National Letter of Intent Day is less than a week away and the Arizona Wildcats are still trying to build their class. The Wildcats could add up to six more players and are trying to hold onto three more.

Currently the Wildcats have 18 players in the class and will likely sign 22-23. Five are already on campus, including two four-year players.

While many college football recruiting fans are concerned with stars and rankings, the true test of a recruiting class is how well they fill their needs. While Arizona’s class may lack star power and the kinds of rankings that impress the Internet, they have added the bodies they need at many of the key positions.

First an update. The Cats had a commitment and a de-commitment. DB Travis Feeney is now going to Washington, while JUCO DE Lamar De Rego de-committed from Oregon State and will play at Arizona next year.

Let’s take a look at how well the Cats are filling their position needs:

QB (1) Daxx Garman

Will sign: 1-2

Lose: none

Note: Getting Garman was good, having him for spring ball is even better.

RB (2) Ka’Deem Carey (soft verbal), Jared Baker

Will sign: 1-2

Lose: Nic Grigsby

Note: Losing Carey may be a bigger P.R. issue than on-field issue. The Cats have some young backs already in place.

WR (1) David Richards

Will sign: 1-2

Lose: Travis Cobb

Note: Cats loaded at receiver. Not a need position.

TE (1) Drew Robinson (signed)

Will Sign: 1-2

Lose: A.J. Simmons

OL (2) Addison Bachman, Jacob Arzouman

Will sign: 2-5

Lose: Colin Baxter, Vaughn Dotsy, Adam Grant, Jovon Hayes, Conan Amituanai, Adam Grant, Jack Julsing

Note: Cats need to add more than two. Maybe the biggest push of the last week is here.

DE: (5) Joseph Carter, Michael Cooper, Reggie Gilbert, Dame Ndiaye, Lamar De Rego

Will sign: 3-5

Lose: Brooks Reed, Ricky Elmore, D’Aundre Reed, Apai Tuihalamaka

Note: Can any of these guys play now?

DT (1) Saneilia Fuimaono (signed)

Will sign: 1-2

Will lose: Mana Mikaele

Note: Not a huge need and Fuimaono is already on campus.

LB (2) Hank Hobson, Rob Hankins

Will Sign: 2-4

Will Lose: C.J. Parrish

Note: Some of the best prospects left are on the Cats’ recruiting board are backers.

DB (2) Ezekiel Bishop, Tra’Mayne Bondurant

Will Sign: 3-5

Lose: Joseph Perkins, Anthony Wilcox, Marcus Benjamin, Michael Turner

Note: Most of these guys are projects, but Cats have plenty of young, talented players already on the roseter.

Special Teams (1) Kyle Dugandzic (signed)

Will Sign: 1-2

Will Lose: Keenyn Crier

Note: Big question is whether the Cats will offer another kicker or try for preferred walk-ons. 

For all the latest Wildcat recruiting news, check out WildcatSportsReport.com

And just like that the Wildcats addressed one of their biggest recruiting needs. The Wildcats had some gaps in their linebacking corps, which led to some unbalanced classes. With the commitment of Dallas’ Rob Hankins, more of those gaps are erased.

Hankins becomes the third linebacker commit in the 2011 recruiting class for the Wildcats, joining Hank Hobson and Jabral Johnson.

When the three get on campus next summer, the Wildcats’ linebacker breakdown by class will look like this.

Seniors: Derek Earls,  Paul Vassallo

Juniors: Jake Fischer, R.J. Young (used redshirt)

Sophomores: Cordarious Golston (used redshirt); Trevor Erno (used redshirt)

Redshirt Freshmen: Kyle Benson  (expected to redshirt due to knee injury)

True Freshmen: Hank Hobson,  Jabral Johnson,  Rob Hankins

This will give the Cats a balance, with at least two players in each class. This year the Wildcats will have three new starters, and do not have a non-JUCO upperclassman on the roster. The Cats do not have a backer on the roster with a start under his belt, and just two who logged any meaningful time last year.

Ideally, you’d expect the Cats to try to redshirt at least two of the newcomers, in an effort to further spread out the talent among the four classes.

The Cats find themselves in this position due to three factors, the reliance of junior college linebackers, players changing positions and players leaving the program. The Wildcats currently have three defensive ends who began their careers as linebackers in Brooks Reed, D’Aundre Reed and Apai Tuihalamaka. Add to that Zander Fabri’s departure and a few other recruits de-committing and you have the unbalance in the classes the Cats’ have faced the past few seasons.

Hankins does more than just give the Cats depth, he gives them a very well regarded recruit. He is a four-star player and ESPN.com’s #9 ILB nationally. He’s one of the “great instinct” guys that Tim Kish has done so well with, but has legit athleticism and good enough size and could be a guy who comes in and challenges for playing time.

His commitment mean the Cats have really solidified their linebacking and running back units. Although they might still add another player if an elite talent wanted to come on board, with three backers and two runners, the Cats are in very good shape at both positions.