Arizona hosted a number of players over the weekend and picked up at least one verbal commitment. They also got some bad news on two other recruits.

Tempe Corona del Sol linebacker Kyle Benson pledged to the Wildcats while on his recruiting trip this past weekend.

“I was eating brunch this morning with Coach (Mike) Stoops and he asked what kind of time table I had for making my decision and I just told him that I wanted to come to Arizona,” Benson told Wildcat Sports Report’s Chris Bonney. “He was surprised and excited. He was all set to come here on Thursday and sell me on everything but he doesn’t have to do that now. He was pumped up.”

Although the Cats have two junior college linebackers in the 2010 class, Benson is the lone prep linebacker so far in the class. The Cats not only lose all three starters, but also say goodbye to nickel back Corey Hall who spent a lot of time at linebacker in passing situations.

“Coach (Tim) Kish told me they think that I can play the SAM spot well enough to where they won’t have to bring in a nickel back,” remarked Benson. “I can play close to the line and fill the gaps and I have the speed to be able to cover. I know I can play the position and the coaches have confidence in me that I can do it too.”

Kish was vital to landing Benson, who is ESPN.com’s #33 OLB.

“Coach Kish has been recruiting me since my sophomore year,” he said. “He is basically a part of the family and I trust him so he was a really big part of why I am going to Arizona. He is my position coach and coordinator and I know he is the best fit for me like Arizona is the best fit for me. I want to major in Business Entrepreneurship and they have a great program for that. Overall, for everything in a school and a program, Arizona is just the best fit for me.”

One of the other players the Wildcats hosted was Fountain Valley (CA) RB/Athlete Kyle Middlebrooks. After his visit to Arizona Middlebrooks is still torn between Arizona and ASU.

He told ESPN.com that he will host coaches from both schools before making a decision. He’d like to make one by the middle of next week.

The Wildcats also lost out on a few recruits. JC signee Eddie Elder was denied admission to the UA due to a bad grade in a class he took at San Mateo College. Instead of waiting to re-take the class he decided to look at other schools and will instead enroll at ASU. Unlike the Arizona admissions department, ASU was willing to accept the class.

The Cats also learned that Oakland Tech DT Fred Thompson has committed to Oregon State.

If you check the rankings, the three junior college players who signed with Arizona on Wednesday won’t turn many heads. While the signings may not be glamorous, they were of major importance to the future of the program.

Paul Vassallo

All three players who signed Letters of Intent on Wednesday are on the defensive side of the ball and all three should play major roles for the Wildcats. Paul Vassallo, Derek Earls and Eddie Elder could help determine whether the defense that will graduate seven starters and a key situational player takes a step back or remains a solid unit.

Vassallo and Earls are linebackers who could be vital to the defense. The Wildcats lose all three starting linebackers and of the returning players, only R.J. Young has any real experience. The addition of two older linebackers, along with senior-to-be C.J. Parrish, should help bolster the group. The fact that they get spring ball to learn the defense and get into the strength and conditioning program is also huge. Linebacker is one of the toughest positions to learn and the fact that the Cats get this pair in now, as opposed to over the summer, can go a long way to solidifying the position.

Elder will have a few ways to make an impact. The versatile safety could get a shot at both safety spots as well as the nickel back position vacated by Corey Hall. Elder is not quite as big as Hall, who morphed into a sort of hybrid safety/linebacker, but he appears to have the nice combination of pass defense and run stopping ability that the Cats like in their nickel back.

The Cats did not officially announce their signings, which means they may not be done. Verbal commit Dexter Ransom is trying to complete classes in a winter session that would allow him to enroll at Arizona in the spring semester.

The Cats have five total junior college commitments, six if you count Ohio State transfer Willie Mobley who spent the semester at Orange Coast College but did not play football due to an injury.

Arizona is quickly filling up their 2010 recruiting class. The Wildcats added their second defensive back in the past few days and have dipped back into the JC ranks to do so.

San Mateo college safety Eddie Elder decided to become a Wildcat.

Courtesy: San Mateo Football

“I committed last night and I am going to sign the paperwork tomorrow,” Elder said. He has three years to play two and can enroll in January and will be able to participate in spring ball.

Elder originally signed with Oregon out of Sacramento’s Burbank High School, but had to go to San Mateo due to grade issues.

The 6-0, 190 pounder chose the Wildcats over ASU, Utah, Tulsa and New Mexico State.  Elder had seven interceptions during 2009 at San Mateo, two of them for touchdowns.

Elder was recruited by Arizona assistant Jeff Hammerschmidt and dealt with Mark Stoops until he accepted a position at Florida State. He has already spoken with Mark Stoops’ replacement and has no worries.

“Coach (Greg) Brown said he was excited to coach me,” admitted Elder. “It doesn’t bother me at all that coach mark left and coach Brown is coming in, I like him and I know have faith in him and coach (Mike) Stoops and I can’t wait to get there.”

Elder is the 19^th known commitment and one of six junior college players to commit to the Wildcats.

He is the only true defensive back in the class, but it is believed that athletes Jourdon Grandon, J.J.Whitaker and Josh Robbins will all begin their careers as defensive backs.

EXTERNAL LINK1: WildcatSportsReport.com’s full interview with Elder

EXTERNAL LINK 2: San Mateo College’s Highlight Video of Elder