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Wildcats miss out on star QB recruit Devin Fuller; he’ll be a Bruin

Devin Fuller played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl after last season.

New Arizona Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez missed out on a potential centerpiece to his first recruiting class, as four-star quarterback Devin Fuller chose UCLA over Arizona and others on Sunday, he told 247Sports.

Getting the right quarterbacks in the program has been the most important priority for Rodriguez, especially after Daxx Garman and Tom Savage — who weren’t perfect fits, anyway — transferred after the fall semester.

Based on his recruiting buzz, Fuller, from Old Tappan, N.J., seemed to have a chance to do for Rodriguez at Arizona what Pat White did at West Virginia and what Denard Robinson did at Michigan in the coach’s read-option offense.

“He’s a perfect fit for what RichRod wants,” said Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Mike Farrell on his website.

Alas … Fuller will be a Bruin.

“I have family out there which made the decision a lot easier,” Fuller told 247Sports. “I really like coach Jim Mora and I think he has a good head on his shoulders. I like the direction of the program and I am excited to be a part of it.”

Fuller was considered a good bet to go to Rutgers before head coach Greg Schiano left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week. He also considered Nebraska among his finalists.

Fuller is rated No. 34 nationally by 247Sports, No. 37 by Rivals.com and 88th by Scout.com. Fuller passed for 2,247 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior. He also rushed for 1,326 yards and 17 scores.

Arizona has no clear backup to senior Matt Scott in 2012, so a freshman will have a chance to play right away. The Cats have two quarterbacks committed to sign Wednesday — Josh Kern from San Antonio and Javelle Allen from Prosper, Texas.

Allen can be seen on the U.S. Under-19 national team in the International Bowl on the CBS Sports Network on Wednesday at 4 p.m. Tucson time.

Players can begin to sign letters of intent Wednesday, but Arizona will be still be waiting on another top recruit — receiver Davonte’ Neal from Scottsdale Chaparral High School. He has scheduled an official visit to Arizona beginning Feb. 10.

Neal is rated the 53rd-best prospect in the nation according to Rivals.com.

NOTES: Wide receiver Julian Brooks, a three-star recruit from Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, Calif., said Saturday he has de-committed from Arizona, according to several reports. … Arizona did pick up at least one player Sunday; Wide receiver Clive Georges from Key West, Fla., said he committed during his official visit.

Arizona Wildcats 2012 football recruiting class

Name Position Height Weight School
Javelle Allen
QB
6-1
205
Prosper (Texas) HS
Jarrell Bennett
WR
5-10
155
Edna Karr (New Orleans)
Gerron Borne
DT
6-3
280
East St. John HS (Reserve, La.)
Beau Boyster
OT
6-4
285
St. John Bosco HS (Bellflower, Calif.)
Cayman Bundage
OL
6-2
293
Douglass HS (Oklahoma City)
Dakota Conwell
LB
6-1
205
Upper Saint Clair HS (Pittsburgh)
C.J. Dozier
LB
6-1
200
Chaparral HS (Temecula, Calif.)
Clive Georges
WR
6-1
190
Key West (Fla.) HS
Trey Griffey
WR
6-2
190
Dr. Phillips HS (Orlando, Fla.)
T.D. Gross
OL
6-6
260
Santana HS (Santee, Calif.)
Zach Hemmila
OL
6-3
275
Chandler HS
Kyle Kelley
DE
6-3
205
Woodbridge HS (Irvine, Calif.)
Josh Kern
QB
6-5
190
Clark HS (San Antonio)
Anthony Lopez
RB
5-10
180
Mesquite HS (Gilbert)
Dwight Melvin
DE
6-1
265
Betty H. Fairfax HS (Laveen)
William Parks
DB
6-3
180
Germantown Friends School (Philadelphia)
Yamen Sanders
S
6-4
185
Culver City (Calif.) HS
Leo Thomas
DB
6-3
185
Sam Houston HS (San Antonio)
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