on April 5.
Brown is rated a three-star recruit by Scout.com, and is the No. 9 defensive lineman in the same region.
Brown, listed at 6 foot 3 and 260 pounds, visited the Wildcats in March, and picked Arizona over offers from nine other schools, including Colorado, Oregon State and Washington State. He played at Liberty High School in Bakersfield, California, with UA safety Anthony Mariscal.
"Arizona just felt like home," Brown said in a text message to the Star. "I had a great connection with all the coaches, I love the new coaching staff they have there, and they truly believed that I can be something special, and I took that to heart."
Defensive line coach Vince Amey was Brown's primary recruiter.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
It’s only April, but Arizona is already flipping recruits from their verbal commitments to other teams.
Tight end Bryce Wolma announced on April 6 that he was backing out of a verbal commitment to Northwestern and will instead join Arizona’s 2017 recruiting class.
The Scout.com recruiting service lists Wolma as a three-star recruit and the No. 1 tight end in Michigan, though he might play receiver in college. Wolma is listed at 6 feet 4 inches and 230 pounds.
Wolma verbally committed to Northwestern on April 3, but in a Twitter message on April 6 said that “the timing and process around my commitment created a decision that was not right for me” and that it was “a dream of mine to play at the UofA for a long time.”
Wolma is friends with Rhett Rodriguez dating back to when Rhett still lived in Michigan and Rich Rodriguez, Rhett’s father, was the Wolverines’ coach.
He had offers from 12 other schools, including Tennessee, Colorado, West Virginia and Wake Forest.
#Beardown #DesertGang17 🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/SX1pHogRWB
— Bryce Wolma (@brycewolma2) April 6, 2016
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Arizona just keeps plugging away at its 2017 recruiting class.
On April 12, the Wildcats added a verbal commitment from four-star athlete Nathan Tilford from Colony High School in Ontario, California.
He's the sixth player to verbally commit to Arizona's 2017 class, jumping in on the wave of momentum the Wildcats have experienced with recent commitments.
The 6-foot-1-inch, 200-pound Tilford is the latest highly-touted Southern California recruit the Wildcats have stolen from the grips of that area's powers. He chose Arizona over offers from hometown teams USC and UCLA, as well as Nebraska, Arizona State and Michigan.
With Tilford's verbal commitment, the Wildcats now have the No. 1 and No. 3 athletes in the West, according to Scout.com. Fellow UA commit Greg Johnson, from Hawkins High School in Los Angeles, is rated the top athlete in the region.
Scout also rates Tilford the No. 186 overall recruit in the nation, and the No. 13 athlete. He is expected to play running back at Arizona, which is a position of need going forward with Nick Wilson set to run out of eligibility after the 2017 season.
Much attention has been paid to Arizona's new defensive coaches, but it was actually offensive coordinator/running backs coach Calvin Magee who led the charge for Tilford. UA analyst Miguel Reveles, who was an assistant coach at Colony for two seasons before joining Rich Rodriguez's staff, helped with the recruitment. UA receiver Samajie Grant also attended Colony.
Scout.com's Greg Biggins had this to say about Tilford...
Been watching Tilford since he was in 8th grade, multi-position player who could end up at RB, WR, LB or safety, very nice pickup for #UA
— Greg Biggins (@GregBiggins) April 12, 2016
- Michael Lev
Arizona’s offseason theme of building a bigger, better defense continued April 30 when a beefy defensive tackle committed to the Wildcats.
Arizona received a verbal commitment from 6-foot-4, 275-pound Elijah Watson of Mountain View High in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
Watson, rated a two-star prospect by Rivals, is the second defensive tackle to commit to Arizona for 2017, joining Kurtis Brown of Bakersfield, California.
Watson participated in the Wildcats’ recent junior day on the UA campus. He tweeted the news on April 30:
I have decided to Commit to The University of Arizona! 🐻🔴⭕ #DesertGang17 #BearDown pic.twitter.com/SQXDjMS1WE
— HOLLYWOOD (@WatsonElijah_) April 30, 2016
Defensive line might be Arizona’s biggest area of need. Coach Rich Rodriguez is determined to enhance Arizona's size and talent in the front seven, and Watson fits that profile.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Arizona doesn't appear to be slowing down with its 2017 recruiting class.
