Arizona hosts several 2019, 2020 recruits

It was a big weekend of recruiting for the Wildcats

It may be the middle of spring practice for the Arizona Wildcats, but there is always time to recruit. For new head coach Kevin Sumlin and his staff, this weekend was an important step in the 2019 and 2020 classes.

On Saturday, the ‘Cats hosted a junior day and it was dubbed “A-Day.” From everything I’ve seen it was a success and an overall positive experience for everyone involved. Below is a list I’ve been able to comprise of the recruits that were on campus.

Noa Pola-Gates

Position: Safety

Class: 2019

Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 200 pounds

High School/Hometown: Williams Field High School (Gilbert, Arizona)

Ranking: 4-star in 247Sports (200th player nationally and 12th safety); 4-star in Rivals (137th nationally and 9th safety)

Arizona Offer: Yes

2017 Stats: 46 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 3 INT, 3 PBU

Notes: Arizona was the first school to offer Pola-Gates before his recruitment took off. He participated in the futures combine during the Army All-American game and his performance garnered him national attention. He now holds offers from the likes of Alabama, Washington, and Utah to name few. There are many things to like about his game but one thing that stands out is his speed. As of now Alabama is thought to be the favorite but there is plenty of time in his recruitment.

Bralen Trice

Position: Defensive End

Class: 2019

Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 225 pounds

High School/Hometown: Sandra Day O’Connor High School (Phoenix, Arizona)

Ranking: 3-star in 247Sports (440th nationally and 29th weak side defensive end); 0-star in Rivals

Arizona Offer: Yes

2017 Stats: 75 tackles, 28.5 TFL, 14.5 sacks, 5 PBU, 5 fumble recoveries

Notes: Trice is probably the best pass rusher in Arizona. His speed and savagery coming off the ball is what makes him as effective as he is. It would not surprise me to see his recruitment blow up over the summer and into his senior season. He does have other schools involved, such as Washington and California, but Arizona should be right in the mix for his commitment.

McKade Mettauer

Position: Offensive Guard

Class: 2019

Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 310 pounds

High School/Hometown: St. Pius X High School (Houston, Texas)

Ranking: 3-star in 247Sports (882nd nationally and 33rd offensive guard); 3-star in Rivals

Arizona Offer: Yes

Notes: Mettauer is a large human being and has the strength to back up his size. He has amazing leg drive and knows how to use his hands. One part of his game that sticks out to me is his vision. He is able to transition from one defender to another with ease. He does need to work on his quickness a little bit but he still moves well for someone his size. This was his first trip out to Tucson and it should go a long way for the Arizona in his recruitment. Other schools pursuing Mettauer include California, Purdue, Boston College, and Houston to name a few.

Khyheem Waleed

Position: Wide Receiver

Class: 2019

Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 180 pounds

High School/Hometown: Casteel High School (Queen Creek, Arizona)

Ranking: 3-star in 247Sports; Unranked in Rivals

Arizona Offer: Yes

2017 Stats: 14 rec, 358 yds, 8 TD (incomplete)

Notes: This was Waleed’s second trip of the week to Tucson. The first was with his quarterback Gunner Cruz. Waleed appears to have become a priority for UA and there’s no wonder why. Even though he missed 6 games his junior season, he still was able to showcase what he can do. He has the size and speed combo that coaches love outside receivers to have. As of now he has 3 Power Five offers with California and Iowa State joining Arizona on his list. UNLV and Northern Arizona finish off his offer list. He is someone I could see picking up steam during his senior season.

Austin McNamara

Position: Punter

Class: 2019

Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 165 pounds

High School/Hometown: Highland High School (Gilbert, Arizona)

Ranking: 5-star in Chris Sailer Kicking (3rd punter nationally); 5-star in Kohl’s Kicking (4th punter nationally)

Arizona Offer: Yes

2017 Stats: 47 punts, 1,866 yds, 39.7 avg, 18 inside the 20, 74-yd long

Notes: I know I’ve said it before but McNamara is one of the best punters in the nation. And when you look at his stats and highlights, it’s not hard to see why. He has a massive leg and booms the ball down the field. Because of this he is able to flip the field easily, something Arizona fans haven’t had since Drew Riggleman. This past weekend was McNamara’s second time on campus in March and Arizona has prioritized him. For good measure, he competed in the Chris Sailer Kicking Arizona Camp where he took home the Punter Championship. If he chooses to go to UA, he could literally turn the entire punting game around from what it has been the past couple of seasons.

