The 48 hours leading up to Wednesday’s National Signing Day was full of anticipation and drama for head coach Mike Stoops and the Wildcats.

Arizona ultimately let out a collective sigh of relief in the wee hours of the morning as it made a late push, signing a handful of top-notch recruits in crunch time.

“”Things were starting to unravel a bit and we were able to pull it together and close with a flurry of players here in the last weekend and then obviously the last 24 hours,”” Stoops said. “”I’m really impressed with the way this came together at the end.””

No player made Arizona hold its breath more than Canyon Del Oro star running back Ka’Deem Carey. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound illusive back verbally committed to the Wildcats in early June, but visited ASU and was torn between the rival schools leading up to Wednesday.

Carey held a press conference at CDO on Wednesday afternoon and announced he was joining the Wildcats, giving Arizona a much-needed big-play threat with potential to play – and maybe start – as early as next season.

“”Ka’Deem Carey certainly is one of the highlights of this recruiting class,”” Stoops said. “”He’s built a strong resume here in Tucson and I look for him to continue that.””

Carey finished his high school career with 5,702 yards and 82 rushing touchdowns, highlighted by a junior season where he racked up 2,741 rushing yards and 43 rushing touchdowns.

When asked if Carey could possibly start in 2011, Stoops said, “”Sure, I don’t think there’s any question. We have to improve our run game and our ability to make players. He certainly brings big-play ability.””

2011 Arizona football recruiting class:

• Jacob Arzouman OL 6-4 280 7-26-93 Fr. HS Tucson, Ariz. (Salpointe Catholic)
• Jared Baker RB 5-9 180 8-6-93 Fr. HS Los Angeles, Calif. (Loyola)
• Tra’Mayne Bondurant CB 5-10 185 1-9-93 Fr. HS Fairfield , Calif. (Fairfield)
• Ka’Deem Carey RB 5-10 190 10-30-92 Fr. HS Tucson, Ariz. (Canyon del Oro)
• Michael Cooper TE 6-4 230 10-21-92 Fr. HS The Woodlands, Texas (The Woodlands)
• Auwae De Rego DL 6-3 265 5-2-91 Jr. JC Waimea, Hawaii, (Kamehameha/San Jose CC)
• Faitele Faafoi OL 6-5 300 8-12-91 Fr. HS Tustin, Calif. (Tustin)
• Reggie Gilbert DE 6-3 230 4-1-93 Fr. HS Laveen, Ariz. (Fairfax)
• Rob Hankins LB 6-1 220 3-29-93 Fr. HS Dallas, Texas (Parish Episcopal)
• Hank Hobson LB 6-2 213 8-19-92 Fr. HS Bakersfield, Calif. (Stockdale)
• Cortez Johnson DB 6-2 190 8-9-92 Fr. HS New Orleans, La. (O. Perry Walker)
• Lene Maiava OL 6-5 260 3-18-93 Fr. HS Tafuna, American Samoa (Tafuna)
• Dame Ndiaye DE 6-4 215 4-13-92 Fr. HS San Diego, Calif. (Hoover)
• Patrick Onwuasor WR 6-2 190 8-22-92 Fr. HS Inglewood, Calif. (Inglewood)
• Domonique Petties LB 6-1 210 8-18-92 Fr. HS Duncan, Okla. (Duncan)
• David Richards WR 6-3 180 5-4-93 Fr. HS Palmdale, Calif. (Palmdale)
• Jaimie Salazar K 6-0 200 2-1-91 Jr. JC Garland, Texas (South Garland/Trinity Valley CC)

