Feb. 4, 2004
TUCSON -
University of Arizona coach Mike Stoops and staff signed 20 prep players to football National Letters of Intent today, completing the new coach's first recruiting class.
"We're pleased with our recruiting efforts this year, especially in view of the limited time we had together as a staff to complete the process. We like the caliber of the players we signed," Stoops said.
Additionally, Stoops said an additional recruit potentially would sign later in the day.
"The class is weighted toward linemen on both sides of the ball, but we brought in some linebackers, defensive backs, receivers and a kicker as well. Today's signing date punctuates one effort, but also signifies the start of the next recruiting cycle. We will get to work recruiting again immediately," Stoops said.
The prep recruits signed Wednesday include 11 defensive players, eight offensive players and one kicker. Nine signees hail from Texas, eight from California schools, two from Arizona and one from New Mexico.
UA coaches also brought in four mid-year players who will participate in spring ball beginning March 23. Three are junior college transfers and all are defensive players.
Arizona had more available scholarships but Stoops said he did not want to sign any recruits whom the staff had not adequately evaluated. It's possible UA will add additional recruits prior to the start of fall camp in August, he said.
Stoops was hired Nov. 29 and quickly hit the recruiting trails with his brother, Mark, who he brought on staff as defensive coordinator and secondary coach, and assistants Eric Wolford and Tim Kish. Assistant Charlie Williams, John Peterson, Kasey Dunn, Mike Tuiasosopo and Mike Canales all later joined in recruiting efforts, and the final assistant, Joe Robinson, arrived in Tucson this past Sunday.
"Arizona was well-received by coaches and players throughout our recruiting areas. This was a positive first step in changing the direction of Wildcat football," Stoops said. "We look forward to continuing those good relationships with players, coaches and parents in the recruiting process."
Stoops said a full year of pointed recruiting will help reap benefits in the class of 2005. "We'll be able to do a much more thorough job of getting more of the kids in our primary recruiting areas and elsewhere to understand what our plans are for Arizona football. Recruiting isn't an overnight process," he said.
Arizona, which finished 2-10 and 1-7 for last place in the Pacific-10 Conference in 2003, will commence spring drills in late March.
2004 Arizona Football Signees - February 4, 2004
Player Pos Ht. Wt. Cl Exp Hometown (High School)
Yaniv Barnett DT 6-3 285 Fr. HS Schertz, Texas (Clemens)
Travis Bell TE 6-6 225 Fr. HS Castroville, Calif. (N.Monterey County)
Jason Bondzio K 5-10 170 Fr. HS Humble, Texas (Humble)
Antoine Cason CB 6-1 180 Fr. HS Los Alamitos, Calif. (Los Alamitos)
B.J. Dennard CB 6-1 175 Fr. HS Phoenix, Ariz. (Brophy)
Danny Espinosa OL 6-1 290 Fr. HS Los Alamitos, Calif. (Los Alamitos)
Dillon Hansen OL 6-5 290 Fr. HS Las Cruces, N.M. (Las Cruces)
Michael Klyce DB 6-2 190 Fr. HS Los Angeles, Calif. (Alain Leroy Locke)
Chris Kolone DT 6-4 280 Fr. HS San Diego, Calif. (Rancho Bernardo)
Joe Longacre OT 6-4 310 Fr. HS Katy, Texas (Katy)
Brandon Lopez LB 6-2 210 Fr. HS Vail, Ariz. (Cienega)
Bobby McCoy WR 6-2 180 Fr. HS Houston, Texas (Klein Forest)
Ronnie Palmer LB 6-2 227 Fr. HS Spring, Texas (Spring)
Dominic Patrick S 6-0 200 Fr. HS Houston, Texas (Klein Forest)
Gerold Rodriguez WR 5-11 180 Fr. HS Los Angeles, Calif. (Venice)
Eddie Rollman OL 6-4 282 Fr. HS Burnet, Texas (Burnet
McCollins Umeh DE 6-3 245 Fr. HS Houston, Texas, (Klein Forest)
Justin Walsh TE 6-6 240 Fr. HS Laguna Hills, Calif. (Laguna Hills)
Sheldon Watts OL 6-3 265 Fr. HS Fort Bend, Texas (Hightower)
Chris Wilson DL 6-5 240 Fr. HS San Clemente, Calif. (San Clemente)
+Mid-year signees enrolled for Spring 2004:
+James Alford LB 6-3 225 Fr. HS Metairie, La. (East Jefferson)
+Brad Brittain DL 6-5 285 Jr. JC San Diego, Calif. (Torrey Pines/Arizona/Mesa CC)
+Kiel McDonald CB 5-11 190 Jr. JC Colorado Springs, Colo. (Doherty/Sacramento CC)
+Randy Sims LB 5-11 230 Jr. JC San Francisco, Calif. (Riordan/San Francisco CC)
+James Alford - Linebacker
6-3, 225, Freshman
Metairie, La. (East Jefferson)
SuperPrep Louisiana 45 honors out of high school, listed the No. 24 prospect in the state... Enrolled in January... Rivals.com three-star outside linebacker... Had 146 tackles as a junior, with two forced fumbles, a recovery and a sack... Missed eight games his senior year with a knee injury, and then had 14 tackles in the final two games...Played defensive back as a sophomore... All-district honors... Four-year track letterman, with 4.6 speed... Originally signed with West Virginia in 2003...