On May 7, the Wildcats added a verbal commitment from linebacker Tony Fields, from Desert Pines High School in Las Vegas.
Fields is already the eighth commitment of Arizona's 2017 class, and the fifth on defense. Fields tweeted out the announcement on May 7.
#BearDown 🐻⬇️💰 pic.twitter.com/VhvQQlfMY9
— Tony Fields II (@T_Fieldss21) May 8, 2016
Fields is rated a three-star recruit by Scout.com, the No. 13 linebacker in the West and the No. 1 linebacker in Nevada. He picked the Wildcats over offers from 15 schools, including Boise State, BYU, Missouri, Oregon State and Washington State.
Safeties coach Jahmile Addae was the lead recruiter on Fields, who is listed at 6 foot 2 and 200 pounds.
- Zack Rosenblatt
Well, Braxton Burmeister has verbally committed to Arizona.
Again.
The four-star quarterback from La Jolla, California, announced on May 13 that he was committing to play for the Wildcats. Braxton, No. 19-rated quarterback in the class of 2017 according to Scout.com, had initially committed to Arizona back in 2014, then re-opened his recruitment in March.
Now he's back.
Burmeister made the announcement in a live video on Periscope, and then posted a message on Twitter saying the process "had its ups and downs." Before the announcement, Burmeister said he also considered Indiana, Utah, Washington, South Carolina and San Diego State.
He's the ninth commitment in Arizona's 2017 class, and the third four-star recruit, joining athletes Greg Johnson and Nathan Tilford. He's also the second quarterback in the class, the other being Catalina Foothills' Rhett Rodriguez.
After his initial decommitment, Burmeister had heavy interest from Washington in particular, received offers from California and Oregon State, and visited South Carolina, Utah, Indiana and Washington.
COMMITTED #BearDown 🐻⬇️❤️ pic.twitter.com/aA5aJCuJij
— Braxton Burmeister (@Braxton1B) May 13, 2016
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Drew Dixon experienced an out-of-body experience when he sat in coach Rich Rodriguez’s office at Arizona Stadium late last week.
Growing up in Tucson, the Sabino High School star would attend home games with a close friend. They’d talk about his future. “That could be you on the field one day,” his friend would tell him.
Dixon thought about all of that when he returned to Rodriguez’s office on Sunday afternoon, June 5, following a football camp hosted by the UA. Rhett Rodriguez, the Catalina Foothills quarterback, future Wildcat and Rich’s son, was there, too.
Dixon uttered the six words UA coaches love to hear at the end of a high school player’s recruitment: “I want to be a Wildcat.”
On June 5, Dixon verbally committed to Arizona’s 2017 class. He was offered a scholarship by Arizona in February.
“I went there two days ago (June 3), and we were talking about it. I was telling him that I was really interested, and I think he knew, but he wasn’t sure it was going to be so soon,” Dixon said.
Then, Dixon told Rodriguez he’d be committing. The coach hugged him, and Rhett Rodriguez cheered.
Dixon had originally planned to wait until February’s National Signing Day to make his decision. With Arizona hard after him, that plan changed quickly.
“I just didn’t want to wait any longer. It’s my dream school, so I had to pull the trigger,” Dixon said. “It’s a relief. I knew from the beginning it was the school I wanted to go to, so it just feels great.”
Dixon is the 10th player to verbally commit to Arizona’s 2017 recruiting class, which is presently rated No. 22 in the nation and second-best in the Pac-12, thanks to some high-level commitments over the last couple of months.
Dixon is rated the No. 1 athlete in Arizona, No. 9 in the West and No. 47 overall by Scout.com.
