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Dylan Cozens dives to make a sack against Chandler Perry High School in November. Photo by Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic
Dylan Cozens, a defensive end from Scottsdale Chaparral High School, picked Arizona over Washington and Boise State this morning.
Cozens made his pick on a live webcast on FoxSportsArizona.com.
Cozens (6-5, 235) played one only year of organized football, but his senior season production (7.5 sacks for the Class 5A-II state champs), his athleticism and upside intrigued major colleges.
“At first I didn’t know what to expect,” Chaparral teammate Cody Ippolito said of Cozens on FoxSportsArizona.com. “He just did work on the field and showed his athletic ability.”
Cozens also is a baseball player of note and could be a draft pick this June. He said he wanted to also play baseball at Arizona.
Arizona has a big connection with Chaparral this season (and beyond) thanks to new coach Rich Rodriguez and his staff. Rodriguez, who took two of the school’s best a few years ago while he was at Michigan (defensive end Craig Roh and offensive lineman Taylor Lewan) hired Firebirds coach Charlie Ragle to be on his administrative staff as a liaison for in-state recruiting.
“That was a big factor in going down there,” Cozens told FoxSportsArizona.com of Ragle.
The Wildcats have a commitment from middle linebacker Ippolito, and running back/defensive back/linebacker Lucas Petrullo will walk-on with a chance to earn a scholarship.