Feb. 1, 2012
Arizona FB 2012 Signing Class 
Video Archive of News Conference
TUCSON—University of Arizona football Coach Rich Rodriguez and staff signed 23 players to National Letters of Intent today. Additional players may be added in the next weeks during the signing period or beyond.
The class is comprised entirely of incoming freshmen who will report during the summer. UA also has two new scholarship players for 2012 that previously joined the program at mid-year.
Prospects from eight states across five time zones signed NLI with Arizona, with 10 offensive players, nine on defense and three listed as athletes at the onset of their careers. The group includes six players from high schools in Arizona, five from California, three from Florida, three from Texas, three from Pennsylvania and one each from Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Hawaii.
“We addressed our needs with this group, and it’s a solid class,” Rodriguez said. “We signed guys who want to be part of this program.”
Rodriguez was named head coach at Arizona in late November and had about two months to recruit, half of that period without a complete coaching staff. A number of the signees initially committed to Arizona before Rodriguez was hired.
Currently enrolled are transfer linebacker Bryan Wagner, who graduated from Akron University in December, and mid-year freshman C.J. Dozier, a freshman linebacker from California.
Arizona Football Signees - 2012
|
Name
|
Pos
|
Ht
|
Wt
|
Yr.
|
Exp
|
Hometown (School)
|
|
Jamar Allah
|
CB
|
6-1
|
190
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
Phoenix, Ariz. (North Canyon)
|
|
Javelle Allen
|
QB
|
6-2
|
204
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
Prosper, Texas (Prosper)
|
|
Jarrell Bennett
|
WR
|
5-10
|
160
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
New Orleans, La. (Edna Karr)
|
|
Beau Boyster
|
OG
|
6-4
|
275
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
Bellflower, Calif. (St. John Bosco)
|
|
Cayman Bundage
|
OG
|
6-2
|
285
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
Oklahoma City, Okla. (Douglass)
|
|
Keoni Bush-Loo
|
TE
|
6-4
|
240
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
Honolulu, Hawaii (Kamehameha)
|
|
Wayne Capers Jr.
|
Ath
|
6-1
|
205
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
Bridgeville, Pa. (Chartiers Valley)
|
|
Dakota Conwell
|
LB
|
6-2
|
205
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
Pittsburgh, Pa. (Upper St. Clair)
|
|
Dylan Cozens
|
DE
|
6-5
|
245
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
Scottsdale, Ariz. (Chaparral)
|
|
Clive Georges
|
WR
|
6-1
|
160
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
Key West, Fla. (Key West)
|
|
Trey Griffey
|
WR
|
6-2
|
190
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
Orlando, Fla. (Dr. Phillips)
|
|
T.D. Gross
|
OT
|
6-6
|
255
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
Santee, Calif. (Santana)
|
|
Bryan Harper
|
Ath
|
6-0
|
180
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
Ontario, Calif. (Colony)
|
|
Zach Hemmila
|
OG
|
6-3
|
275
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
Chandler, Ariz. (Chandler)
|
|
Cody Ippolito
|
LB
|
6-2
|
210
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
Scottsdale, Ariz. (Chaparral)
|
|
Kyle Kelley
|
DE
|
6-3
|
230
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
Irvine, Calif. (Woodbridge)
|
|
Joshua Kern
|
QB
|
6-5
|
190
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
San Antonio, Texas (Clark)
|
|
Anthony Lopez
|
Ath
|
5-10
|
185
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
Gilbert, Ariz. (Mesquite)
|
|
Dwight Melvin
|
DT
|
6-1
|
265
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
Laveen, Ariz. (Betty Fairfax)
|
|
William Parks
|
DB
|
6-0
|
175
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
Philadelphia, Pa. (Germantown)
|
|
Yamen Sanders
|
S
|
6-4
|
190
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
Culver City, Calif. (Culver City Central)
|
|
Leo Thomas
|
S
|
6-3
|
180
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
San Antonio, Texas (Houston)
|
|
J.T. Washington
|
RB
|
5-7
|
165
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
Indialantic Beach, Fla. (Satellite)
|
|
Enrolled in spring semester:
|
|
Bryan Wagner
|
LB
|
6-2
|
235
|
Gr.
|
TR
|
Dayton, Ohio (Springfield Catholic/Akron)
|
|
C.J. Dozier
|
LB
|
6-2
|
210
|
Fr.
|
HS
|
Temecula, Calif. (Chaparral)
|
Jamar Allah
Cornerback, 6-1, 190 Freshman, Phoenix, Ariz. (North Canyon) Multiple position flexibility in second level of the defense... Nine receptions for 99 yards... 34 tackles and one pick in 2011... Punt and kickoff returner... 54 tackles as junior, with one INT... All-region first-team honors for the Rattlers... Played at Deer Valley his first two years...
