The 2022 Arizona football recruiting class delivered on many of Jedd Fisch’s promises. He vowed to outwork everyone on the recruiting trail and put together an entire staff of recruiters. His efforts brought immediate credibility to the staff in the form of Brennan Carroll, Don Brown and Ricky Hunley.
But it was about more than just names. It was about an overall vision.
This all played out in a big way as the 2022 recruiting class was the best in school history, armed with a national top-25 ranking.
It’s easy to see Fisch’s vision: recruit the states of Arizona and California along with the occasional coaching connection from a player in a different state. Just as importantly, Fisch wanted to secure a quarterback commitment as quickly as possible. It’s the most important position on the field so it is much easier to impress recruits if a high-level quarterback has already committed.
That played out with the commitment of 2022 Anaheim (Calif,) Servite signal caller Noah Fifita, who brought multiple elite high school prospects with him, which in turned created a domino effect of other California prospects joining the class.
Equally important to securing the quarterback commitment is following up a great recruiting class with another strong recruiting effort. The elite schools have talented players proliferating the depth chart.
Expect 2023 to be another notable recruiting class. The commitment of Colorado Springs (Colo.) Vista Ridge four-star quarterback Brayden Dorman brings immediate credibility while checking off a major box.
Staying with the four-star California wide receiver recruiting template is Pittsburgh (Calif.) Pittsburgh 2023 prospect Rashid Williams. Size is something that Fisch has prioritized on the outside and Williams would provide more of that. This figures to be a national recruitment but Arizona has made a solid first impression.
With an Alabama offer, Mesa (Arizona) Mountain View tight end Jackon Bowers will be a difficult pull, but the Arizona coaching staff has caught Bowers’ attention. Putting together a winning product on the football field will help here, as will the actual utilization of the tight end position.
Expect Bowers to closely follow the progression of freshman tight end Keyan Burnett this season.
It makes sense that Arizona would prioritize high three-star San Diego (Calif.) Lincoln running back Roderick Robinson based on his accomplishments, but it will also continue to emphasize the program’s focus on the California recruiting scene. The stockier built Robinson fits in with the thicker-type running back that Fisch is prioritizing.
Arizona is sitting pretty with Robinson and it wouldn’t surprise at all if Robinson ends up becoming a Wildcat.
Arizona should be able to recruit offense as long as Fisch is at Arizona, but there can’t be any let up on the defensive side and there isn’t a bigger target than Anaheim (Calif.) Mater Dei linebacker Leviticus Su’a. At 225 pounds, Su’a projects as an early impact college performer. Securing him would be a major in-roads commitment to arguably the most consistently talented high school football program in the country.
Peoria (Ariz.) Liberty Mykiel Gardner is likely at the top of the coaching staff’s realistic defensive line wish list. A stout lineman with offers from Arizona and ASU, Gardner has the type of profile that could elicit a significantly expanded recruiting profile in the coming months. Securing a commitment from Gardner would set the table for more interest from in-state linemen.
Elite Chandler (Ariz.) defensive tackle Amauri Washington will can go to any school he wants but Arizona is dedicating time and defensive line coach Ricky Hunley to the cause. This will be a very tough pull but the coaching staff clearly feels it has a chance.
Similar to Washington, Las Vegas (Nev.) Spring Valley defensive tackle Kelze Howard can go to any school he wants but that hasn’t stopped Arizona from recruiting him. Arizona figures to take three or four defensive tackles in the 2023 class and if Fisch can sign one or two of these defensive-line prospects, the staff will be happy.
Fisch has recruited the defensive side of the ball well, but there has been a lack of impactful defensive line recruits. That is nothing unique to Arizona as that is the most difficult position in the country to recruit.
It remains to be seen if Fisch can coach, but he is a better recruiter than any fan could have imagined. It’s never easy to lure top-notch high school football talent to Tucson but Fisch is showing effort and engagement can pay off in a big way.