Yaniv Barnett - Defensive Tackle
6-3, 285. Freshman
Schertz, Texas (Clemens)
SuperPrep All-Southwest honors as the No. 40 prospect in Texas... texasHSfootball Team Texas second-team selection, and first-team Class 5A honors... Second-team All-State 5A by the Associated Press... Alan Outlook Texas Gridiron Gold all-state... San Antonio Express-News Defensive Player of the Year... Austin American Statesman top 50 list... 5AtexasFootball.com 1st-team all-state selection... Max Emfinger Mid-America 200 and national Top 300 with a four-star and top 18 nose tackle rating... Region 4 Player of Week after 12 tackles and two sacks against San Antonio O'Connor... Rivals.com three-star rating and No. 43 tackle prospect... Three-time all-district and two-time all-area honors... Had 129 tackles in helping the Buffaloes to a 13-2 record...
Travis Bell - Tight End
6-6, 225, Freshman
Castroville, Calif. (North Monterey County)
PrepStar All-West preseason and postseason honors as a top tight end in the region...Helped lead 7-3-1Condors to Monterey Bay League co-championship and CIF Central Coast Section playoffs... Brother of UA offensive tackle
Tanner Bell... Eight receptions for 97 yards and a score in 2003... Also had 75 tackles and four sacks as a defensive lineman... Career 16 receptions for 220 yards, 138 tackles and eight sacks...
Jason Bondzio - Kicker
5-10, 170, Freshman
Humble, Texas (Humble)
Honorable mention All-State 5A by the Associated Press... Rivals.com No. 24 rating as kicking prospect... PrepStar All-Midlands postseason honors... Played as kicker-punter in NFL Global Championship VIII in Houston in January for Team USA, an event bringing scholar-athletes with a 3.0 grade point average...
5Atexasfootball.com top second-team All-Texas... Set the Texas all-time consecutive PAT kick record in 2003, kicking 94 straight... Averaged 38.5 yards per punt, made 35 of 36 PAT kicks and 9 of 10 field goal attempts as a senior... Career: 126 of 127 PATs, 13 of 15 FG tries... Second-team Academic All-State Class 5A honors... Academic All-District 22 ...
+Brad Brittain - Defensive Tackle
6-5, 285, Jr.
San Diego, Calif. (Torrey Pines/Arizona/Mesa CC)
Brittain lettered at Arizona in 2002 as a redshirt freshman, then transferred to Mesa, Ariz., Community College for his sophomore season. He's a mid-year signee who will participate in spring ball... Led MCC with seven sacks and was second with 10 TFL and 27 solo tackles among 89 total hits... Blocked a kick... At UA he played in nine games with two starts in 2002, collecting 11 solo tackles and eight assists, including a sack... Missed three games during that year with an ankle injury... Career-high five tackles at Wisconsin...
Antoine Cason - Cornerback
6-1, 180, Freshman
Los Alamitos, Calif. (Los Alamitos)
Second-team defense selection on All CIF-Southern Section team... Also earned Southern Section Division I all-defense honors... Tacoma News-Tribune Western 100... PrepStar All-America selection as a top 300 national recruit... SuperPrep All-Farwest honors as a Top 100 California prospect... Rivals.com three-star rating and No. 38 as a DB prospect... Also played as a running back at Los Alamitos... Had 41 tackles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries in 2003... First-team all-league as a junior, with six interceptions... Sunset League Defensive Back of the Year and first-team honors as a senior... Second-team All-CIF Southern Section and first-team Division I CIF as senior... Orange County Register first-team all-county...