Javelle Allen
Quarterback, 6-2, 204, Freshman, Prosper, Texas (Prosper) District 11-3A Most Valuable Player and unanimous selection in 2011... USA Football Under-19 team for International Bowl... Passed for 2,321 yards as a senior, with 30 TD throws... Rushed for 1,497 yards and 22 scores for 9-3 Eagles, with 9.0-yard average... DFW Class 3A All-Area second-team honors as an athlete... Earned second-team All-District honors as a junior... ...Also track athlete and basketball player for PHS...
Jarrell Bennett
Receiver, 5-10, 160 Freshman, New Orleans, La. (Edna Karr) Three-year starter for Edna Karr, which finished 11-4 and state 4A runner-up in 2011... All-District 9-4A honors as a senior... Times-Picayune All-Metro large schools... Offered by widespread schools... Selected for Lake Pontchartrain All-Star game... Caught 31 passes for 367 yards as a senior, with three TDs... All-District 10-4A in 2010 as junior, with 51-879 and six touchdowns...
Beau Boyster
Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 275, Freshman, Bellflower, Calif. (St. John Bosco) Long Beach Press-Telegram Dream Team... PrepStar All-America... Second-team All-Trinity League as senior... Selected for Cal State All-Star game in Clovis in December... Probable top potential as a center... ESPN LA Preps first-team South All-Region honors, helping the Braves average more than 400 yards in offense... Participated in Prodigy Athlete training center... B2G Elite big man camp in June 2011 in Los Angeles... Date of birth July 9, 1993... Wants to be a coach some day...
Cayman Bundage
Offensive Lineman, 6-2, 285, Freshman, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Douglass) Daily Oklahoman first-team All-State honors in 2011... PrepStar All-Midlands... Team averaged 315 rushing yards and 420 yards in total offense (best in state 4A) in 2011 and 326 yards per game in his career... Graded out at 92 percent in run-based offense... 98 tackles and eight sacks as 2011 lineman on defense... All-City Athletic Conference Player of the Year... 51 career starts as four-year player... Douglass Player of the Year honor... 98 tackles on defense, with eight sacks as senior... Daily Oklahoman Super 30... Drew top 10 honors among 500 at the U.S. Army National Underclassmen Combine in San Antonio in January 2011... Vype Magazine All-Central Oklahoma first-team defense in 2010... Played left tackle as a junior on Trojans run to state 4A title... Four-year starter for Coach Willis Alexander...Has relatives in Phoenix...
Keoni Bush-Loo
Tight End, 6-4, 240, Freshman, Honolulu, Hawaii (Kamehameha) All-ILH Football All-Star second-team honors as an all-purpose selection... 17 receptions for 176 yards in 2011... All-State third-team receiver honors by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser... HUB Goodwill All-Star game East team member after senior year... Team played in ILH Championships game in 2011...
Wayne Capers Jr.
Safety, 6-1, 205 Freshman, Bridgeville, Pa. (Chartiers Valley) Threw for 1,044 yards on 6-125 throwing, with nine touchdowns in 2011... 59 carries for 330 yards and seven TDs... Played quarterback and linebacker for the Colts first three years as a prep before some slot work planned as a senior, but an injury to another kept him in shotgun... Also played basketball for top-rated Chartiers... Father, Wayne Sr., played at Kansas and two years each as a receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts from 1983-86...Mother, Robin Smith Capers, played basketball for Kansas and older sisters also were prep athletes...
Dakota Conwell
Linebacker, 6-2, 205, Freshman, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Upper St. Clair) Pennyslvania Sportswriters first-team 4A all-state... PrepStar All-East... Chesapeake Bowl all-star game... Rated state's No. 2 outside linebacker prospect... Two-time Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 selection... East 100 No. 39... At quarterback he rushed for 1,097 yards and passed for 1,087, rushing for an amazing 35 TDs and passing for 18... Team won Great Southern Conference title and played in state championship game in 2011... Recorded 38 tackles and an interception on defense... Ran for 1.085 yards on 167 attempts with 16 TD runs, and was 62-121 passing for 916 yards... Older brother, Dane Jr., also starred at Upper St. Clair... Father, Dale, played at West Virginia...
Dylan Cozens
Defensive End, 6-5, 235, Freshman, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Chaparral) East Valley All-Tribune honorable mention... 45 tackles and 7.5 sacks as a senior... Also played tight end for Firebirds, state champions at 14-1... Athlete who played basketball and baseball at Desert Mountain High School before only one year of football at Chaparral... Teammate of signee Cody Ippolito...
