Arizona loads up on linebackers in class of 23

Arizona loads up on linebackers in class of 23

Published Feb. 1, 2017 7:52 p.m. ET

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Rich Rodriguez's usual routine on national signing day is to sit by the fax machine and wait for the commitments to roll in.

This year, the Arizona coach was able to hand-deliver one commitment himself.

Rodriguez joined his family with son Rhett to sign a national letter of intent at a ceremony at nearby Catalina Foothills High School on Wednesday, leaving the Wildcats coach with the easiest signing of his career.

"I've seen it from the other side, way on the other side, standing by a fax machine," Rich Rodriguez said. "I'm not worried about faxing this one. I'll just carry it to the office in a few minutes."

Rhett Rodriguez is a three-star quarterback who was expected to be one of two quarterbacks in Arizona's 2017 class. When four-star prospect Braxton Burmeister signed with Oregon, that left the younger Rodriguez as the only signal caller in the class.

The 6-foot-1 dual-threat quarterback says he knows about 90 percent of Arizona's offense already and will be one of three scholarship quarterbacks after Anu Solomon opted to transfer.

"I wouldn't sign anybody or bring anybody into the program if I didn't think they could contribute and play," Rich Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez's son is one of 23 new players, including five mid-year enrollees. The group includes 15 defensive players, seven on offense and one kicker. The defensive newcomers include six linebackers -- a position of extreme need for the Wildcats -- but there are no incoming linemen on the offensive side.



The class includes 12 players from California, five from Arizona, two from Nevada, and one each from Alabama, Florida, Maryland and Michigan. Rodriguez expects to announce additional players to the 2017 roster in the coming days and weeks.

Arizona's class was hurt by several late defections to other programs, notably Oregon, and lost considerable momentum when assistant coach and elite recruiter Donte Williams left the program for Nebraska. It is ranked 46th by Scout.com and 11th among 12 schools in the Pac-12 (ahead of only California). Running back Nathan Tilford is the only incoming recruit with a four-star rating by Scout.

Arizona's class was hurt by several late defections to other programs, notably Oregon, and lost considerable momentum when assistant coach and elite recruiter Donte Williams left the program for Nebraska. It is ranked 46th by Scout.com and 11th among 12 schools in the Pac-12 (ahead of only California). Running back Nathan Tilford is the only incoming recruit with a four-star rating by Scout.

Other things to know about Arizona's recruiting class:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BnI8uj1IwI&t=50s

Best in class: RB Nathan Tilford. A four-star running back from Ontario, California, is the highest-rated player in the class -- 17th nationally at his position by the 247Sports composite -- and is already enrolled at Arizona, giving him a head start for his freshman season.

Best of the rest: DT Sione Taufahema. Arizona needed some heft up front on defense and at 6-1, 310 pounds the junior college transfer will certainly give them that.

Late addition: My-King Johnson. The defensive end from Tempe committed to UCLA in early January, but flipped after an in-home visit by Rodriguez last month. He gives the Wildcats a superb pass rusher and a nice in-state get for Rodriguez.

One that got away: Burmeister.

How they'll fit in: Arizona has been one of the Pac-12's worst defensive teams under Rodriguez, but could start to move the needle a little with this class. The 23-player class includes 15 on defense, with six of those being linebackers.

Rhett Rodriguez, QB, 6-1, 190, Tucson (Catalina Foothills HS)
Gary Brightwell, RB, 5-11, 188, Baltimore (St. Frances Academy)
Nathan Tilford*, RB, 6-1, 205, Ontario, Calif. (Colony HS)

Brian Casteel, WR, 6-1, 200, Covina, Calif. (Charter Oak HS)
Drew Dixon, WR, 6-4, 195, Tucson (Sabino HS)
Bryce Gilbert*, TE, 6-4, 230, Gilbert (Higley HS)
Bryce Wolma, TE, 6-4, 230, Saline, Mich. (Saline HS)

Jalen Harris, DE, 6-4, 210, Mesa (Desert Ridge HS)
My-King Johnson, DE, 6-3, 225, Tempe (Tempe HS)
Kurtis Brown, DT, 6-3, 285, Bakersfield, Calif. (Liberty HS)
Sione Taufahema*, DT, 6-3, 310, Mission Hills, Calif. (Bishop Alemany HS/College of the Canyons)

Joshua Brown, ILB, 6-1, 230, Long Beach, Calif. (Poly HS)
Anthony Pandy, ILB, 6-2, 230, Harbor City, Calif. (Narbonne HS)
Colin Schooler, ILB, 6-2, 225, Mission Viejo, Calif. (Mission Viejo HS)
Tony Fields II*, OLB, 6-2, 200, Las Vegas (Desert Pines HS)
Jose Ramirez*, OLB, 6-3, 209, Auburndale, Fla. (Auburndale HS)
Kylan Wilborn, OLB, 6-1, 235, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (Notre Dame HS)

Tony Wallace, CB, 5-10, 180, Las Vegas (Desert Pines HS)
Xavier Bell, S, 6-2, 190, Santa Ana, Calif. (Mater Dei HS)
Rhedi Short, S, 6-1, 175, Los Angeles (Cathedral HS)
Scott Young, S, 6-0, 190, La Mesa, Calif. (Helix HS)
Troy Young, S, 6-1, 192, Mobile, Ala. (Mobile Christian HS)

Lucas Havrisik, K, 6-2, 195, Norco, Calif. (Norco HS)

*-mid-year enrollee

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