Mauriece Lee won’t be running for Arizona. Photo by Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports
CULVER CITY, Calif. — Four high school seniors who signed with the Arizona Wildcats in February aren’t on the new roster in the school’s media guide, released Friday at Pac-12 Media Day.
They are Florida speedster T.J. Johnson, receiver/running back Mauriece Lee from Tempe Marcos de Niza, receiver Lee Walker from San Diego and 350-pound defensive tackle David Maka.
The first three did not qualify academically; Maka left shortly after arriving for summer school, coach Rich Rodriguez said.
“I saw him once,” Rodriguez said. “But that was about all we saw him when he was on campus. Don’t know if he went to class; that was an issue. Don’t know if the strength coaches saw him; that was an issue.
“So, there was a perceived sighting of him, but it might have been a ghost, who knows?”
The biggest loss is likely Johnson, who would have vied for being the fastest player on the team.
The roster includes 19 true freshman walk-ons, including quarterback Adam Friederichsen from Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) High.
Other notes:
–Two players will wear No. 1 — junior college transfer quarterback Jesse Scroggins and freshman cornerback Derek Babiash.
–Notre Dame transfer receiver/returner Davonte’ Neal will wear No. 19. Question still is, will he be able to play this season. No word on that yet.
–Rich Rodriguez added two walk-on kicker/punters: Jack Flatau from El Camino High in Oceanside, Calif., and Bret Miller from San Clemente (Calif.) High.