B.J. Dennard - Cornerback
6-1, 175, Freshman
Phoenix, Ariz. (Brophy Prep)
...Was also recruited by schools as a wide receiver... 50 receptions for 800 yards and eight touchdowns his senior year... SuperPrep All Farwest honors as the No. 12 prospect in Arizona... All-state honors... Rivals.com three-star rating and listed No. 56 as an athlete... PrepStar postseason All-West as a wide receiver... His father, Glenn Dennard, earned two letters as a receiver at Arizona State in 1984-85 and his cousin, Ryan Dennard lettered three years as a receiver at ASU from 1999-01... Uncle, Preston Dennard, was a four-year letterman at New Mexico from 1974-77 and an eight-year NFL veteran receiver....
Danny Espinosa - Offensive Lineman
6-1, 290, Freshman
Los Alamitos, Calif. (Los Alamitos)
SuperPrep All-Farwest honors as a California Top 125prospect... PrepStar All-West preseason and postseason honors... First-team Associated Press All-State as both an offensive and defensive lineman, one of four two-way players on the list... Orange County Register top 25 area recruit...Los Alamitos won the CIF Division I championship in Espinosa's junior year... Earned first-team All-Sunset League honors in 2003... Also competed as a wrestler in high school... His brother attends the UA...
Dillon Hansen - Offensive Lineman
6-5, 290, Freshman
Las Cruces, N.M. (Las Cruces)
UA coaches ventured into New Mexico for lineman Dillon Hansen of Las Cruces... Associated Press first-team all-state honors as a senior... Rivals.com No. 51offensive line prospect and a three-star rating... A big lean lineman with sky-high potential... Max Emfinger Super Mid-America Top 200, plus national Top 300 pick with four-star OT rating... UA coaches feel Hansen has as much talent as numerous well-known recruits of his size... Good student at LCHS, which finished 9-2 and reach state quarterfinals... Hanson's father lives in Tucson...
Michael Klyce - Defensive Back
6-2, 190, Freshman
Los Angeles, Calif. (Locke)
SuperPrep All-Farwest honors as a California Top 120 prospect... PrepStar All-West selection... One of the earliest commitments for the Cats, committing in November... Recruited as an athlete, with experience as a prep quarterback and linebacker for Locke... had 95 tackles in 2003, with three interceptions and three sacks... As a track athlete he has reported times of 22.5 in the 200 and 49.0 in the 400... Reportedly a wrap-up hitter and tackler who should get his first look at Arizona as a safety... Los Angeles Times preseason City Section No. 4 linebacker rating...
Chris Kolone - Defensive Lineman
6-4, 280, Freshman
San Diego, Calif. (Rancho Bernardo)
Kolone was recruited with potential on both sides of the ball as either an offensive tackle or defensive end... Second-team Union-Tribune All-San Diego Section honors as a defensive lineman... SuperPrep All-Farwest honors as a Top 100 California offensive line prospect... PrepStar All-West postseason selection as a defensive lineman... Played defensive end for Rancho Bernardo in '04 after playing offensive tackle at Campbell High School in Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii his first two years of high school... Born in Long Beach, but spent much of his youth in American Samoa and Hawaii
Joe Longacre - Offensive Tackle
6-4, 310, Freshman
Katy, Texas (Katy)
Honorable mention All-State 5A by the Associated Press... TexasHSFootball.com First-Team All-Texas...Second-team 5AtexasFootball.com All-Texas honors, and preseason top 10 "watch list" member... 5AtexasFootball.com No. 5 rated offensive lineman... InsideTexas.com cited Longacre as the best lineman at the Houston Combine... Honorable mention AP all-state and first-team all-Houston area by Houston Chronicle... Selected to NFL Global Junior Championship team for January competition... Longacre's state-champion team beat fellow recruit Yaniv Barnett's team in the state semi-finals, and finished 15-1 with a 2,000-yard rusher...
Brandon Lopez - Linebacker
6-2, 210, Freshman
Vail, Ariz. (Cienega)
The lone Tucson-area player signed by the Cats, Lopez was one of the first players to commit to the class, giving an oral pledge to the previous coaching staff in mid September... PrepStar postseason All-West selection... All-area honors by the Tucson Citizen and Arizona Daily Star... Cienega's featured halfback on offense his senior year, though UA wanted him as a linebacker... Rushed for 1,509 yards and 25 scores as a senior... Rushed for 1,687 yards and 17 touchdowns, plus 98 tackles on defense as a junior...
