J.R. Hunt looks to make a tackle for Chandler High. Photo by Paul Mason, azcentral sports
J.R. Hunt, a safety from Chandler High School, has held scholarship offers from Arizona and Arizona State for more than a year.
On Saturday night, he chose the Wildcats.
Hunt, a three-star recruit, committed to UA during its red-carpet recruiting event to celebrate the opening of the $74 million Lowell-Stevens Football Facility as the program hosted about 35 prospects on official or unofficial visits.
Hunt was the fourth player to commit to Arizona on Saturday night, and the 18th overall in the class.
He had been receiving recruiting interest from Oregon, Michigan, USC and UCLA, although none of those schools had yet to put forth a scholarship offer.
The Arizona Republic wrote of Hunt this offseason: “Great upside with his ability to quickly close gaps. Started picking up strong interest from major colleges before his junior season.”
In 2012, the Republic wrote: “He is long, rangy and fast. Closes quickly and loves to hit.”
With Hunt and Devon Brewer from Fresno, Calif., Arizona has two of the West’s top 10 safeties, according to Scout.com.
Each player in Arizona’s recruiting haul on Saturday is rated as a three-star recruit, but the headliner is Scottsdale Chaparral tight end Trevor Wood, whose dad was an All-Pac-10 defensive tackle for the Wildcats and who had an impressive string of scholarship offers, including Alabama.
Also committing were tight end Darrell Cloy and defensive back Kwesi Mashack.
Arizona has received commitment from five in-state players — three from high school and two from junior college. The Wildcats are in hot pursuit of many others, including Sabino offensive lineman Andrew Mike, Salpointe Catholic receiver Kaelin Deboskie, Peoria Centennial’s offensive lineman Layth Freikh, and offensive lineman Natrell Curtis and receiver Jalen Brown, both from Phoenix Mountain Pointe.
Here is Arizona’s 2014 recruiting class, with ratings:
| Player | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | School | 247 | Rivals | Scout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devon Brewer | S | 6-0 | 175 | Central East, Fresno, Calif. | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Rodney Carr | DB | 6-0 | 185 | Salesian High, Los Angeles | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Darrell Cloy | TE | 6-3 | 220 | La Habra (Calif.) High | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Jerod Cody | DE | 6-3 | 265 | Glendale (Ariz.) Community College | 3 | NR | 2 |
| Brandon Dawkins | QB | 6-3 | 205 | Oaks Christian, Thousand Oaks, Calif. | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Cameron Denson | WR | 6-1 | 170 | Salpointe Catholic, Tucson | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Tony Ellison | WR | 5-11 | 170 | Granite Bay (Calif.) High | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Patrick Glover | CB | 6-1 | 181 | Scottsdale C.C. | NR | NR | 2 |
| Jonathan Haden | RB | 5-8 | 189 | Friendship Collegiate Academy, Washington D.C. | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Naijiel Hale | CB | 5-11 | 170 | St. John Bosco High, Bellflower, Calif. | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| J.R. Hunt | S | 6-3 | 190 | Chandler High | 3 | 3 | |
| Kaige Lawrence | OL | 6-4 | 290 | Chaffey C.C., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Kwesi Mashack | CB | 5-10 | 190 | Murrieta High, Vista, Calif. | 3 | NR | 3 |
| Jordan Morgan | WR | 6-2 | 200 | Southridge High, Beaverton, Ore. | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Josh Pollack | P/K | 5-11 | 165 | Highland Park (Ill.) High | NR | 2 | 3 |
| Jace Whittaker | DB | 5-9 | 150 | Oceanside (Calif.) High | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Nick Wilson | RB | 6-0 | 191 | Central East, Fresno, Calif. | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Trevor Wood | TE | 6-5 | 235 | Chaparral High, Scottsdale | 3 | 3 | 3 |