Dixon played quarterback for the Sabercats last year, and Rodriguez told him he has a shot to compete at the position for Arizona. Still, Dixon is most likely going to play receiver for UA. At 6 feet 4 inches and 210 pounds, he brings some much-needed size to the receiving corps.
As a junior at Sabino, he led the Sabercats to an 8-2 record and finished with 1,146 passing yards and 17 touchdowns. He also rushed for 446 yards and 12 scores.
“He’s a very versatile athlete; he can do a lot of things,” Sabino coach Jay Campos said on June 5. “He can play quarterback, he can play receiver. A lot of people were actually thinking about playing him on defense as well at the college level. There’s a lot of things he can do as a 6-4 athlete who can run well. He’s very strong. I think the sky’s the limit for him in terms of what he’ll be able to do for the Cats.”
Dixon chose Arizona over offers from Hawaii, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Northern Arizona and San Jose State. Other schools showed interest, too, but Dixon said he knew from the beginning where he wanted to go. Or, rather, where he wants to stay.
The relationships he built with Rodriguez, offensive coordinator Calvin Magee, and recruiting coordinators Matt Dudek and Chris Singletary were the main selling point, Dixon said.
“From the beginning when I visited the U of A, I knew that’s where I wanted to be at, it’s where I wanted to go,” Dixon said. “It was a dream growing up, and now, one day pretty soon from here, I will be that guy on the field.”
- Arizona Daily Star
The Arizona Wildcats have added another recruit to their 2017 class, and he's a big one.
Offensive lineman Edgar Burrola — all 6 feet 6 inches and 295 pounds of him — verbally committed to the UA on June 8, two days after receiving a scholarship offer. Burrola took to Twitter to announce his college choice.
Glory to God🙏🏼!! 🐻⬇️🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/o98oHdpwWR
— Edgar2x (@EdgaarBurrola) June 8, 2016
Burrola is the first offensive lineman in the UA's 11-person (and growing) class. You can check out his high school highlights here.
Burrola, who projects as a guard, is about to enter his senior year at Las Vegas' Desert Pines High School. He is teammates with linebacker Tony Fields, who verbally committed to the UA in May.
The Scout.com recruiting service rates Burrola as a two-star prospect. He chose the UA over offers from Idaho and Adams State.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
The Arizona Wildcats have added another player to their 2017 class.
Covina (California) Charter Oak High School wide receiver Brian Casteel, a three-star commit according to Scout.com, verbally committed to the UA on June 11. Casteel, who is not related to former UA defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel, is ranked the West’s 13th-best receiver and the No. 11 receiver in the state of California.
As a junior, he caught 57 passes for 913 yards and nine touchdowns. He is the only true wide receiver in Arizona’s 12-person (and growing) recruiting class, though a few of the incoming athletes — notably, Greg Johnson, Nathan Tilford and Drew Dixon — could be moved to the position.
The 6-foot-1-inch, 200-pound Casteel chose the UA over Nevada, Colorado State, Washington State, New Mexico, San Diego State and San Jose State.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Arizona football just keeps going.
Late on Sunday, June 12, the Wildcats received a verbal commitment from 2017 linebacker Joshua Brown. He's the 12th commitment in Arizona's upcoming class, and the fourth in the last week alone.
Brown is a standout at Long Beach Poly (California), where former Arizona and NFL standout Antonio Pierce is the head coach. The Wildcats were at Poly on June 12 for a satellite camp.
Brown, listed at 6 foot 1 and 222 pounds, is rated a three-star recruit by Scout.com and the No. 4 inside linebacker in the West. He also had offers from Fresno State, New Mexico, Ohio and UNLV.
Here's Brown's highlight video from his junior season.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
The Wildcats have long talked about making a bigger dent on in-state recruiting.
In the 2017 cycle, they're off to a good start — on June 13, the Wildcats added a verbal commitment from Higley tight end Bryce Gilbert. He's the third verbal commitment from the state of Arizona in the 2017 class, joining Sabino athlete Drew Dixon and Catalina Foothills quarterback Rhett Rodriguez.
