There are two weeks left until the start of the regular signing period that is set to begin Feb. 5 and while that is the start date it will run all the way until April 1 meaning there could be more additions made after the first Wednesday in February by Arizona and all the other Division I programs.
Lately there has been a hyper focus on recruiting for Kevin Sumlin and his staff with several spots left to fill in the 2020 class. I wanted to make everything clear heading into the next two weeks so that you all have an idea of why certain decisions are being made plus I'll give my input on what areas the staff needs to continue to focus on along with my rankings for where things currently stand with the committed prospects.
So here's a comprehensive look at 2020 recruiting as it stands right now with a couple weeks left to go before pen goes to paper once again for prospects in the class.
Things to note
- Arizona, like every other college program, is allowed to sign 25 recruits per class but can go over that number if some prospects are either counted back to the previous class or counted forward to the next class. As of now the plan is to stick within the 25 allowed additions for the 2020 class keeping things nice and neat. UA could ultimately decide to go under the number to save spots for late additions such as Kyon Barrs or Tayvian Cunningham who both joined the program after spring ball was over in 2019.
- Transfers do count against the 25 initial counters in a given class meaning players such as Brenden Schooler and Aaron Blackwell technically are part of the 2020 recruiting class despite both being graduate transfers who have already played at another program. If Arizona adds other transfer, whether traditional sit-out players or immediately-eligible graduate transfers, all will count toward that number.
- Arizona's current overall 2020 team recruiting ranking is No. 55 and the Wildcats are ranked No. 10 in the Pac-12.
Class overview
• Quarterbacks (1) — Will Plummer
• Running backs/all-purpose backs (2) — Jalen John, Frank Brown (unsigned)
• Receivers/tight ends (5) — Dyelan Miller, Majon Wright, Roberto Miranda (enrolled), Stacey Marshall (enrolled/JUCO), Brenden Schooler (enrolled/grad transfer via Oregon)
• Offensive linemen (3) — Josh Baker, Woody Jean (enrolled), Cedric Melton (unsigned)
• Defensive linemen (3) — Dion Wilson Jr., Regen Terry, Aaron Blackwell (grad transfer via New Mexico)
• Linebackers (1) — Jabar Triplett Jr. (unsigned)
• Safeties (0)
• Cornerbacks (2) — Khary Crump, Alphonse Oywak (unsigned)
• Specialists (1) — Tyler Loop
Assessing the class
- When you add it all up you have 18 members of the class already accounted for so far, but that number could go one way or the other depending on how things shake out. As of now there are four unsigned recruits publicly committed to the Wildcats that includes previously committed prospects Melton, Oywak and Triplett in addition to post-early signing period commit Brown.
Triplett has already given indications that he will sign with the Wildcats in February while things have yet to be completely locked up with Oywak and Melton who have continued to receive interest from other programs since they did not sign with UA in December. Brown has not yet had an opportunity to sign, but assuming all things hold (i.e. no new offers, no coaching changes at Arizona) he will sign with UA in two weeks.
So, the coaching staff currently has seven spots to work with right now but that number is already moving down with the expected commitment of offensive lineman Leif Magnuson set to go public at some point in the near future.
Factoring that in means the Wildcats currently have six more spots left in the class, realistically.
- Including Magnuson, the Wildcats already have spots in the class being spoken for by offensive players, which is right around where the staff hoped to be when things started with the group. Arizona wants to add more offensive linemen and so in the end – as long as things go according to plan – there will be more offensive players than defensive players in the class, however.
That is not necessarily ideal, but considering the Wildcats fired most of the defensive staff during the season the numbers were always likely to be skewed toward the offensive side where the staff has remained intact.
Based on everything that has been coming out of the program, the idea moving forward over the next couple weeks is that most of the remaining spots will go to defensive prospects. If Melton ends up sticking with his pledge to UA it could end up being a situation where the program only adds defensive prospects since the Wildcats would have four offensive linemen at that point.
- When it comes to positions to focus on the pattern is clear right now. UA wants more linebackers and pass rushers plus another defensive tackle. The way things break down at the moment, UA will try to add one more inside linebacker, three more outside linebackers/pass rushers plus one more defensive tackle and one more defensive back – assuming things fall together how the staff wants them to heading into the final two weeks with the other positions.
