Citizen Staff Writer
RECRUITING
JOHN MOREDICH
jmoredich@tucsoncitizen.com
Tailbacks Daniel Jenkins and Kylan Butler signed with Arizona knowing more of a spread offensive attack is coming.
The Wildcats ran more this year, with Nic Grigsby rushing for more than 1,000 yards, but the ultimate goal is to utilize more of a Texas Tech-style approach.
That’s OK with the newest running back signees.
“These guys can get in the I sets and run downhill like Nic (Grigsby) and Keola (Antolin) but they (also) show great versatility. They can spread you out and create mismatches in space,” Arizona coach Mike Stoops said. “They are both very capable of making people miss in very tight quarters.”
Jenkins is the highest-rated offensive player signed among the class of 24. The four-star Rivals.com recruit is a make-you-miss back from Rancho Verde High School in Moreno Valley, Calif.
Butler is a 5-foot-8, 180-pound back from De La Salle High in Concord, Calif.
He rushed for 1,286 yards and scored 15 touchdowns during his senior season.
Last-minute get
Defensive tackle Jonathan Hollins was heading to Tennessee, but will play for the Wildcats instead.
The 6-3, 295-pound lineman from College of the Canyons (Santa Clarita, Calif.) signed with Tennessee in December, but didn’t qualify academically.
Hollins, after making 44 tackles and 4.5 sacks last season, is expected to enroll this summer for Arizona. He’ll be a junior.
“He’s somebody who we couldn’t resist,” Stoops said. “We added a player who can be an impact player for us this season.”
Hollins, from Baton Rouge (La.) Redemptorist High, first committed to Texas Tech in 2006 before going to the Canyons, where he had 75 tackles and 12.5 sacks in two seasons.
Staying at quarterback?
Texan Richard Morrison is defiant about his future as a quarterback despite most schools recruiting him as a receiver or cornerback.
Arizona recruited him as a quarterback. But Morrison becoming the starter this year, even with the job open, is a long shot.
“That is asking a lot of a true freshman to come in and do that, especially with guys in the program that are a year ahead of him,” Stoops said.
Morrison will compete with Matt Scott, Nick Foles and Bryson Beirne.
“Richard is an extremely talented player. He is a great thrower and a great runner,” Stoops said. “He gives us a lot of versatility.”
UA BREAKDOWN
RECRUITS, BY POSITION
Offense 12
Line 4
Backs 2
Receivers 3
Tight ends 2
QB 1
Defense 10
Line 4
Linebackers 4
Secondary 2
Athletes 2
RECRUITS, BY STATE
California 9
Texas 7
Arizona 4
Illinois 2
Louisiana 1
North Carolina 1