How Arizona football’s commits fared in Week 3

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The Arizona Wildcats won their first game of the season over the weekend when they defeated NAU 65-41.

Not long after that game they added another member to the 2020 class in Texas-based kicker Tyler Loop. And with the high school football season well under way we have a lot to cover.

So without futher delay, let’s see how the members of Arizona’s 2020 class fared this past weekend during their high school games.

Drake Dabney, TE

Cy Ranch (Cypress, Texas) Mustangs: Lost to Westlake, 35-7

Game Stats: 3 rec, 24 yds, 0 TD

2019 Stats: 8 rec, 91 yds, 1 TD

Cy Ranch had a rough game, there is no other way to put it. It lost three out of four fumbles on offense and just couldn’t get any momentum. The secondary also had a rough game, allowing 292 yards and four scores through the air.

Dabney had a decent game overall though. He is known for his run blocking, and rightfully so. The clips I was able to find showed him doing a fine job blocking for the ball carrier.

The major improvement in his game that I’m glad to see is his ability as a pass catcher. He snagged 24 of the Mustangs’ 61 pass yards and accounted for three of seven completions. Couple that with his performance in his first game and it’s easy to see that he has improved in this area.

Jalen John, RB

Lakeridge (Lake Oswego, Ore.) Pacers: Lost to Tualatin, 53-7

Game Stats: 4 car, 43 yds, 0 TD; 2 rec, 57 yds, 0 TD (stats incomplete)

2019 Stats: 4 car, 43 yds, 0 TD; 2 rec, 57 yds, 0 TD (stats incomplete)

Much like Dabney’s team, Lakeridge had a rough game this weekend, falling to Tualatin 53-7.

However, I did like what I saw out of John. He had at least four carries for 10+ yards. That’s pretty good. During those runs, he showed great vision, power, fluid lower body, and speed.

Then we move to his receiving. One his biggest play of the night, he started out lined up in the slot. He ran a simple 4-yard out route, snagged the ball, and preceeded to make the defense look silly as he broke tackles and cut all the way across the field to the other sideline. This play set up Lakeridge’s only score of the night.

I can’t wait to continue to watch John play this year.

Will Plummer, QB

Gilbert (Ariz.) Tigers: Lost to Notre Dame Prep, 48-21

Game Stats: 25-for-46, 307 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT; 8 car, 1 yd, 1 TD

2019 Stats: 66-for-110, 821 yds, 5 TD, 5 INT; 36 car, 168 yds, 2 TD

Plummer had another solid showing in the Tigers’ second loss of the season.

He continued to show fantastic vision and arm strength in this throws. One thing I’ve noticed has really improved this season has been his touch on throws and, for the most part, putting the ball where only his receiver can make a play on the ball.

He also had a great fake on a 1-yard touchdown run, that was also helped by a fantastic block by one of his teammates.

One thing he’ll need to work on is cutting down the interceptions but other than that, he has had a solid year so far.

Alphonse Oywak, CB

Kentwood (Covington, Wash.) Conquerors: Won against Skyline, 29-3

Game Stats: 2 tackles; 5 rec 97 yds, 1 TD

2019 Stats: 2 tackles; 5 rec, 97 yds, 1 TD

Kentwood has started 2019 on a great foot as it easily beat a very successful program in Skyline.

When Oywak committed to Arizona, I loved it. I felt that he was extremely underrated, and based on what I saw from his first game, I feel like I was right.

He was a little raw last year but you can see the work he has put in this offseason has paid off.

We’ll start first on the offensive side of the ball. Oywak is a freak athlete. He has the size, speed, hands, and playmaking ability to succeed at receiver at the next level. He made a hell of a catch on a 52-yard bomb down the field with a defender in his face. He also had a nice snag for a touchdown.

Even with all those skills at receiver, Arizona is recruiting him for cornerback and I agree with that decision. He very much reminds me of Christian Roland-Wallace when he was in high school.

Anyway, on to his play. Oywak is a physical corner who is very successful and effective at playing man-coverage and jamming receivers at the line. What I love the most about him is his willingness to hit someone. I mean, in a couple of plays you just see him lay people out. If he keeps up that type of aggression, along with the muscle he’ll put on once he arrives in Tucson, he is going to be a nasty defensive back for the ‘Cats.

Dion Wilson Jr., DE

Orange Vista (Perris, Cali.) Coyotes: Lost to Burbank, 35-21

Game Stats: 1 tackle, 1.0 TFL (stats incomplete)

2019 Stats: 10 tackles, 8.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, 1 forced fumble

The Coyotes were handed their first loss of 2019 when they lost to Burbank by two touchdowns.

The stats haven’t been updated for Wilson and there were only two plays from his game highlights.

In the first play, Wilson explodes around the end and pressures the QB into throwing an interception in the end zone. He was also able to get a hit on the QB, which is always something you want out of your d-lineman.

In the second play, Wilson waltzes into the backfield, untouched, reads the play, and takes down the running back in the backfield. I promise all Wilson does is get TFLs. Also, how you don’t block the biggest dude on the line is beyond me but it worked out to Wilson’s advantage.

Dyelan Miller, WR

Centennial (Peoria, Ariz.) Coyotes: Lost to Mater Dei, 71-21

Game Stats: 2 rec, 14 yds, 0 TD

2019 Stats: 5 rec, 35 yds, 0 TD

Centennial, which is one of the best teams in the state, did not fare well against the best team in the country in SoCal’s Mater Dei.

Miller’s stats for the game won’t jump out at you, but that is because the Coyotes are primarily a run-first team.

Miller did have a nice 12-yard catch to help bail his QB out of a bad situation.

To show you what I mean, Centennial only attempted 23 passes and only completed eight of them for 139 yards. On the ground it had 32 rush attempts for just under 200 yards.

Josh Baker, OL

Eureka (Mo.) Wildcats: Won against Timberland, 10-0

Game Stats: N/A

Eureka snagged its first win of the season in a low-scoring contest against Timberland.

A lot has to do with the efforts of Baker and the Wildcat offensive line. Two games in to the season and Baker contineus to impress.

He is able to balance his power with his technique and beats his man regularly.

I really love seeing him used as a pulling tackle. This allows him to show his athleticism and quickness, which are two parts to his game I think deserve more attention and credit.

Khary Crump, CB

Culver City (Calif.) Centaurs: Won against Peninsula, 60-21

Game Stats: 8 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery

2019 Stats: 8 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery

Culver City laid the smackdown on Peninsula, easily winning 60-21. Crump, to be quite frank, had a very productive game.

He is another commit who has definitely made a jump from his junior to senior years. He is bigger than he was last year, for starters.

Crump’s back pedal in coverage is very smooth and he is quick to turn his hips to run with the receiver.

Besides getting eight tackles, he made two really great plays. First being his forced fumble/recovery. He collided with the receiver and literally ripped the ball from his hands and started running the opposite direction. Really heads up play.

Second was his interception. He back-pedaled himself into a good position to see the play develop. He then changed direction and jumped right in front of the receiver.

Oh let’s not forget the crazy speed he showed catching up with a Peninsula receiver and make a touchdown saving tackle.

Cedric Melton, OL

Klein Cain (Houston) Hurricanes: Lost to Tompkins, 42-24

Game Stats: 42 carries, 153 yards

After having a great first game of the season, Klein Cain had a rough game in their second of the year.

Melton definitely had some great moments during the game. In a few plays, you see him effectively opening up running lanes for his backs or knocking defenders that could’ve made a tackle out of the way.

I am not, however, able to find how many/if any sacks were given up by the Hurricane o-line.

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