T.J. Johnson, seen here as a senior in high school, went to prep school last fall. Photo by Sarah Coward/Fort Myers News-Press.com, a Gannett company
The Arizona Wildcats have added 10 players on the first day of classes, including six junior college transfers who signed letters-of-intent last month.
Included in the newcomer group are:
–Freshman running back Jonathan Haden, who immediately joins the race to replace Ka’Deem Carey.
–Cal transfer offensive lineman Freddie Tagaloa, who has two seasons of eligibility remaining, starting in 2015.
–Freshman receiver/returner T.J. Johnson, a 2013 Arizona signee who spent last season at Milford Academy in New Berlin, N.Y. He was used as a running back/slot receiver/kick returner this fall. Slowed by injuries early in the season, he ran for 439 yards in the final three games and returned at least three kickoffs for touchdowns for Milford. He ran a 10.4-second 100 meters at Island Coast High School in Cape Coral, Fla., last spring and will be one of the fastest Wildcats.
–Freshman kicker/punter Michael Unzicker, who graduated from Palmetto (Fla.) in the spring of 2013.
They join these junior college transfers: Defensive lineman Jerod Cody, cornerback Patrick Glover, offensive lineman Kaige Lawrence, quarterback Jerrard Randall, linebacker Antonio Smothers and defensive lineman Jeff Worthy.
“We still don’t have the competition at all positions that you need,” coach Rich Rodriguez said last month, “but this recruiting class will help in that regard.”
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Scout.com and 247Sports have released their final high school player rankings for the 2014 class.
Here is how Arizona recruits rate in Scout’s Top 300:
No. 71 — WR/DB Cameron Denson (Tucson Salpointe)
No. 183 — LB Jamardre Cobb (Los Angeles Salesian)
No. 252 — LB Marquis Ware (Los Angeles Salesian)
No. 260 — CB Naijiel Hale (Bellflower, Calif., St. John Bosco)
And here are UA recruits among 247Sports’ Top 247:
No. 167 — OL Layth Friekh (Peoria Centennial)
No. 218 — Cameron Denson
No. 227 — Naijiel Hale
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Former Arizona All-American running back Ka’Deem Carey has signed with agent Kenny Zuckerman of Priority Sports. Zuckerman was a 1986 Arizona football letterman as a wide receiver. …
Welcome @Kcarey25 to the @PrioritySports family! Along w/ agent Kenny Zuckerman, we're happy to have you! #TeamKadeem pic.twitter.com/dlLzTcrJQH
— Priority Sports (@PrioritySports) January 14, 2014