The 2017 Rivals250 was released this week and with the newly expanded rankings came more in-stat recruits on the list. The next recruiting cycle has the chance to be a big one for Arizona and there are once again numerous prospects within state lines who could eventually pick the Wildcats. One thing that has shifted some going into the 2017 cycle is that Arizona is in a very good position with a number of in-state juniors already and it shaping up to be less of a struggle to keep a number of the top recruits in Arizona.
Here is a look at where things stand with the Rivals250 recruits (outside the Rivals100) that play their high school ball in Arizona.
Tyler Johnson - No. 114: The Gilbert (Ariz.) Highland receiver is the big body that Arizona will soon need again and at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds there are already a number of big programs involved with him. Johnson picked up an offer from Arizona early in the process as the two in-state schools were the first to offer him and since then he has started the process of becoming a national recruit with offers from the likes of Tennessee, Michigan, UCLA and Michigan State. Johnson's father played at Michigan State so there is a tie there, but Arizona has a shot at this one and will get its chance to be right in the mix.
Isaiah Pola-Mao - No. 158: Another in-state player who could eventually turn into that big receiver Arizona lies to have is the four-star recruit from Phoenix (Ariz.) Mountain Pointe. Arizona was one of the first to offer Pola-Mao as well and it has already established itself as the likely team to beat as things move forward. At this stage the 6-foot-3 recruit has mostly done his damage on the defensive side of the ball as a safety, but he will play more receiver in his junior season and future outlook has him more as a receiver at the next level.
For now the draw of staying in Arizona to play football certainly has his attention and Arizona is in a great spot going into his junior season.
Ryan Kelley - No. 164: With three quarterbacks already committed - one being for the 2017 class - the Wildcats will be slow with their recruitment of signal callers in the 2017 class. Things can always come up and change over the course of the next two seasons, however, and Kelley is already showing that he will have his options when it comes time to decide. At this stage there has not been much between Kelley and Arizona, but if something should happen it wouldn't be out of the ordinary to give him a look.
Kelley threw for 3,108 yards and 30 touchdowns as a sophomore last season at Chandler (Ariz.) Basha in addition to rushing for 277 yards and four more scores.
KJ Jarrell - No. 210: The four-star safety from Scottsdale (Ariz.) Saguaro has already had a taste of what being recruited will be like when programs take an even closer look at the 2017 class. Jarrell has offers from Arizona, ASU, Oregon State, UCLA, Washington and Wisconsin.
Arizona has not had too much success with prospects at Saguaro during Rich Rodriguez's time, but the Wildcats have made some progress with Byron Murphy in the 2016 class and now Jarrell is already liking what he sees at UA. There is still a long way to go, but as of now Arizona sits in a pretty good spot.
"So far, I really like U of A," Jarrell said in the late spring. "I love their coaching staff and I love their defense. I went out there and really liked the campus and learning about the program. Coach (Charlie) Ragle is recruiting me and we have a good relationship."
Here is a look at where things stand with the Rivals250 recruits (outside the Rivals100) that play their high school ball in Arizona.
Tyler Johnson - No. 114: The Gilbert (Ariz.) Highland receiver is the big body that Arizona will soon need again and at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds there are already a number of big programs involved with him. Johnson picked up an offer from Arizona early in the process as the two in-state schools were the first to offer him and since then he has started the process of becoming a national recruit with offers from the likes of Tennessee, Michigan, UCLA and Michigan State. Johnson's father played at Michigan State so there is a tie there, but Arizona has a shot at this one and will get its chance to be right in the mix.
Isaiah Pola-Mao - No. 158: Another in-state player who could eventually turn into that big receiver Arizona lies to have is the four-star recruit from Phoenix (Ariz.) Mountain Pointe. Arizona was one of the first to offer Pola-Mao as well and it has already established itself as the likely team to beat as things move forward. At this stage the 6-foot-3 recruit has mostly done his damage on the defensive side of the ball as a safety, but he will play more receiver in his junior season and future outlook has him more as a receiver at the next level.
For now the draw of staying in Arizona to play football certainly has his attention and Arizona is in a great spot going into his junior season.
Ryan Kelley - No. 164: With three quarterbacks already committed - one being for the 2017 class - the Wildcats will be slow with their recruitment of signal callers in the 2017 class. Things can always come up and change over the course of the next two seasons, however, and Kelley is already showing that he will have his options when it comes time to decide. At this stage there has not been much between Kelley and Arizona, but if something should happen it wouldn't be out of the ordinary to give him a look.
Kelley threw for 3,108 yards and 30 touchdowns as a sophomore last season at Chandler (Ariz.) Basha in addition to rushing for 277 yards and four more scores.
KJ Jarrell - No. 210: The four-star safety from Scottsdale (Ariz.) Saguaro has already had a taste of what being recruited will be like when programs take an even closer look at the 2017 class. Jarrell has offers from Arizona, ASU, Oregon State, UCLA, Washington and Wisconsin.
Arizona has not had too much success with prospects at Saguaro during Rich Rodriguez's time, but the Wildcats have made some progress with Byron Murphy in the 2016 class and now Jarrell is already liking what he sees at UA. There is still a long way to go, but as of now Arizona sits in a pretty good spot.
"So far, I really like U of A," Jarrell said in the late spring. "I love their coaching staff and I love their defense. I went out there and really liked the campus and learning about the program. Coach (Charlie) Ragle is recruiting me and we have a good relationship."