• Mid-year transfer, currently enrolled
• Addison Bachman OL 6-5 290 3-15-90 Jr. JC Glendora, Calif. (Glendora/Citrus College)
• Kyle Dugandzic P 5-11 195 8-20-91 Jr. JC Agoura, Calif. (Agoura/Ventura College)
• Saneilia Fuimaono DL 6-2 275 6-15-92 Fr. HS Kaneohe, Hawaii (Punahou)
• Daxx Garman OB 6-2 185 2-18-93 Fr. HS Choctaw, Okla. (Southlake, Texas, Carroll)
• Drew Robinson TE 6-5 245 7-18-89 Jr. JC Coalville, Utah (North Summit/Snow College)

Arizona 2011 Football Signing Class

By State: Arizona-3; California-9; Hawaii-2; Louisiana-1; Oklahoma-2; Texas-3 Utah-1; American Samoa-1

By Class: 17 freshmen, 5 juniors

Offense: 11

Defense: 9

Kickers: 2

The Details:

Jacob Arzouman

Offensive Line

6-4, 270, Freshman

Tucson, Ariz. (Salpointe Catholic)

Arizona Republic first-team 5A all-state … PrepStar All-West Region… Arizona Football Coaches Association first-team SA-I all-state honors. .. Arizona Daily Star first-team All-Southern Arizona… 5A-1 all-conference first team… Probable first look at guard or center for the Wildcats… Date of birth July 26, 1993…

Addison Bachman

Offensive Line

6-4, 290, Junior

Glendora, Calif. (Citrus College)

Mid-year enrollee, will participate in spring ball… Likely to get a look at center, but also could be guard… Has two years’ eligibility at Arizona… Two-year starter for the Fighting Owls at Citrus College… Started at Chaffey College and redshirted 2008 season… Played prep ball at Glendora, Calif., High School… Earned first-team team AII-CIF honors for Inland Division, senior year, with first team All-Sierra League honors.. .Earned 2nd team All-Area honors… Son of Kathy and Addison Bachman… Date of birth March 15, 1990…

Jared Baker

Running Back

5-9, 180 , Freshman

Los Angeles (Loyola)

PrepStar All-West Region… MaxPreps top 35 tailback… Co-offensive MVP and first-team honors for Serra League… Compiled 1,150 rushing yards on 170 carries as a senior, with 12 TDs Added 12 catches for 138 yards… Rushed for 219 yards and four scores against Valencia in 2010. Ran 100 and 200 in track, with fourth-place 2010 finish in 100m at Mt. Sac Relays, running a 10.83… Mission League record at 10.84… Also ran 4×100 relay.. . Was Serra League offensive MVP in 2009 when he racked up 6.9 yards per carry en route to 1,453 yards and 10 TDs in coming on for an injured senior star… Earned third-team preseason CatholicSportsNet inaugural All-America honors… Outstanding student… Date of birth August 6, 1993…

Tra’Mayne Bondurant

Defensive Back

5-11, 185, Freshman

Fairfield, Calif , (Fairfield)

PrepStar All-West Region.. . Cal-Hi Sports third-team all-state 2010… ESPNLA Top 30 So-Cal… Attended UA elite camp in summer 2010 and tried his hand at cornerback, earning a scholarship offer … Played linebacker and quarterback in high school… Basketball wing man and baseball player for the Falcons… Monticello Empire League passing leader as junior with 2,334 yards and 30 scores on 124 completions in 228 attempts… Rushed for 925 yards and 12 TDs Earned Cal- Hi Sports All-State underclass second-team multi-purpose honors for 2009 season Date of birth

January 9, 1993…

Ka’Deem Carey

Running Back

5-10, 190, Freshman

Tucson, Ariz. (Canyo n del Oro)

PrepStar Dream Team… Tacoma New-Tribune Western 100… Arizona Republic All-Arizona . Arizona Republic first-team 4A all-state.. . Arizona Daily Star first-team All-Southern Arizona . “” Arizona Football Coaches Association first-team all-state Top 25, plus first-team 4A-1 all-state and 4A-1 all-conference… MaxPreps top 25 tailback… Rushed for 1,754 yards and 26 touchdowns as a senior… As a junior, ran the ball 224 times for 2738 yards, 45 touchdowns, helping CDO compile a 14-0 record and win the 4A-1 state championship… Date of birth October 30, 1992…