Position rankings
1. Running back
2. Quarterback
3. Defensive line
4. Cornerback
5. Receiver/tight end
6. Offensive line
7. Linebacker
8. Kicker
9. Safety
Lately there has been a hyper focus on recruiting for Kevin Sumlin and his staff with several spots left to fill in the 2020 class. I wanted to make everything clear heading into the next two weeks so that you all have an idea of why certain decisions are being made plus I'll give my input on what areas the staff needs to continue to focus on along with my rankings for where things currently stand with the committed prospects.
So here's a comprehensive look at 2020 recruiting as it stands right now with a couple weeks left to go before pen goes to paper once again for prospects in the class.
Things to note
- Arizona, like every other college program, is allowed to sign 25 recruits per class but can go over that number if some prospects are either counted back to the previous class or counted forward to the next class. As of now the plan is to stick within the 25 allowed additions for the 2020 class keeping things nice and neat. UA could ultimately decide to go under the number to save spots for late additions such as Kyon Barrs or Tayvian Cunningham who both joined the program after spring ball was over in 2019.
- Transfers do count against the 25 initial counters in a given class meaning players such as Brenden Schooler and Aaron Blackwell technically are part of the 2020 recruiting class despite both being graduate transfers who have already played at another program. If Arizona adds other transfer, whether traditional sit-out players or immediately-eligible graduate transfers, all will count toward that number.
- Arizona's current overall 2020 team recruiting ranking is No. 55 and the Wildcats are ranked No. 10 in the Pac-12.
Class overview
• Quarterbacks (1) — Will Plummer
• Running backs/all-purpose backs (2) — Jalen John, Frank Brown (unsigned)
• Receivers/tight ends (5) — Dyelan Miller, Majon Wright, Roberto Miranda (enrolled), Stacey Marshall (enrolled/JUCO), Brenden Schooler (enrolled/grad transfer via Oregon)
• Offensive linemen (3) — Josh Baker, Woody Jean (enrolled), Cedric Melton (unsigned)
• Defensive linemen (3) — Dion Wilson Jr., Regen Terry, Aaron Blackwell (grad transfer via New Mexico)
• Linebackers (1) — Jabar Triplett Jr. (unsigned)
• Safeties (0)
• Cornerbacks (2) — Khary Crump, Alphonse Oywak (unsigned)
• Specialists (1) — Tyler Loop
Assessing the class
- When you add it all up you have 18 members of the class already accounted for so far, but that number could go one way or the other depending on how things shake out. As of now there are four unsigned recruits publicly committed to the Wildcats that includes previously committed prospects Melton, Oywak and Triplett in addition to post-early signing period commit Brown.
Triplett has already given indications that he will sign with the Wildcats in February while things have yet to be completely locked up with Oywak and Melton who have continued to receive interest from other programs since they did not sign with UA in December. Brown has not yet had an opportunity to sign, but assuming all things hold (i.e. no new offers, no coaching changes at Arizona) he will sign with UA in two weeks.
So, the coaching staff currently has seven spots to work with right now but that number is already moving down with the expected commitment of offensive lineman Leif Magnuson set to go public at some point in the near future.
Factoring that in means the Wildcats currently have six more spots left in the class, realistically.
- Including Magnuson, the Wildcats already have spots in the class being spoken for by offensive players, which is right around where the staff hoped to be when things started with the group. Arizona wants to add more offensive linemen and so in the end – as long as things go according to plan – there will be more offensive players than defensive players in the class, however.
That is not necessarily ideal, but considering the Wildcats fired most of the defensive staff during the season the numbers were always likely to be skewed toward the offensive side where the staff has remained intact.
Based on everything that has been coming out of the program, the idea moving forward over the next couple weeks is that most of the remaining spots will go to defensive prospects. If Melton ends up sticking with his pledge to UA it could end up being a situation where the program only adds defensive prospects since the Wildcats would have four offensive linemen at that point.
- When it comes to positions to focus on the pattern is clear right now. UA wants more linebackers and pass rushers plus another defensive tackle. The way things break down at the moment, UA will try to add one more inside linebacker, three more outside linebackers/pass rushers plus one more defensive tackle and one more defensive back – assuming things fall together how the staff wants them to heading into the final two weeks with the other positions.
Position rankings
1. Running back
2. Quarterback
3. Defensive line
4. Cornerback
5. Receiver/tight end
6. Offensive line
7. Linebacker
8. Kicker
9. Safety