Gilbert is rated a three-star recruit and the No. 18 tight end in the West by Scout.com, which also has him as the sixth-best overall recruit in the state.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound tight end also had offers from Arizona State, Louisville, Nebraska, Utah and others. He's the second tight end in Arizona's 2017 class, joining three-star Bryce Wolma of Saline, Michigan.
Arizona's class now has 14 verbal commitments and is rated the 17th-best class in the nation by Scout.com.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Name: Bryce Brand
Position: Defensive end/outside linebacker
From: IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)
Height/weight: 6-1, 235
Scout.com rating: Three stars, No. 109 defensive end, No. 43 in the South, No. 18 in Florida.
Also considered: Louisville, Maryland, Mississippi State, Air Force, Temple.
How he fits: Brand fits the mold of the hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker type with a pass-rushing specialty that the new UA defensive coaching staff has been recruiting heavily. On a team lacking a good pass rush in recent years, Brand should help in that area.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
At this rate, Arizona football will complete its 2017 recruiting class by the end of the summer.
That's only kind of a joke.
On June 15, three-star safety Scott Young announced a verbal commitment to the Wildcats for 2017. He's the 16th commitment in the upcoming class for Arizona. It's important to note that each school has a maximum of 25 scholarships for each recruiting class.
In a Twitter message, Young said he's "finally getting the chance to fulfill my dreams" by picking Arizona.
The Wildcats offered Young a scholarship in February, not long after National Signing Day, but cornerbacks coach Donte Williams has been recruiting Young since he was still an assistant coach at San Jose State.
Now, Young is the seventh recruit to commit to Arizona's 2017 class in the last 10 days.
Young is rated the No. 55 overall safety by Scout.com, also No. 9 in the West and No. 5 in California. He's the eighth 2017 commit hailing from California. He also had offers from Colorado, San Diego State, Washington State and others.
With the addition of Young, Scout.com has Arizona rated with the No. 12 recruiting class in the nation and No. 1 in the Pac-12. Of all the teams ranked in the Top-25, Arizona has the most total commitments to this point.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
These days, one day without a new addition to Arizona's 2017 recruiting class can be considered a drought.
On June 17, Arizona added another safety — three-star Xavier Bell from Mater Dei in Santa Ana, California. Bell is the 17th commitment to Arizona's 2017 class and the eighth in the last two weeks for the Wildcats.
In a Twitter message, Bell said "after talking it over with my family I have decided to further my education and my football career at the University of Arizona."
🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/NDzQMM3c0A
— Xavier Bell (@Young_xb) June 18, 2016
Bell's only other offer was from Nevada, but the 6-foot-2, 190-pound safety also received interest from a number of schools, including Arizona State and Oregon State.
Scout.com rates Bell the No. 10 safety in California and No. 17 in the West.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Well, it's on to the next one.
On June 20, Arizona added the 18th member of its 2017 recruiting class when three-star cornerback Malik Hausman announced his verbal commitment to the Wildcats.
In a tweet, Hausman said "excited to say that I'm committed to the University of Arizona."
He's a 6-foot, 165-pound corner from Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, the same school UA quarterback Anu Solomon attended.
Hausman is rated the No. 28 corner in the West and No. 2 in Nevada by Scout.com. He also had offers from Boise State, Colorado State, Hawaii, New Mexico, UNLV.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Arizona has been after tall wide receivers since even before Cayleb Jones left for the NFL and David Richards ran out of eligibility.
For 2017, the Wildcats will add a tall receiver to their stable — Warren Jackson announced his verbal commitment to Arizona on June 27. Jackson is a 6-foot-5 receiver from Bishop Alemany in Mission Hills, California.
Jackson, rated a three-star recruit by Scout.com, announced his commitment on Twitter. He's Arizona's 19th commit for 2017 and their third receiver (counting athlete Drew Dixon). Scout also has Jackson rated the No. 15 receiver in the West and No. 13 in California, with offers from eight other schools including Colorado, Oregon State and Fresno State.