Michael Cooper

Tight End

6-4, 230, Freshman

The Woodlands, Texas, (The Woodlands)

PrepStar All-West Region … Second-team All-District 14-5A defense honors for district Coach of the Year Marek Schmid.. . Texas HS Football top 25 defensive end… Vype Magazine Houston Hot 100.. . Long Star Gridiron top 25 defensive lineman… Honorable mention all-district as a junior … Comes from winning program with undefeated regular season in 2010 and 16th straight playoff appearance Played outfield and first base for Highlanders baseball team Date of birth October 21, 1992…

Lamar De Rego

Defensive Line

6-3, 265, Junior

Waimea, Hawaii (San Jose CC)

First-team all-Coast Conference honors from coaches in 2010… Probable first look at rush end for the Wildcats.. . Had 8.5 tackles for loss, with 4.5 sacks, 29 total tackles and two forced fumbles in 10 games at SJCC in 2010… Played prep ball at noted Kamehameha Secondary School in Honolulu… Also played basketball for the Warriors… Placed fourth in 220 weight class in the Oahu Interscholastic Association judo championships his senior year… Son of Shirley and Lamar De Rego of Waimea, one of the couple’s five children… Full name Lamar Auwae De Rego… Date of birth May 2, 1991…

Kyle Dugandzic

Kicker

5-11 ,195, Junior

Agoura, Calif. (Ventura CC)

Enrolled at mid-year and will participate in spring ball, with a clear shot at the top punt job and competition at place kicker… All-National Division Northern Conference first-team… Led California junior colleges in inside-20 kicks and punts of more than 50 yards.. .First-team All-Northern Conference In his sophomore year at Ventura College… Prepped at Agoura, Calif., High School.. . Both PAT kicker and punter for Agoura… Worked eX1ensiveiy with Chris Sailer Kicking during high school and summers since… Date of birth August 20,1991…

Faitele Faafoi

Offensive Line

6-5 , 300 , Freshman

Tustin, Calif. (Tustin)

PrepStar All-West Region… OCVarsity.com All-County third-team honors his senior year for Tillers coach Myron Miller… Golden State Preps All-Southern California as a junior defensive tackle… Started at guard and defensive tackle for Tustin, switched to left tackle as a senior… Earned AII-Empire league in 2010… High school experience is his first in football, as he grew up playing rugby in Samoa… Lived in Tustin with his aunt and uncle.. . Family lives in Apia, the capital city of Samoa on the island of Upolu… Date of birth August 12, 1991.. .

Saneilia Fuimaono

Defensive Line

6-2, 290, Freshman

Kaneohe, Hawaii (Punahou)

Enrolled a mid-year and will participate in spring ball. .. Originally signed last year but did not enroll. .. Honolulu Advertiser honorable mention Division I all-state… SupeWrep AII-Farwest… ILH Football All-Star first-team DL in 2008… Star-Bulletin third-team all-state as junior. .. AlGA Foundation All-Star Defense ’08… All-Poly Camp top DE nod in July 2009… No.1-rated wrestler at heavyweight class in 2009-10 in state… Won state wrestling title for Punahou in spring ’09… Shot put thrower for track team… Competed in state judo championships as underclassman in 2007, earning fourth place… Same school as Barack Obama… Full name Jonathan Saneilia Fuimaono, goes by nickname, Sani… Date of birth June 15, 1992.. .

