Every team in the country would love to get a commitment from a defensive end from Grayson High School in Loganville, Ga.
The Arizona Wildcats have one.
No, it’s not from Robert Nkemdiche — considered the No. 1 recruit in the nation by Rivals.com — but its Jack Banda, a productive and developing talent on the other side of the defensive line for Grayson, expected to have one of the best teams in the country.
Banda (6-4, 220) had 14 sacks last season, according to Rivals.com.
He hasn’t taken a visit to Tucson yet but didn’t want to pass up a scholarship offer, which came in the middle of last week.
“Because that’s a big offer and I didn’t want to let it sit on the table,” Banda told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I wanted to seal the deal and not let anything slip away.”
Banda is also a tight end. Florida International offered him a scholarship, wanting him to play tight end, but Arizona prefers him for defense. His other offer, according to reports, was Charlotte, which is scheduled to begin football in the 2013 season in the Football Championship Subdivision before moving up to Conference USA in 2015.
Banda was chosen second-team all-state last season by the Georgia Sports Writers Association.
It’s unusual for Arizona to recruit in Georgia, but coach Rich Rodriguez and his staff do have lots of ties in that part of the country — and Grayson, clearly, isn’t a bad place to stop on the recruiting trail.
Coaches usually don’t go so far out of region for an early commit just for a guy they like. Although Banda is not yet rated by Rivals.com, Scout.com or 247Sports, the Arizona coaches must see something they love in Banda.
I’m gonna be an Arizona wildcat!!
— Jack Banda (@bigdealPanda) June 9, 2012