In terms of that goal of filling the tall receiver void left by the departures of Jones and Richards, and with 2016 being 6-foot-3 Trey Griffey's senior season, the Wildcats have done well. In the incoming class, Arizona added the 6-foot-7 Shawn Poindexter from Glendale Community College and for 2017 the Wildcats are set to bring in Jackson, 6-foot-4 Dixon and 6-foot-1 Brian Casteel.
Also, USF transfer Zach Benjamin, a redshirt sophomore listed at 6 foot 4, is expected to sit out the upcoming season per transfer rules, making him first eligible in 2017.
Proud to announce that I will be continuing my education and football career at The University of Arizona #beardown pic.twitter.com/66c4vQhOZ6
— Warren Jackson (@WideOutNation18) June 28, 2016
- Arizona Daily Star
To the Arizona Wildcats' coaches, there's no such thing as a summer vacation. And weekends? Forget about it.
The UA landed its 20th recruit on July 1, when Oregon offensive lineman Cody Shear verbally committed to the 2017 class. The Scout.com recruiting service ranks Shear, a 6-foot-4-inch, 285-pound senior-to be, as a three-star recruit. He chose the UA over offers from Oregon State and Washington State.
Shear took to Twitter to announce his commitment:
BearDown! 🔵🐻⬇️🔴 pic.twitter.com/Fnai3rLaTt
— Cody Shear (@Codyshear7) July 2, 2016
That Shear hails from Oregon Ducks country is a bonus. Shear preps at Sheldon High School in Eugene, Oregon.
- Michael Lev
The Arizona football program continues to scoop up prospects at a frenetic pace.
The UA secured its 21st commitment for 2017 on July 3 when safety Rhedi Short pledged his allegiance to the Wildcats.
Scout rates Short, a one-time UCLA commit, as a three-star prospect and the No. 7 safety in the West. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Short attends Cathedral High in Los Angeles.
Short tweeted the news early Sunday, July 3:
I am Proud to announce that I have committed to the University of Arizona!!#BearDown#DesertSwarm17 #CaliZona 🐻🔽🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/sS2KGvJHBD
— Rhedi Short (@Rhedoggy) July 3, 2016
Short is the fourth defensive back to join the 2017 class — fifth if you include four-star athlete Greg Johnson of L.A.’s Augustus Hawkins.
Short also is the 12th player to commit to Arizona since June 5.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Well it's been more than a week since Arizona received its last verbal commitment for the 2017 recruiting class.
Time for another.
On July 11, three-star wide receiver Darrian McNeal announced his commitment to the Wildcats while on a visit to Arizona's campus. He made the announcement on Twitter.
McNeal becomes the 22nd player to commit to Arizona's 2017 class. The Wildcats seem to be loading up on receiving options in this recruiting cycle, as McNeal becomes the sixth receiver or tight end to commit to Arizona for next year, counting Sabino athlete Drew Dixon.
With the promotion of Jahmile Addae from staff analyst to assistant coach — he's specifically coaching safeties — the Wildcats have made an increased effort to bring in talent from Florida, one of Addae's main regions. This is where McNeal, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound receiver, is from. He plays for Armwood High School in Seffner, Florida.
Based on his other offers, McNeal would seem to be on the higher end of the three-star spectrum — he holds offers from Louisville, Georgia Tech, Oregon State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Tennessee and Rutgers, amongst others.
#Florizona #BearDown pic.twitter.com/sc2CLISc2q
— Real Deal McNeal (@DarrianMcNeal1) July 12, 2016
Here’s the 2017 class as it currently stands:
- DB Xavier Bell (6-2, 190), Santa Ana, Calif.
- LB Bryce Brand (6-1, 234), Bradenton, Fla.
- LB Joshua Brown (6-1, 231), Long Beach, Calif.
- DT Kurtis Brown (6-3, 285), Bakersfield, Calif.
- QB Braxton Burmeister (6-0, 211), La Jolla, Calif.
- OL Edgar Burrola (6-6, 290), Las Vegas
- WR Brian Casteel (6-1, 190), Covina, Calif.