Daxx Garman

Quarterback

6-2, 185, Freshman

Choctaw, Okla. (Westlake Carroll )

Enrolled a mid-year and will participate in spring ball. .. PrepStar All-West Region… MaxPreps top 25 pre-style quarterback … Did not playas a senior in high school, but attended Southlake Carroll in Texas .. . As a junior at Jones, Okla., High School, he completed 134 of 210 passes for 2,107 yards and 23 touchdowns, with seven picks… Committed to Arizona in early February 2010… Freshman and sophomore years at Carl Albert High School in Choctaw , Okla… Date of birth February 18, 1993…

Reggie Gilbert

Defensive End

6-3, 230, Freshman

Laveen, Ariz. (Fairfax)

PrepStar All-West Region… 247football preseason all-Arizona defense. Foot injury limited senior campaign… 58 tackles, 13 sacks, two caused fumbles as a junior Played defensive end and tight end on team where entire Stampede squad went both ways… Betty Fairfax High School team was in its second year of existence and second as a varsity program in 2010… 315 pound bench, 305 pound clean and 568 pound squat, made him the school’s combined lifting record holder… Date of birth April 1, 1993…

Rob Hankins

Linebacker

6-1 , 220, Freshman

Dallas, Texas (Parish Episcopal)

Dallas Morning News All-Prospect top 25… Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools All-District 11-2 honors as soph. and junior… PrepStar All-American ‘athlete ‘… The Sporting News Top 100… InsideTexas.com top 30 Texas HS Football top 40… MaxPreps top 25 inside linebacker. .. Panthers and coach Scott Nady 126 tackles, seven sacks, six forced fumbles, an interception and three fumble recoveries… Parish Episcopal coach Scott Nady – who played at Cal – likened Hankins to Arizona great Tedy Bruschi for his nose the ball and an extremely high “”motor””.. . Considered among top LB prospects in Texas and top 10 nationally by ESPNU… Dave Campbell’s Texas High School Football top 20… 136 tackles and 12 sacks, with 3 FF as a junior; had 105 tackles and three forced fumbles as a sophomore… Date of birth March 29, 1993…

Hank Hobson

Linebacker

6-2, 220, Freshman

Bakersfield, Calif. (Stockdale)

PrepStar All-West Region First-team All-Southwest Yosemite League honors for playoff quarterfinalists Stockdale AII-CIF Central Section… Honorable mention Bakersfield Californian top 10 area prep athletes… All-Area second-team defense by the Californian… Top 25 Central Valley college prospect by CBS Sports.com… All-Southwest Yosemite League first-team honors as a junior, helping Mustangs to 9-2 record… Utility player for baseball team… Middle linebacker and tight end… Father, Butch Hobson, played major league baseball and brother is a prospect… Date of birth August 19, 1992…

Cortez Johnson

Defensive Back

6-2 , 190, Freshman

New Orleans, La . (O .P. Walker)

Earned 4A first-team defense all-state honors from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association in 2010 for his senior year at O. Perrry Walker High School… All-Metro first-team by the Times-Picayune… Promise as a comer or safety Two interceptions in 2010 Played in 2010 Darren Sharper Lake Pontchartrain All-Star Classic Date of birth August 9, 1992 .

Lene Maiava

Offensive Lineman

6-5, 260, Freshman

Tafuna, American Samo (Tafuna)

Selected for Polynesian All-American Bowl in January… One of island ‘s top linemen, Maiava played both ways for the Warriors, but likely will open his Arizona college career as a guard… Tafuna teammate of current Wildcat defensive tackle Aiulua Fanene… Date of birth March 18, 1993…

Dame Ndiaye

Defensive End

6-4, 220, Freshman

San Diego, Calif. (Hoover)

San Diego Section AII-CIF second-team honors as defensive lineman in 2010… First-team AII-Western League… Noted shooting guard recruit in basketball, averaging 16 points and seven boards per game for Hoover, rated No.9 shooting guard in state by Cal-Hi Sports, earning AII-CIF honors for ’09-10… Played one season of football at Hoover… Had 36 tackles, seven sacks and three forced I fumbles in 2010… Led Cardinals in sacks… Also had duty at receiver and caught 18 passes for 333 yards and five scores… Ran 200 meters in track… Played touring basketball for African team in summer 2010… Born in Senegal and moved to U.S. when he was 8… Pronounced Jai-uh.. Date of birth April 13, 1993…

