As we continue through the 2018 season, Arizona Football increases its recruiting efforts in offering a few Junior College players.
At Zona Zealots, we haven’t been shy in saying that if the Arizona Football staff is going to fix some things with this roster, they need to focus on recruiting more junior college players. Apparently this staff agrees.
Over the course of the season so far, Arizona has seen where their weaknesses are, and are quickly addressing it. One of those weaknesses is a lack of ideal size across the board for a power five conference school.
Arizona Wildcats
While the Wildcats have been looking to beef up on their offensive and defensive lines, the best and immediate way to do so is by focusing on recruiting junior college players. Coming in, they typically make an impact quicker, since they are further along in terms of their development and overall maturity.
However, with just 11 commitments in the class of 2019 so far, the Wildcats have no junior college players currently committed. It’s worth noting that there is limited scholarships left too at this time. Moving forward, the Wildcats will have to be strategic in who they take.
Currently committed by position are; one quarterback, one wide receiver, two linebackers, three defensive backs, one defensive lineman, one offensive lineman, one running back and a special teams player.
Heck, their biggest player committed so far is Texas-based defensive lineman, Kane Bradford. Bradford stands a towering 6-feet-5-inches and 275 pounds. That’s great size to add to a defensive unit that hasn’t had a player like that in quite awhile, but it’s hard for any incoming freshmen to play on any line in their first season in college.
Beyond that, at least Arizona has some players returning or waiting to make impacts on the defensive line. Regardless, they could still use two-to-three more junior college defensive players in my opinion.
Head coach Kevin Sumlin and the Wildcats apparently agree. Since we talked about the Wildcats needing to fix a few things for 2019, apparently Arizona was addressing some of those fixes simultaneously.
Offered in recent weeks were junior college players;
DL- Soni Fonua (Mesa Community College) | 6’4” 264 lbs.
OT- Ahina ‘Rocky’ Aitogi (Fort Scott Community College) | 6’7” 345 lbs.
OT- Paiton Fears (Hutchinson Community College) | 6’6” 327 lbs.
DE- Nick Figueroa (Riverside College) | 6’5” 270 lbs.
OT- Josh Cooper (Navarro College) | 6’7” 355 lbs.
DT- Myles Tapusoa (Eastern Arizona Community College) | 6’3” 325 lbs.
*Currently committed to Houston
OT- Dontae Powell (Arizona Western Community College) | 6’5” 314 lbs.
*Currently committed to Washington State
Now that’s some size!
While it’s hard to say how many, if any will commit to Arizona, regardless, it’s a great shift in focus on recruiting needs and is hopefully a preview of the Wildcats’ focus moving forward.
At Zona Zealots, we are hopeful the Wildcats can finish out the 2019 class strong, and can find talent that can help and make immediate impacts for next year! Bear Down, Arizona!