Comments on: Five impact players from Arizona’s recruiting class http://tucsoncitizen.com/wildcatreport/2010/02/04/five-impact-players-from-arizonas-recruiting-class/ Dispatches on the Wildcats, from Anthony Gimino Wed, 22 May 2013 03:22:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Bob http://tucsoncitizen.com/wildcatreport/2010/02/04/five-impact-players-from-arizonas-recruiting-class/comment-page-1/#comment-1872 Bob Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:47:43 +0000 http://tucsoncitizen.com/wildcatreport/?p=262#comment-1872 Anthony- For the past three years, Coach Stoops and his staff have reveresed the tendency to go out and get “just good athletes”, but have instead gone after specific positions and specific needs, and has been building for the future by taking the two and three-star guy and coaching, building, and developing these kids. The proof of the pudding? Our “lower-level” kids beat USC this year, and will do it again. Our lower-level kids have been beating UCLA, who has almost as many “star” players as ‘SC. 

Coach Stoops has been rebuilding Arizona the right way. He took the heat for five years, and he has forged a formidable team. We still have our backslides, as the Nebraska game was, but overall, the team is much improved, and ever more capable on most weeks that go by.

Earls, Vassalo, and one more guy will step up and have a great season at LB, Safety is in good hands, our Corners are as good as anyone’s, these new interior DTs are going to mix well with what we have redshirted, and we have the best pair of DEs in the country.

Offensively, I can’t think of any team that has as a group, better receivers. Foles is about to hit his stride, and once Grigs gets his shoulder to cooperate, our RB group will be effective again. The O-line will again be a strength.

We have a lot to look forward to. No one should sell our recruiting short.

]]> By: Mark Johnson http://tucsoncitizen.com/wildcatreport/2010/02/04/five-impact-players-from-arizonas-recruiting-class/comment-page-1/#comment-1839 Mark Johnson Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:30:43 +0000 http://tucsoncitizen.com/wildcatreport/?p=262#comment-1839 Anthony – your article is very on point. A 5 Star QB that runs the spread would not be interested in AZ as Foles has that job this year and hopefully next. We have talented and well experienced running backs returning. Again, why would even a 4 star commit to AZ knowing they are likely to to play for a few years.

Coach Stoops did exactly what he needed to do to fill holes and enhance the existing team and strategy. This may backfire for the 2011 season. In fact, my larger concern is he seams to be focusing so much on 2010, I wonder if he will be the coach in 2011.  Makes you think; this recruiting class is less about long term future and more about this coming year.

What I look at the USC and UCLA player ratings, it reminds me that recruiting to Tucson continues to be a tall order. Foles was a transfer fluke; and so with Gronk; he wanted to play with his brother. The stack of 4 and 5 stars at the LA schools is a reminder that the best AZ Football can every be in the long run is once in a while great. Coaches will rotate and very good players will always look somewhere else. I think that is why basketball works so well in Tucson; all you need is 2 or 3 great players a year; not 25.

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