Notable offers: Arizona State, Oregon, Oregon State, UCLA, USC, Washington, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan, LSU, Florida, Texas
Arizona made its first new 2022 offer under Jedd Fish on Friday night as California quarterback Maalik Murphy added the Wildcats to his lengthy offer list. The Gardena-Serra standout is about as good as they come in the junior class and now he is the first underclassman to pick up an offer from the new UA staff. Murphy is a high-level recruit who current is ranked No. 45 overall in his class. He has all the tools that you look for a top-level signal caller including his size. He's about 6-foot-4 with an impressive arm.
He's not new to the recruiting game as the Wildcats are just one of his 30 offers. Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, USC and Texas are just some of the programs involved with the four-star prospect. I've watched him come up through the ranks and he is certainly an impressive player who would make a huge splash if he picked the Wildcats down the road. Because he plays at a school that has so much talent he actually has not been the starter yet in his career.
That will change this year giving him an opportunity to continue to showcase his skill set in a greater role. Serra is, of course, the alma mater of former UA quarterback Khalil Tate so there is certainly a connection there for Fisch and his staff.
There are certainly some impressive quarterbacks out west in the 2022 class and Murphy is absolutely near the top of that group. Here's what Rivals.com national analyst Adam Gorney previously said about the four-star pro-style quarterback.
"Murphy has been phenomenal on the camp and 7-on-7 circuit for years but he's been behind another talented quarterback at Gardena (Calif.) Serra until his junior season. This will be his opening opportunity to really show everyone on a national level what he can do with the pads on, and Murphy should be outstanding. From a physical standpoint I find it hard to believe there is anyone else in the class that compares, since Murphy is so tall, so filled out and he's athletic when he needs to be. That's why he's received Cam Newton comparisons. But Murphy is a smoother passer at the same stage, and if that translates to Friday nights, he could be something special. He still has a lot to prove, but Murphy has all the ability in the world and should start showing it off even more this season in California, if there is a season."
Michigan and UCLA are two programs that have gained plenty of buzz with Murphy, but Arizona offering is showing that it is willing to compete with the big boys because Ohio State, Oregon and Georgia are also staying involved with him as well. It's too early to say how much of a chance the Wildcats have because of all the changes that have gone on, but that UA was even willing to offer shows that it believes it will get a fair shake in his recruitment.
It will certainly be an uphill battle, but if the Wildcats are as dedicated to building a strong recruiting base in Southern California as they have let on then it is an offer the program had to make. Even though he has a ton of offers already once he actually gets to play this season (fingers crossed for HS football in SoCal) his list is going to continue to expand so it is a good time for UA to separate itself a bit by offering now.