C.J. Dozier
Linebacker, 6-2, 210, Freshman, Temecula, Calif. (Chaparral) PrepStar All-West... Graduated in December and is mid-year enrollee who will participate in spring ball... ...113 tackles and four sacks as a junior, earning... North County Times All-Valley first-team defense... An All-Southwestern League first-teamer and a three-year starter, Dozier collected 58 tackles in leading Pumas back into quarterfinals in 2011... All-state and All-Southwestern Leagbue second-team honors as soph...
Clive Georges
Receiver, 6-1, 160, Freshman, Key West, Fla. (Key West) Speedster who had 450 receiving yards and 250 rushing yards in 2011... Reported 10.86 time in the 100 meters... Also ran 400 and competed in triple jump for Key West track and field squad, plus played basketball for the Conchs... State finals participant in track and field for first three years of high school...
Trey Griffey
Receiver, 6-2, 190, Freshman, Orlando, Fla. (Dr. Phillips) First-team Associated Press 8A all-State honors as senior... All-Metro West Conference selection... All-Central Florida... Played in Under Armour All-America game in January 2012... Caught 72 passes for 970 yards and 11 touchdowns for 10-2 team as a senior... Also played safety for the Panthers... Orlando Sentinel boys athlete of the week after 13 catches for 188 yards and four scores against Freedom HS in 2011... Also had Orlando Touchdown Club weekly honor... Top 20 on Central Florida Super60 by the Sentinel... Tranferred from West Orange HS to play at Dr. Phillips his senior year... Had 22 catches as a junior... Son of 22-year major league baseball star Ken and Melissa Griffey Jr...
T.D. Gross
Offensive Lineman, 6-6, 275, Freshman, Santee, Calif. (Santana) First-team All-Grossmont Valley league 2011... Second-team All-CIF Southern Section at the position in 2011... Tight end as a junior, catching 25 passes for 277 yards and three scores... Earned first-team All-Grossmont North League honors each year from 2008-10... Second-team All-East County Sports.com as a junior... Four-year letterman for Santana and his head coach father, Dave Gross... Dave Gross was lineman at Pacific in the 1970s... Sister, Kim was senior basketball star at Santana in 2010 and attends Sacramento State on a rowing scholarship... Started playing football as high school freshman... Given name is Travis...
Bryan Harper
Cornerback, 6-0, 180, Freshman, Ontario, Calif. (Colony) Tacoma News-Tribune Western 100... Los Angeles Newspaper Group first-team All-Valley... CalHiSports fourth-team All-State defensive back... Rivals California 100 preseason... Helped Titans to 11-2 mark in 2011, playing quarterback and defensive back... 647 rushing yards 505 passing yards as senior... Recruited widely as a potential cornerback... Best athlete award at Underclassmen Football Combine 2010... Cousin, Anthony Brown, plays at USC... Played at Carter HS before his senior year...
Zach Hemmila
Offensive Lineman, 6-2, 275, Freshman, Chandler, Ariz. (Chandler) PrepStar All-America... All-Tribune first-team offense... Arizona ,Republic All-Arizona Division 1 second-team honors...Played in USMC Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Phoenix in January... ESPNHS All-State preseason... Nominated for Army All-American Bowl...
Cody Ippolito
Linebacker, 6-2, 210, Freshman, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Chaparral) Arizona Republic All-Arizona honors... Star for 14-1 state champ Firebirds and Coach Charlie Ragle... All-Tribune first-team honors... 109 tackles including two sacks, four PBUs, FR, FC... Five games of 11 or more tackles... 25-248 rushing with 3 TDs, 3-21 receiving with one TD... 64 tackles, three fumble recoveries as a junior... Nominee for Army All-American Bowl... Teammate of fellow recruit Dylan Cozens...
Kyle Kelley
Defensive End, 6-3, 230, Freshman, Irvine, Calif. (Woodbridge) PrepStar All-America... Tacoma News-Tribune Western 100... CalHiSports first-team all-state for medium schools... All-CIF Southern Section Southern Division honors in 2011... 87 tackles and 22 sacks as a senior, earning Pacific Coast League defensive MVP of the year honors... All-Orange County, all-CIF honors... Irvine World News co-defensive POY... NorCalPreps No. 28 recruit.. Cal-State All-Star game in Fresno in December... Team MVP of freshman and junior varsity squads his first two years... Tom Lemming Top 25 DE prospect... 7 catches for 104 yards as tight end...