Bobby McCoy - Wide Receiver
6-1, 170, Freshman
Houston, Texas (Klein Forest)
With a reported 4.4 time in the 40-yard dash, McCoy is a bonafide sprinter... Led team with 32 catches for 585 yards in 2003... Houston Chronicle Top 100... First-team all-district as junior and senior... Nominated for Red Zone Player of the Year... SuperPrep All-Southwest honoree, listed the No. 82 prospect in Texas... PrepStar All-West pick, citing his playmaking ability... Max Emfinger Mid-America 200 and national Top 300 with a four-star rating... Lone Star Recruiting Top 10 receiver... District 15 400-meter sprint and 1600 4x4 relay winner in 2003, second in 5A State meet in 400 at 46.88, third-place relay finish...
+Kiel McDonald - Cornerback
5-11, 190, Junior
Colorado Springs, Colo. (Doherty/Sacramento CC)
McDonald is a mid-year transfer who will contend for a role in spring ball... All-NorCal Conference honorable mention in 2003... Max Emfinger national top 300 juco selection with four-star and top 20 cornerback rating... Prepped at Colorado Springs Doherty High School... Versatile athlete who earned letters in football, hockey, baseball and track... First-team all-league track honors as a senior for the Spartans, with a 10.6 in the 100-meters...Mom, Jeanette Harvey, lives in London, England, and is an Illinois graduate...
Ronnie Palmer - Linebacker
6-2, 227, Freshman
Spring, Texas (Spring)
SuperPrep All-Southwest honors, listed the No. 32 prospect in Texas.... PrepStar All-Midlands preseason and postseason selection... Rivals.100 No. 18 inside linebacker prospect... Insiders.com No. 44... Houston Chronicle Top 100... Fort Worth Star-Telegram State 100 honors... Max Emfinger national Top 100 honors with a five-star inside linebacker rating among national Top 10 at the position... Emfinger Fabulous 50 Linebackers and National 150 Playmakers citations... Recorded 73 tackles his junior year and 70 as a senior ...All-district first-team honors... 5Atexasfootball.com Top 10 linebacker ... Lone Star Recruiting Top 10 linebacker... Co-defensive player of the year in District 15-5A and All-District as a junior and senior... Collegesports.com Super Prospect LB... Played quarterback as a sophomore... Also plays basketball at Spring...
Dominic Patrick - Safety
6-0, 200, Freshman
Houston, Texas (Klein Forest)
Played linebacker in high school, but Patrick should open his career as a safety for the Wildcats...SuperPrep All-Southwest honors on its Texas 134 list... Lone Star Recruiting Top 10 safety selection...Had 90 tackles and five interceptions in 2003, returning one for a score...Blocked two punts as a senior... Helped Klein Forest hold opponents to 94 yards passing per game in 2003... Second-team all-0istrict as a junior, first-team honors in 2003... Super Team Sophomore honors... Team linebacker MVP...
Gerold Rodriguez - Wide Receiver
5-11, 180, Freshman
Los Angeles, Calif. (Venice)
Had 56 catches for 1,082 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2003, plus had 198 rushing yards with three scores, averaging eight yards per carry... Could figure on special teams as a kick returner... PrepStar postseason All-West... 46 grabs for 1,042 as a junior, with seven touchdowns... One of three wide-outs on 2003 Venice squad with more than 1,000 yards receiving...
Eddie Rollman - Offensive Lineman
6-4, 282, Freshman
Burnet, Texas (Burnet)
Played for 14-1 team in 2003 and was three-year starter for Burnet... Reportedly did not allow a sack as a senior, plus helped the offense average 419 yards and 46 points per game... Earned Texas Sports Writer's Association first-team 3A All-State honors... Texas 3A All-State first-team honors by the Associated Press... Also earned AP all-state honors as a junior... SuperPrep All-Southwest honors on its Texas 134 list... Max Emfinger Mid-America 200 and national Top 300 with a four-star offensive guard rating ...Lone Star Recruiting Top 10 guard... Three-year starter on teams that were a combined 36-5...
+Randy Sims - Linebacker
5-11, 230, Junior
San Francisco, Calif. (Riordan/San Francisco CC)
Sims will participate in spring ball as a mid-year transfer... Three-star outside linebacker rating by Rivals.com... Collegefootballnews.com No. 19 juco linebacker prospect... A San Francisco native, Sims lettered three years in football and twice in track at Riordan HS... All-NorCal Conference honors in 2003 for 12-0 state juco champions...Sergeant-at-Arms for California State Black Student Union association... Honor roll junior year in high school... Son of Melvin and Paulette Sims of San Francisco... Dad attended San Jose State and mother attended Kent State... Full name Randy Wesley Sims....
