Arizona football recruiting: Addressing decommitments and the Wildcats’ remaining targets

Answering all the frequent recruiting questions

It’s been a while since there has been a recruiting round up here. The Arizona Wildcats have struggled this season, hitting the unofficial halfway point of the season with a 2-5 record. The 2017 recruiting class currently ranks 19th in the nation, loaded up with 27 commitments so far.

Will Arizona keep their commitments despite this awful season?

There have been a lot of questions about the season struggles for Rich Rodriguez, and if that will make guys want to decommit.

Decommitments happen every year to almost every class. While there might be one for Arizona this season, they obviously committed early for a reason. They’ve bought into the staff and are all friends with each other in one way or another. This is by far the closest recruiting class under Rodriguez when it comes to previous relationships.

While the games aren’t pretty for Arizona this season, the recruits are looking at their opportunity for early playing time. Not once have I heard a recruit say the staff promised them early playing time, but with a new defensive staff and a lack of depth, these guys are going to be able to play early.

Out of the 17 2016 commits, 11 have already played this season. Rich Rodriguez constantly talks about how this upcoming recruiting class will have guys who will play early too, and I suspect there will be at least 10 from this class who come in and play immediately as well.

The big sell for Arizona has been early playing time, getting the Cats back to Fiesta Bowl after being just two years removed. Combine that with the reputation of this staff and Arizona is slowly starting to change the overall image of the program with this culture change.

There honestly aren’t too many guys who I see decommitting at this point. There is one guy who has potential decommitment concern and that Bryce Brand. I feel like if a Michigan offers comes his way, which is very much a possibility, then he could leave. Outside of him, these recruits tell me that they are still firm.

Early enrollees

It’s important to know the early enrollees as well. While there is still time for these guys to decommit, as we saw Kahi Neves flip from Utah to Arizona just two weeks before his scheduled enrollment, I think it’s unlikely to see any of these guys look elsewhere.

Braxton Burmeister, Elijah Watson, Matt Leo, Darrian McNeal, Delshawn Phillips and Tony Fields are all early enrollees. All of them are firm on their commitments.

Thomas Graham and Notre Dame heating up

Grahama is a 4-star corner, ranked 54th in the nation overall and 6th at his position, is coming off his official visit to Arizona, just one week after his Notre Dame visit.

That Notre Dame visit was huge for him and his family. Talking to some Notre Dame folks about Graham, it seems as if the Irish have made a big jump. His father really enjoyed the visit and the family will play a large role. His mother favors Arizona a bit simply because of the proximity to home. Both are offering him early playing time, and both are having extremely rough seasons.

This one is close, but I still have my Crystal Ball prediction for Arizona.

Adding to the defensive line

The big concern for UA is getting help up front on the defensive line. I still think Arizona lands 3-star defensive end Odua Isibor out of St. Mary’s (Phoenix, AZ). He’s playing at about 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, and the staff feels like he can add another 30-40 pounds.

As for other potential defensive linemen, it’s going to come down to midseason offers and the big January rush before National Signing Day. I’m not entirely sure where 3-star DE My-King Johnson out of Tempe High is heading, but it’s not Arizona.

Greg Johnson’s official visit to Nebraska a concern?

No. Greg Johnson is 100% committed to Arizona. He is a big reason why Arizona has 27 commitments right now and he believes in Rich Rodriguez and Donte’ Williams when they say he will be a catalyst to rebranding Arizona and getting them back to the Fiesta Bowl.

This is just a kid who is going to be taking advantage of his five free trips and I don’t blame him.

Still feel good about Joseph Lewis?

I do. Greg Johnson and Joseph Lewis have made it clear that the two have a desire to play college football together. That dream has stemmed since the two were in middle school. Combine that with his relationship with the staff, early playing time, and a favorable offensive scheme, and you have a couple of nice selling points.

It’s pretty much down to Nebraska and Arizona, or so it seems, and Nebraska has themselves a nice pitch. The Huskers are currently undefeated, Lewis has a great relationship with the coaches and current commits, plus he’ll have immediate playing time as well.

He’s announcing at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, which will be January 7th.

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I apologize for the lack of recruiting coverage since the season has began. The Master’s of Accounting program is no joke here. Luckily Arizona had 25 commitments heading into the semester, which made things a lot easier.

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