- ATH Drew Dixon (6-4, 205), Tucson
- LB Tony Fields (6-2, 200), Las Vegas
- TE Bryce Gilbert (6-5, 230), Gilbert
- DB Malik Hausman (5-11, 172), Las Vegas
- WR Warren Jackson (6-5, 177), Mission Hills, Calif.
- ATH Greg Johnson (5-11, 183), Los Angeles
- WR Darrian McNeal (5-10, 175), Seffner, Fla.
- QB Rhett Rodriguez (6-0, 190), Tucson
- OL Cody Shear (6-4, 272), Eugene, Oregon
- DB Rhedi Short (6-1, 175), Los Angeles
- ATH Nathan Tilford (6-1, 201), Ontario, Calif.
- DT Elijah Watson (6-4, 275), Lawrenceville, Ga.
- LB Kylan Wilborn (6-2, 235), Sherman Oaks, Calif.
- TE Bryce Wolma (6-4, 230), Saline, Mich.
- DB Scott Young (5-11, 182), La Mesa, Calif.
- Arizona Daily Star
The Arizona Wildcats have struck again.
Mobile, Alabama running back/safety Troy Young verbally committed to the UA on Saturday afternoon, becoming the 22nd player in the Wildcats' rapidly growing recruiting class.
Blessed to say I have officially committed to the University of Arizona 🙏🏾🙌🏾🏈 #BearDown
— Troy Young (@Troyy38Troy) July 23, 2016
Young rushed for 1,440 yards and 21 touchdowns, made 83 tackles and intercepted three passes as a junior at Mobile Christian High School, according to AL.com. MC assistant coach Tommy Wasden told AL.com that he Young has "a great combination of size, strength and speed." (Read the full story here.)
"He is really everything a Division 1 football program is looking to find," Wasden told the site. "He had a ton of interest this spring. A number of Division 1 schools we had not seen at Mobile Christian came in to take a look. He had a bunch of offers, and I would guess some more will come despite his commitment."
The Scout.com recruiting service lists the 6-foot-1, 197-pound Young as a two-star recruit. He chose Arizona over offers from Mississippi State, Louisiana Tech and others, and recently visited USC and UCLA.
The Wildcats' class is filling up fast. Click on the attached collection to view the Star's breakdown of all 23 players who have committed.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Arizona has largely focused in California for its 2017 recruiting class so far, mixed in with some Florida, Arizona and Las Vegas recruits as well.
On July 23, the Wildcats expanded their 2017 map, capped by the verbal commitment from Garden Community College linebacker Delshawn Phillips.
Phillips is the first junior college product to commit to the Wildcats for 2017, and the 24th commitment overall. He made the announcement while on campus for an unofficial visit. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound linebacker originally hails from Detroit, and had signed a letter of intent to play at Western Michigan in 2014 but didn't qualify academically.
The commitment is further proof that the Wildcats, with the addition of recruiting coordinator Chris Singletary, are trying to venture out into Michigan for talent. Singletary worked in a similar role for the Wolverines previously, including during UA coach Rich Rodriguez's tenure in Ann Arbor.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Arizona is digging into its past to help its future.
On Aug. 5, Jalen Harris announced a verbal commitment to Arizona's 2017 recruiting class. This commitment is a significant one for the Wildcats on a few levels.
One, it keeps one of Arizona's top recruits — Harris plays at Desert Ridge in Mesa — in state. Harris is rated a 3-star athlete by Scout.com and picked the Wildcats over offers from Arizona State and Oregon, amongst others.
— Jalen Harris (@JHarr8245) August 5, 2016
Two, he's a legacy recruit. His father, Sean Harris, played linebacker for Dick Tomey's Desert Swarm-era defense and his uncle, Lamar Harris, played tight end at Arizona in the early 1990s. Both his father and uncle are also Tucson High products.
Lastly, Harris fills a position of need. He's capable of playing both receiver and defensive end, but will more than likely play defense for the Wildcats. At his size — he's listed at 6 foot 4 and 210 pounds — he has potential as a sort of linebacker/defensive end hybrid. As a junior at Desert Ridge, he had 17.5 sacks.