McCollins Umeh - Defensive End
6-3, 245, Freshman
Houston, Texas, (Klein Forest)
SuperPrep All-America and SuperPrep All-Southwest honors as the No. 25 prospect on its Texas 134 list... Third-team 5AtexasFootball.com all-state honors... PrepStar All-Midlands region preseason and postseason honors... Fort Worth Star-Telegram State 100 honors... No. 33 on Austin American-Statesman Fab 55... Had 111 tackles and eight sacks in 2003... 84 tackles as a junior, with eight sacks and two fumble recoveries... Rivals.com No. 15 defensive line prospect and a four-star rating, plus rated a top 15 player in Texas... Collegesports.com Super Prospect DL... Insiders.com top 20 national defensive end rating... Lone Star Recruiting Top 10 DE... Collegefootballnews.com No.19 defensive end prospect... Max Emfinger Mid-America 200 and national Top 300 with a four-star strong-end rating... Second-team all-District 15-5A as a sophomore, then first-team as junior and senior... Varsity basketball as soph and junior... His father, Betrand, played for the Nigerian national soccer team...
Justin Walsh - Tight End
6-6, 240, Freshman
Laguna Hills, Calif. (Laguna Hills)
SuperPrep All-Farwest honors as a Top 100 California prospect... PrepStar postseason All-West honors... Senior year was exemplary with 30 receptions for 484 yards and three scores, averaging 16.1 yards per catch... Orange County Register top 25 area recruit... Caught 10 passes for 135 yards and 3 scores as a junior, despite an injury... Will start his UA career as a tight end but could have a future as an interior lineman as well...
Sheldon Watts - Offensive Lineman
6-3, 265, Freshman
Fort Bend, Texas (Hightower)
SuperPrep All-Southwest honors on its Texas 134 list... One of the seven Houston area recruits to sign with Arizona... Hightower completed the year 9-4 and made it to the third round of the 5A state playoffs in Watt's senior year... 5Atexasfootball 2003 Best Offensive Linemen list... All-District 20-5A honors...
Chris Wilson - Defensive Lineman
6-5, 240, Freshman
San Clemente, Calif. (San Clemente)
Wilson could have potential at Arizona as a defensive end, as well as a tight end... Played both ways for the Tritons of San Clemente... SuperPrep All-Farwest honors as a California Top 130 prospect... PrepStar All-West selection as an offensive line prospect... South Coast League second-team offense honors at SCHS... Orange County Register top 25 area recruit...Committed to Arizona in November before he knew who would be the head coach...
2004 Arizona Football Coaching Staff
Mike Stoops Head Coach
Mark Stoops Defensive Coordinator, Secondary
Mike Canales Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks
Kasey Dunn Running Backs
Tim Kish Linebackers
John Peterson Centers and Guards
Joe Robinson Defensive Ends, Special Teams
Mike Tuiasosopo Defensive Tackles
Charlie Williams Wide Receivers
Eric Wolford Offensive Tackles, Tight Ends
Gene Johnson Offensive graduate assistant
Marcus Bell Defensive graduate assistant
Erick Harper Director of Football Operations
Dan Berezowitz Recruiting Coordinator
Corey Edmond Football Strength Coach
Mark Hill Assistant Strength Coach
2004 Arizona Football Schedule
Sept 4 Northern Arizona 7 p.m. MST
Sept. 11 Utah 7 p.m. MST
Sept. 18 Wisconsin 7 p.m. MST
Sept. 25 Open Date
Oct. 2 *Washington State 7 p.m. MST
Oct. 9 at *UCLA 12:30 p.m. PDT
Oct. 16 at *Oregon 12:30 p.m. PDT
Oct. 23 *California 4 p.m. MST
Oct. 30 *Oregon State 4 p.m. MST
Nov. 6 at *Washington 12:30 p.m. PST
Nov. 13 at *Southern California 12:30 p.m. PST
Nov. 20 Open Date
Nov. 26 *Arizona State 1 p.m. MST
Game times subject to change. Television to be announced.
Tentative Spring Football Practice Dates
Tuesday, March 23
Thursday, March 25
Friday, March 26
Saturday, March 27
Tuesday, March 30
Thursday, April 1 (Coaches Clinic)
Friday, April 2 (Coaches Clinic)
Saturday, April 3 (Coaches Clinic)
Tuesday, April 6
Thursday, April 8
Tuesday, April 13
Thursday, April 15
Friday, April 16
Saturday, April 17 -Spring Game
Tuesday, April 20