Joshua Kern
Quarterback, 6-5, 190, Freshman, San Antonio, Texas (Clark) PrepStar All-Midlands... Threw for 1,020 yards and seven scores, and rushed for 369 and seven touchdowns as a junior... Has been a UA basketball fan, one reason he was attracted to Arizona... Attended UA spring game in 2011... 5 Star Performance Camp in 2010... MVP honors at Rivals QB Camp in Dallas in 2010... Middle school AAU basketball player...
Anthony Lopez
Running Back, 5-10, 185, Freshman, Gilbert, Ariz. (Mesquite) PrepStar All-West... All-Division I Section 2 honors... Arizona Republic All-Arizona Division 1 second-team honors... 24-7Football honorable mention all-state... Rushed for 1,264 yards on 169 carries for 7.48 yard and 13 TDs per tote... Also posted 27 tackles and 11 PBUs as a cornerback... Also returned 17 kickoffs for 12.5 yards per return... Rushed for 227 yards on 20 carries against Dobson and a 91-yard run against Chaparral as a senior... Ran sprints for Mesquite track squad...
Dwight Melvin
Defensive End, 6-1, 265, Freshman, Laveen, Ariz. (Fairfax) PrepStar All-West... AZFCA Division II first-team All-State... Arizona Republic Division II All-Arizona first-team honors... 24-7Football Division 2 first-team All-State... 47 tackles and five sacks as a senior... Also played offensive guard for the Stampede... Defensive MVP of Nike Camp at Palo Alto in summer 2011... Prepped with UA '11 letterman defensive end Reggie Gilbert at Fairfax...
William Parks
Defensive Back, 6-0, 175, Freshman, Philadelphia, Pa., (Germantown) All-Southeastern Pennsylvania first-team defense honors... Played in Chesapeake Bowl... Cornerback, receiver, running back and kick returner for the Bears...Won a state Mini-Max for football performance, academics and community service from Maxwell Foundation... Scored five TDs on 39 carries and 167 yards as senior, with 21 receptions for 337 yards and four scores... Four INTS for 119 yards, 7 PBUs and 27 tackles... As junior rushed for 657 yards on 143 carries and four scores, with nine receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown... 45 tackles and three interceptions as a defender...
Yamen Sanders
Safety, 6-4, 190, Freshman, Culver City, Calif. (Culver City Senior) All-CIF Southern Section defensive back pick in Western Division... PrepStar SoCal 150... All-Ocean League honors... Played safety... 90 tackles in 2011, with 10 three times... interception for 30 yards... 32 tackles in 2010... one safety, against Beverly Hills... Also played basketball and track for the Centaurs...
Leo Thomas
Safety, 6-3, 180, Freshman, San Antonio, Texas (Houston) All-District 28-3A honors on both defense and offense in 2011... Honorable mention Associated Press 3A All-State as senior... San Antonio Express-News All-Area first-team honors... MySanAntonio Best Two-Way Player award... Had seven interceptions, two forced fumbles and 50 tackles senior year... Also 25 receptions for 547 yards and six scores on offense...
Brian Wagner
Linebacker, 6-2, 235, Graduate, Dayton, Ohio (Akron) Enrolled at mid-year, and is expected to contend for starting role in the linebacking corps... Will use a fifth year of eligibility after graduating from Akron in four years... Led the Zips in tackles three years... in 2011, 2010 and 2009... Notched 147 hits in 2011 and rated among the nation's top three in tackles per game at 13.4 in 11 games... Started all 12 games in 2010, with 130 tackles to rate fourth nationally with 10.8 per game, plus had six PBUs, 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and two picks... As a redshirt freshman in 2009 he recorded 132 hits... Second-team All-MAC... Career-high 16 hits at CMU in '09... High School: Springfield Catholic Central, Dayton, Ohio, 2008... Division VI all-state first-team honors and 2007 AP Defensive Player of the Year as a senior... 115 tackles as a linebacker and defensive end... Rushed for 1,787 yards at tailbackand scored 26 touchdowns... Springfield News-Sun All-Area and defensive POY... second-team all-state as a soph and honorable mention as a junior... Son of Greg and Tim Wagner... Youngest of four children...
J.T. Washington
Running Back, 5-7, 165, Freshman, Indialantic, Fla. (Satellite) Under Armour All-American Combine 2011... South team member for Brevard County All-Star game in January...Had 1,200 yards rushing and 900 recdeiving yards... Also competed in 100 meters, 200 meters and long jump in track and field... Third place in state meet on 4x100 relay as soph, fifth place in long jump... Played at Melbourne Cathlic first two years... Given name is Joetavious...
