Opinion: Analyzing Arizona Football recruiting needs for 2021

With a long ways to go until signing day for the class of 2021, here’s my opinion on where the recruiting focus should be for Arizona Football.

We’re still months until the start of the 2020 Arizona Football season, and while it may be too early to analyze the 2021 recruiting class, I figured I would still take a stab at evaluating what I think the Wildcats’ needs are for next season!

First off, shout out to Gabe Encinas and AZDesertSwarm, as just last week they wrote on what they think Arizona’s recruiting needs are. So I figured I would offer a slightly different opinion.

Arizona Wildcats

Luckily, Arizona already has three players committed for 2021 in Kolbe Cage, Jackson Bailey and JT Hand. Cage and Bailey are listed as linebackers technically, however, Kolbe is considered a potential safety/ linebacker hybrid.

It’s possible Kolbe plays safety at the next level, however, I think with his frame (he can still add plenty of weight), and I think he projects as more of a linebacker.

As for Hand, he is a versatile, interior lineman coming in for 2021!

With that said, with those three additions, it leads us to our first recruiting need which is;

Linebackers-

It shouldn’t be a secret, but the Wildcats will need linebackers for 2021!

As we should all be aware, it’s that Colin Schooler, Anthony Pandy, Tony Fields II and Kylan Wilborn, will all be seniors this season, which means Arizona is going to need more linebackers.

Even though they technically have Eddie Siaumau-Sanitoa, Derrion Clark and Jalen Harris on roster now, all but Harris have limited or zero playing time. Incoming freshman Jabar Triplett tore his Achilles, so he is out, and Derick Mourning is just a freshman, so it’s hard to say if he will have an immediate impact. That’s why linebacker is going to be an important need.

Even with Cage and Bailey committed, look for the Wildcats to still be aggressive in finding more backers.

Offensive Line-

Arizona isn’t in a terrible spot here by any means, but having solid depth and rotation is important to have along the offensive line.

Following this upcoming season, the Wildcats will likely only lose; Josh McCauley and Steven Bailey, but will return virtually everyone after that. However, the following season is when the Cats could have six linemen depart. Might as well recruit heavily along the offensive line to ensure you have enough talent coming in.

Arizona will have Woody Jean, Josh Baker, Leif Magnuson, Sam Langi, Anthony Patt and Matthew Stefanski all coming in, but adding another player or two, preferably junior college guys would be ideal.

Defensive Line-

The Wildcats still have yet to find answers along the defensive line, so for now, I’m going to have to assume this is going to be a priority in 2021 as well.

I will say Arizona has been aggressive on the recruiting front the last two cycles, looking for defensive line players, but it still really hasn’t turned into results on the field as of yet.

Perhaps that could change with the talent they added for 2020, but I’m going to assume they could use another couple of incoming recruits to bolster depth, increase talent, which will hopefully turn into more production.

For the record I do live the additions of Dion Wilson, Shontrail Key and Paris Shand. Also adding Aaron Blackwell as a graduate transfer was a very good move to make. But this position is still needed for the Wildcats

Safety-

One of the deeper positions has now become one of the thinner positions for the Cats. Scottie Young, Jr. transferred, Jarrius Wallace will graduate after this season, Jaxen Turner has seen limited action, leaving just Christian Young, Rhedi Short and Turner for 2021.

This goes without saying, but Arizona is going to need some help.

Sure they could slide Christian Roland-Wallace to safety, but I actually prefer him at corner, because he brings size and athleticism, but outside of that, Arizona is going to likely want to bring in a couple safeties this class.

Receiver-

Last but not least, receiver. I actually think this isn’t as dire of a need as some say, because I think they Cats have plenty of talent, it’s just mostly unproven.

Jamarye Joiner is easily Arizona’s most talented pass catching target, but then I think many are writing off guys like Boobie Curry and Jalen Johnson (who were just a freshmen last year), and Jaden Mitchell is still adjusting after the ACL injury.

People I think are overlooking Brian Casteel who to me showed glimpses at times and Tayvian Cunningham who was brilliant to begin the year.

You could also potential see the emergence of guys like; Zach Williams or even incoming freshmen Roberto Miranda, Majon Wright or Dyelan Miller.

To me, while getting another receiver or two would be ideal, I think this is more of a case of ‘wait and see’ what you have versus trying to take 4-5 different receiving commitments right now.

Should Curry, Johnson, Mitchell and any of the freshmen emerge this year, Arizona may really be set-up to succeed in 2021.

Anyways, these are just my suggestions. Anybody have anything different? Let us know and as always, Bear Down, Arizona!