Bijan Robinson

Position: Running Back

Class: 2020

Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 200 pounds

High School/Hometown: Salpointe Catholic High School (Tucson, Arizona)

Ranking: 5-star in 247Sports (30th nationally and 4th running back); Unranked in Rivals

Arizona Offer: Yes

2017 Stats: 189 car, 2,023 yds, 26 TD; 8 rec, 136 yds, 3 TD

Notes: I don’t need to say much about Robinson as most Tucsonans know who he is. He is without a doubt the best running back from the state since Ka’Deem. His game backs up his 5-star rating and he absolutely teed off on everyone last year, racking up over 2,000 yards on the ground. The ‘Cats are going to prioritize him, if they haven’t already. They will have to hold off schools such as Washington, USC, Arizona State, and Utah.

Sam Adams

Position: Running Back

Class: 2020

Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 198 pounds

High School/Hometown: Eastside Catholic High School (Sammamish, Washington)

Ranking: 4-star in 247Sports (239th nationally and 26th running back); Unranked in Rivals

Arizona Offer: Yes

2017 Stats: 14 car, 65 yds, 1 TD; 1 rec, 37 yds, 0 TD (Incomplete)

Notes: Adams is the son of former NFL defensive lineman Sam Adams Sr. Yes, there is plenty of time left in his recruitment but it was a good move for the Wildcats to start getting involved. Right now California is the only other school who has offered Adams, but I don’t expect that to be the case for much longer. He is the full package at running back and does a great job of catching passes out of the backfield. His stats are incomplete and don’t give him the credit he deserves.

Lathan Ransom

Position: Safety

Class: 2020

Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 183 pounds

High School/Hometown: Salpointe Catholic High School (Tucson, Arizona)

Ranking: Unranked in 247Sports and Rivals

Arizona Offer: Yes

2017 Offers: 48 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, 5 INT, 3 PBU, 1 forced fumble

Notes: Ransom is another Pac-12 player at Salpointe for the 2020 class. He has the length and size that Arizona wants in its defensive backfield. He diagnoses plays quickly and effectively and doesn’t shy away from contact. As a matter-of-fact, one could say he loves contact as he, on more than one occasion, violently collides with the ball carrier. His tackling ability is another part of his game that stands out. It is way advanced for someone going into their junior season in high school.

Andrew Rumary

Position: Offensive Tackle

Class: 2020

Height/Weight: 6-foot-7, 295 pounds

High School/Hometown: Valley Vista High School (Surprise, Arizona)

Ranking: Unranked in 247Sports and Rivals

Arizona Offer: Yes

Notes: Rumary is just going into his junior season and is already sitting at 6-foot-7 and near 300 pounds. He already looks the part physically, now for him it’ll be about working on his technique and body control. He has the raw talent already so once he gets those few things down he is going to be a monster. Arizona became his first offer when he was on campus this past weekend.

Ayden Hector

Position: Cornerback

Class: 2020

Height/Weight: 6-foot, 180 pounds

High School/Hometown: Eastside Catholic High School (Sammamish, Washington)

Ranking: 4-star in 247Sports (205th nationally and 17th cornerback); Unranked in Rivals

Arizona Offer: No

2017 Stats: 43 tackles, 5 INT, 25 PBU

Notes: Another Eastside Catholic prospect that made his way to Tucson this past weekend was Hector. He is a physical corner who loves contact. He also has impressive man-to-man skills for someone his age. He is garnering plenty of attention but only holds offers from USC and California. It would not surprise me to see Arizona extend an offer to the talented corner.

