Rich Rodriguez has done his share of celebrating this weekend with five commitments. Photo by J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Arizona Wildcats entered Sunday morning with a Pac-12 high 18 commitments, but none from a high school defensive tackle, an area of need.
That changed when 300-pounder Sharif Williams joined a pair of teammates from Central East High in Fresno, Calif. — running back Nick Wilson and safety Devon Brewer — in pledging to be a Wildcat.
Arizona fans won’t have to wait long to see them in action. ESPN2 will broadcast Central’s season-opener at Valor Christian of Highland Ranch, Colo., on Aug. 24.
Arizona was the first school to offer a scholarship to Williams this spring. The three-star recruit also picked up reported offers from Fresno State, San Diego State, Houston, San Jose State and Nevada, with SDSU liking him for the offensive line.
You can watch his junior-year highlights at hudl.com.
Williams is the fifth player to commit to Arizona on or immediately after the program’s red-carpet event to showcase its new Lowell-Stevens Football Facility to about 35 recruits this weekend. Stay tuned for more.
As the Wildcats round out their class, they will need linebackers and offensive linemen.
Here are the players Arizona has in its 2014 class, with rankings from the major recruiting services:
| 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 | 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 |
| Sharif Williams | DT | 6-2 | 300 | Central East, Fresno, Calif. | 3 | NR | 3 |
| 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 |