Patrick Onwuasor

Receiver

6-1,190, Freshman

Inglewood, Calif. (Inglewood)

PrepStar AIl-West Region… Tacoma New-Tribune Western 100… AII-CIF Western Division… Had three interceptions in one game against Beverly Hills in 2010… caught 37 passes for 745 yards and seven touchdowns, returned a kickoff 87 yards, two punts for 125 yards and intercepted six passes, returning them a total of 164 yards while helping the Sentinels win the Ocean League title and advancing to the second round of the CIF-SS Western Division playoffs… Scored four TDs in a 66-60 victory over Culver City on a kickoff return, interception return and two receptions… Had 25 receptions for 773 yards and three touchdowns and added 28 tackles and an interception as a 2009 junior, earning first-team All-Ocean league honors… Date of birth August 22, 1992…

Domonique Petties

Linebacker

6-1,210, Freshman

Duncan, Okla. (Duncan)

ESPN/lnsider top 10 state prospect.. . Daily Oklahoman Super 30 … Recruited widely as an athlete. and likely to open UA career at linebacker… 33 tackles in 2010 in a limited season of play… 73 tackles and five sacks as a junior… Played at Del City High School in Oklahoma City his first two years, then did not play in 2008… Listed on some national top 200 lists as a safety, with reported 4.5 speed… Date of birth August 18. 1992…

David Richards

Receiver

6-3, 180, Freshman

Palmdale, Calif. (Palmdale)

PrepStar All-West Region as an athlete… AII-CIF Western Division defensive back ..; Antelope Valley Press All-Valley DB…Two-way player for Falcons at safety/corner and receiver. .. Three picks in his first two games of 2010, nine overall to go with 31 tackles a’s a senior.. , Played quarterback at times … Blocked two field goals in 2010… CLA Sports top 10 West Coast Athletes… 789 yards receiving. 10 touchdowns as a junior, helping team to CIFSS Westem Division playoffs Cal-HI Sports preseason All-San Fernando Valley multi-purpose 1st team.. . AII-ClF Westem Division first-team honors as a defender junior year.. . CLA Sports West Coast Class of 2011 Top Athletes list… Date of birth May 4,1993. ..

Drew Robinson

Tight End

6-5, 242, Junior

Coalville, Utah (Snow College)

Enrolled a mid-year and will participate in spring ball …Versatile athlete who will have two years to play two at Arizona … Snow College : Second-team NJCAA Ali-America … Had 28 receptions for 346 yards and four TDS in 2010… Caught six passes for 79 yards and a TD 2009,.. 16-175,3 TDs through six games in 2010… Redshirted in 2008.. . High School: North Summit, Coalville, Utah, 2008… Utah HSFCA all-star game after senior year with seven TO catches for 2A state titlists … 2A All-State honors as a defensive end and tight end … 2A HSFCA basketball all-star game 2008 … Played basketball and wrestled for North Summit… 2A AII-State basketball first-team hoops honors in 2008,.. Fourth place in 2A state wrestling meet. .. Date of birth July 18, 1989…

Jaimie Salazar

Kicker

6-0, 200, Junior

Garland, Texas (Trinity Valley CC)

Expected to compete for top place kicking job in fall camp; Earned second-team All-America honors from the National Junior College Athletic Association in 2010… Southwest Junior College Football Conference player of the week honors after three field goals and three PATs in season opener over Independence… Honorable mention all conference honors… Was successful on 14 of 15 field goals and scored 83 points as sophomore at TVCC for 6-5 squad that made SWJCFC title game… No.2 in NJCAA in kick scoring and No.3 in SWJCFC in scoring … Earned second-team 10-5A AII-District honors as a senior and as a junior at Garland. Texas, High School… Date of birth Feb. 1, 1991 …