Brayden Rohme

Position: Offensive Tackle

Class: 2019

Height/Weight: 6-foot-6, 250 pounds

High School/Hometown: Perry High School (Gilbert, Arizona)

Ranking: 3-star in 247Sports (1,246th nationally and 101th offensive tackle); Unranked in Rivals

Arizona Offer: No

Notes: Rohme is an interesting prospect. He has the base talent needed for the next level but is still a little raw. He has the frame at 6-foot-6 to add more weight and more strength. He’ll need both to compete at the next level. Now that doesn’t mean he isn’t a good offensive lineman. He is incredibly effective at disrupting the pass rush and getting in the way of defenders so the ball carrier can take off. As of now he has one offer from UCF.

Brandon Babcock

Position: Offensive Guard

Class: 2019

Height/Weight: 6-foot-6, 274 pounds

High School/Hometown: Casteel High School (Queen Creek, Arizona)

Ranking: Unranked in 247Sports and Rivals

Arizona Offer: No

Notes: Babcock is a big, strong human being. He has a violent side to his game and has great leg drive. He has the talent and massive upside that a college coach can mold and build upon. He does play a little high and needs improvement on his footwork but the talent is there. This past weekend was his second time on campus in March and it seems he is another in-state lineman that the UA staff likes. As of now he holds offers from Army and Northern Arizona.

Casey Clanton

Position: Tight End

Class: 2019

Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 230 pounds

High School/Hometown: Central High School (Phoenix, Arizona)

Ranking: Unranked in 247Sports and Rivals

Arizona Offer: No

2017 Stats: 18 rec, 325 yds, 7 TD

Notes: Clanton is someone who fits the tight end mold, though Central lines him up in the slot. This creates mismatches for him and he takes full advantage when he can. His blocking could use some work but his pass catching ability is pretty solid. He has three offers so far with Kansas, Air Force, and Ohio offering.

Jacob Golden

Position: Offensive Tackle

Class: 2019

Height/Weight: 6-foot-6, 260 pounds

High School/Hometown: Peoria High School (Peoria, Arizona)

Ranking: Unranked in 247Sports and Rivals

Arizona Offer: No

Notes: This past weekend was Golden’s second trip out to Tucson. He is someone I can see landing an offer from the ‘Cats down the line and is underrated in my opinion. He is very mobile for someone his size and has a violent side to his game. He has the raw talent that college coaches love.

Riley Kinney

Position: Pro-style Quarterback

Class: 2019

Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 180 pounds

High School/Hometown: Loveland High School (Loveland, Colorado)

Ranking: Unranked in 247Sports and Rivals

Arizona Offer: No

2017 Stats: 45-for-72, 1,063 yds, 17 TD, 2 INT; 78 car, 433 yds, 4 TD

Notes: Kinney’s stats aren’t anything to scream about but that is the product of his team’s Wishbone-style offense. He does possess arm strength, accuracy, and touch to his passes when he does throw. He is also mobile enough to make plays with his legs if he needs to. He is someone I can see becoming a solid prospect with some good coaching.

Juwaun Price

Position: Running Back

Class: 2019

Height/Weight: 5-foot-11, 180 pounds

High School/Hometown: Peoria High School (Peoria, Arizona)

Ranking: Unranked in 247Sports and Rivals

Arizona Offer: No

2017 Stats: 151 car, 1,463 yds, 19 TD; 7 rec, 160 yds, 1 TD

Notes: I thoroughly enjoy watching Price play. Almost every, if not every, time he steps on the field, he is the fastest individual out there. I laugh just out of pure enjoyment watching him outrun defenders time and time again. He has such speed to him that he can turn the corner, own that corner, and outrun everyone down the sideline for a touchdown. He doesn’t have any offers yet but he is one I can see Arizona offering in the future. Below are his track meet highlights with shoulder pads.

Daniel To’oto’o

Position: Defensive End

Class: 2019

Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 230 pounds

High School/Hometown: Skyline High School (Mesa, Arizona)

Ranking: Unranked in 247Sports and Rivals

Arizona Offer: No

2017 Stats: 33 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble (incomplete)

Notes: This is not the first time that To’oto’o has been on campus. He has been on quite a few visits and the interest seems to be reciprocated by the staff. If no offer comes, I can see To’oto’o getting a preferred walk-on spot for the ‘Cats. Position wise, I see him fitting in as a Stud linebacker.

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts https://ift.tt/2E1mSqU
via IFTTT