Arizona Wildcats Football November Recruiting Update
As well as the Arizona Wildcats are playing on the field during the 2013 college football season, they're killing it even better on the recruiting trail.
With nearly three months until February's national signing day, Arizona has already secured commitments from 27 players, the most of any Pac-12 Conference school and a tally that (as of Monday) ranks second nationally behind Tennessee, according to recruiting site 247sports.com.
With the Wildcats set to graduate 10 starters and possibly lose star running back Ka'Deem Carey early to the NFL Draft, Arizona's coaches have been aggressive in securing early commitments to shore up those holes for 2014.
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The pitch? "We don't recruit guys to be backups," Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez told Fox Sports Arizona's Steve Rivera.
Key needs
Arizona is most in need of defensive reinforcements, as the Wildcats are set to lose five starters. That includes two on the defensive line and two linebackers in its 3-3-5 alignment.
Additionally, Arizona's pass-rushing lineup, which involves eight defensive backs and replacements on the D-line, needs additional bodies to provide depth.
Arizona is loaded at receiver and has options on the roster to replace senior quarterback B.J. Denker, but no one on the team appears ready to step in if Carey goes pro.
Most Important Commits
Of the players Arizona has pulled in to this point, the most important one might be WR/DB/KR Cameron Denson of Tucson (Ariz.) Salpointe Catholic. The electric speedster is a human highlight reel, with touchdowns rushing and receiving as well as via interception and punt returns for the Arizona top-rated Division II school. But even more important than his skills may be the fact the Wildcats were able to hold on to the top recruit in its region, something the school hasn't been able to do most years.
| Cameron Denson | 4 | WR/DB | 6'1" | 170 |
| Layth Friekh | 4 | OL | 6'5" | 251 |
| Nick Wilson | 4 | RB | 5'11" | 196 |
| Marquis Ware | 4 | LB | 6'2" | 215 |
| Jamardre Cobb | 4 | LB | 6'2" | 230 |
| Naijiel Hale | 4 | DB | 5'10" | 175 |
| Rodney Carr | 4 | ATH | 6'0" | 185 |
| Antonio Smothers | 3 | LB | 6'1" | 230 |
| Jonathan Haden | 3 | ATH | 5'8" | 180 |
| Kaelin Deboskie | 3 | WR | 5'9" | 185 |
| Brandon Dawkins | 3 | QB | 6'3" | 206 |
| Darnell Cloy | 3 | TE | 6'3" | 220 |
| Jeff Worthy | 3 | DL | 6'3" | 285 |
| Trevor Wood | 3 | TE | 6'6" | 238 |
| Levi Walton | 3 | OL | 6'4" | 280 |
| Jordan Morgan | 3 | WR | 6'3" | 186 |
| Tony Ellison | 3 | ATH | 5'11" | 170 |
| Kaige Lawrence | 3 | OL | 6'4" | 290 |
| JR Hunt | 3 | DB | 6'3" | 190 |
| Kwesi Mashack | 3 | DB | 5'10" | 185 |
| Sharif Williams | 3 | DL | 6'2" | 300 |
| Jerod Cody | 3 | DL | 6'3" | 255 |
| Jamie Byrd | 3 | DB | 5'11" | 190 |
| Jace Whittaker | 2 | DB | 5'9" | 150 |
| Devon Brewer | 2 | DB | 5'10" | 185 |
| Patrick Glover | 2 | DB | 6'1" | 190 |
| Josh Pollack | 2 | K | 5'11" | 165 |
As far as immediate need goes, linebackers Jamardre Cobb and Marquis Ware may be asked to come right in and play, similar to how Arizona put true freshman Scooby Wright immediately into the starting lineup. Both have that rugged, sturdy LB build to them, but also with the kind of speed needed to cover a lot of space in Arizona's 3-3-5 defense.
Offensive lineman Layth Friekh, whom the Wildcats plucked out of Arizona State's backyard in Peoria, Ariz., will come in already knowing how to block for a zone-read offense like the one he's playing for in high school. Running back Nick Wilson could be the answer to the "what will we do if Ka'Deem Carey leaves?" question.
Most Important Targets
| Damian Price | 5 | OL | 6'5" | 295 |
| John Smith | 5 | ATH | 6'1" | 200 |
| Jalen Tabor | 4 | DB | 6'1" | 182 |
| Andrew Mike | 4 | OL | 6'7" | 270 |
| Marcus Griffin | 3 | DL | 6'3" | 300 |
| Calvin Tipton | 3 | ATH | 6'0" | 173 |
| Dominique Robertson | 3 | OL | 6'5" | 300 |
| Jabril Frazier | 3 | LB | 6'4" | 225 |
Arizona is fighting it out with several East Coast schools to get offensive tackle Damian Prince out of the Washington, D.C., area, but if they were to pick him up the Wildcats might not need a standout running back to continue being successful running the ball.
The Wildcats face an even tougher battle to pluck Long Beach (Calif.) Poly athlete John Smith away from the likes of Alabama, Notre Dame and USC, but he'd be the perfect player for Arizona's five-man secondary with his ability to cover and hit.
And defensive tackle Marcus Griffin, who is leaning toward Washington State, is the kind of lineman that could plug up big holes and occupy multiple blockers, freeing up Arizona's corps of athletic linebackers to fly through to the quarterback or stuff an oncoming running back.
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