When Rich Rodriguez arrived at Arizona after the 2011 season, he quickly assembled his first recruiting class. He worked to keep some players previously committed to Arizona and set out to find some late additions that could potentially have big impacts in their Arizona Wildcats career.
 
Enter Cody Ippolito.

A standout at Scottsdale Chaparral High, Ippolito committed to Rodriguez and was one of the final additions to the 2012 recruiting class. Five years later, just four players remain from Rodriguez's original recruiting class and Ippolito is proud to be one of them.
 
The 6-foot-2-inch, 248-pound senior served as a special teams contributor and saw action at linebacker in seven games as a freshman in Coach Rodriguez's debut season at Arizona. After a promising freshman year, Ippolito missed his sophomore season with a knee injury.
 
After spending a year away from the gridiron, the Babylon, New York native played in all 14 of Arizona's games in 2014. Ippolito totaled 52 tackles, including 33 solo stops, 6 ½ tackles-for-loss, and two sacks while playing alongside Scooby Wright III's historic season. 
 
Ippolito, who moved to Arizona when he was 14, suffered another knee injury during fall camp in 2015, and was forced to miss the following senior. 
 
But the fifth-year senior has not let anything hold him back this year; recording 21 solo tackles, 4 sacks and a pair of fumble recoveries through five games this season. 
 
We recently chatted with Ippolito, who shared his thoughts on his final season, brotherhood, and how he plays every play like it's his last.
 
Q: Is there a difference in the way you play knowing this is your final season?
A: "No, not really. Even though it is my last year, I never know when my last play is going to be. With the injuries I've had, I play hard every day because every play could be my last."
 
Q: Do you see a difference in the bond you share with the fifth-year seniors that you came in with?
A: "Yeah, definitely. We are definitely a lot closer. There were only four of us when the year started. We've been here for five years and they are basically my family away from family."
 
Q: What ideals and work ethics do you try to instill on the new guys?
A: "Just try your hardest with everything you do. The young guys aren't as mature, but that will come with time. When I was in their shoes, I was the same immature kid ready to conquer the world, so it's on us to show them they have to work hard."
 
Q: How have you seen yourself develop as a player and as a person with your time at Arizona?
A: "I've matured more, as a player and as a man. On the field it is just knowing what you have to do; trying to learn the schemes in the defense."
 
Q: With as much adversity as you have gone through, what would you tell yourself as a freshman on the first day of camp?
A: "You are going to have a long road ahead of you, play every play like it's your last because you never know when it will be."