The quest for the 2015 version of Scooby Wright comes to an end today.
Arizona will officially add its latest batch of recruits, or as the Wildcats call them, “OKGs” (Our Kinda Guys), on National Signing Day. Wright went from a two-star recruit to the nation’s best defensive player award winner.
Arizona will host a live stream from 7-11 a.m. and a “Night of OKGs!” where head coach Rich Rodriguez will talk about the players at the Sands Club in the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility.
Admission is $20 for the general public and $10 for Wildcat Club members and season ticket holders.
Commitments are not binding until the players sign National Letters of Intent, and Signing Day is the first chance they get to make it official.
The Wildcats had 13 players enroll this semester, so they can participate in Spring Football.
Quarterbacks
The Wildcats don’t have any quarterback commits, but they’re pretty stacked there. Fourth-stringer Connor Brewer decided to transfer and back up Jesse Scroggins, but the incumbent Anu Solomon returns, as does Brandon Dawkins, who redshirted last year and who some think can threaten Solomon’s starting job.
Running backs
Arizona is also stacked at running back. Its 2014 starter Nick Wilson was a true freshman, but they added one commit, Orlando Bradford. He’s the 106th running back according to Scout and chose the UA over Southern Miss, Tennessee and Utah.
Receivers
Three’s the magic number for the receivers, as the Wildcats are poised to add three three-star pass catchers. Cedric Peterson and Darick Holmes are the 70th and 71st receivers, respectively, according to Scout. UA beat California and Colorado, among others, for Peterson and ASU, UCLA and Washington for Holmes, who can play running back, too.
Offensive linemen
Arizona has no commits from centers but does have two tackles and three guards. Headlining the tackles is Keenan Walker, the top-rated tackle in Arizona according to Scout. He chose the UA over ASU, Nebraska, Ohio State, Texas, UCLA and USC, among others. Guards Nathan Eldridge and Cody Creason are three-star recruits. Three offensive linemen enrolled last month.
Tight ends
The Wildcats loaded up on tight ends, adding three. Darrell Cloy Jr. enrolled last month after grayshirting. To grayshirt means to enroll in the second semester, so you don’t use up your redshirt season. Student athletes have five years to play four seasons, and enrolling in college starts that clock. Jamie Nunley and Brion Anduze are both three-star recruits.
Cornerbacks
Arizona has four commits from three-star players in this position group. Sam Morrison is the third ranked corner from Washington, D.C., according to Scout. Shun Brown picked the UA over Mississippi State, Alabama, Georgia and LSU, among others.
Safeties
The Wildcats have four commits, including two from Arizona. While Paul Magloire is from New York, he went to Arizona Western College. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles went to school down the street from the UA at Tucson High but was banned from playing in 2014 after transferring to Marana Mountain View, a move that was ruled illegal.
Linebackers
Like quarterback, the linebacking corps is young and light on recruits for this class. Besides Wright, who was a true sophomore in 2014, they had a couple four-star recruits redshirt, Marquis Ware and Jamardre Cobb. Kendal Franklin is their only 2015 linebacker recruit, though Scout and 247Sports list him as a defensive end.
Defensive linemen
Arizona has one defensive tackle and three defensive ends. Finton Connolly is the 15th ranked recruit from Arizona according to 247Sports. Four-star recruit Anthony Fotu, who enrolled last month, picked the UA over Miami, Mississippi State, Washington, Illinois and Maryland.
Specialists
Kicker/punter Oliver Graybar enrolled at the start of the semester. He was the 2013 Reno Gazette-Journal Special Teams Player of the Year.
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