Harris is the 25th player to commit to Arizona's 2017 class, and the fourth in-state recruit to pledge to UA. The others are Sabino's Drew Dixon, Catalina Foothills' Rhett Rodriguez and Gilbert Higley's Bryce Gilbert.
Simply put " YES" The best in ARIZONA SIMPLY STAY & PLAY @ ARIZONA🔴🔵 BEARDOWN🏆🏆
— Charlie Ragle (@RagleCharlie) August 5, 2016
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
When Matt Leo arrived in Yuma from Australia last year, Arizona Western College was just three weeks away from its season-opener.
Leo had never played a down of football in his life, nor did he understand much of the lingo associated with it. His experience was all from watching on television. He had never even worn shoulder pads or a helmet.
Leo is now a sophomore at Arizona Western, with a full season of learning, training and practice under his belt.
Next year, he’ll be an Arizona Wildcat.
Leo told the Star that he has verbally committed to Arizona’s 2017 recruiting class. In Leo, Arizona gets a 6-foot-7-inch, 265-pound defensive lineman with loads of promise. Leo is Arizona’s 26th verbal commitment for 2017 and its fourth defensive lineman.
“Straight off the bat, they showed me the most love, so I just see myself fitting in there,” he said. “They’ve always been my top school.”
Leo is a raw prospect, certainly, but the measurables are tantalizing. That Leo will play a position of need — defensive end — only enticed the UA more.
Arizona’s Rich Rodriguez often talks about how every coach wants to find a 6-6, nearly 300-pound defensive lineman who can run a quick 40-yard dash.
Meet Leo.
He fits the mold — the former rugby player does 28 reps of the 225-pound bench press and has run a 4.77-second 40-yard dash. And that’s without practice.
“I ran not even knowing the technique of running the 40 yards,” Leo said, “and not even knowing the little things that help you shave off that time so I can get quicker.”
Leo has primarily played defensive tackle at Arizona Western, but the Wildcats intend to use him at defensive end.
He played sparingly as a freshman, amassing just three tackles, but remember — the season started three weeks after he began his football career.
It was all a whirlwind.
“To be honest, I’m just excited because last year I came out here pretty much with a blindfold on,” Leo said. “I came straight to camp, and I’d never played, never even put a helmet or pads on, so I sort of came into the season without knowing how to play football, understand it.
“The team had already been steamrolling ahead, so I just tried to fit in and do what I was told. But I really didn’t understand why I was doing anything. So now going into this season I understand so much more of the game, I understand my path and what’s next for me.”
Part of that is his Pac-12 future. Leo picked the Wildcats over offers from Iowa State and Central Florida largely because Arizona’s coaching staff made him a priority. Leo intends to graduate from Arizona Western in December so he can enroll at the UA early.
Leo, 22, will have three years to play two at Arizona after playing two seasons of JC ball.
Defensive line coach Vince Amey was Leo’s primary recruiter, and quarterbacks coach Rod Smith and staff analyst Miguel were key contributors, but it was the man at the top that convinced Leo to join the Wildcats’ highly touted 2017 class.
Rodriguez had a heavy presence at Leo’s practices. He invited Leo to Arizona’s campus in May, when the Wildcats offered him a scholarship.
“Even though Coach Amey was the one who was adamant about having me on his D-line, Coach Rod was the one who pushed me to come out,” Leo said.
Leo made the trek from Adelaide to the United States after a friend played football at a Division III school. He picked Arizona Western after watching Jesse Williams, another Aussie, play there for two years before transferring to Alabama.
Now, soon, Leo will be a Pac-12 defensive lineman.
“I told Coach Amey I want to be the best defensive end, maybe not straight away, but my goal is to be one of the best, physical defensive ends in the Pac-12,” Leo said.
“People back home in Australia don’t even believe how big of a sport, business and lifestyle football is in America. I was blown away, and I love the ride.”
