Arizona adds important JUCO defensive tackle as Taufahema commits

Arizona needed another defensive line commit in its 2017 class and as long as things checked out on his weekend visit it was clear College of the Canyons (Santa Clarita, California) standout Sione Taufahema would be that player. Well, things did check out on his visit to Tucson and Sunday night he pulled the trigger on his pledge to the Wildcats.

"The family atmosphere," Taufahema said about what sold him on UA. "Coach Rod (Rich Rodriguez) had us meet his family and we were at his house after we ate dinner. The family atmosphere I felt it from the coaches and the players. When I was there I took myself out of the football perspective and thought would I really love to be at Arizona if I was just a regular student, and that's what I based my decision off of.

"That's why I ended up committing."

At the end of the season Rodriguez spoke about adding grown men to his 2017 recruiting class to finish things out and Taufahema fits the bill. At 6-foot-2 and 325 pounds the junior college defensive tackle should push for immediate playing time but he said that while it wasn't the whole reason he made his choice it was a big part of it.

"We talked about that a lot," he said. "It did contribute a lot into making my decision, but they told me that I'm coming in to start right away but I'm going to have to work for it. I like challenges, and I just took it as a challenge to compete for that starting spot."

Vince Amey came through with an offer for Taufahema later in the year just a couple weeks ago, but the interest quickly grew from there and it was clear UA was the front runner. Taufahema said his new defensive line coach was pleased to hear the news and he has built a nice bond with his future position coach.

"I got to talk to him a lot, and it's funny because he told me that he went to Arizona State," Taufahema said. "It's just weird that he ended up at Arizona. I got to talk a lot to coach Amey, and I feel like my relationship with him has grown and it's only going to help me become a better player.

"... Coach Amey was so happy and he just said he wants to get the ball rolling."

After Darrian McNeal's flip to Oregon earlier Sunday night Taufahema moves Arizona's 2017 class back up to 25 commitments and it remains a top-15 class.

Taufahema said his plan is to still enroll next semester as a December grad allowing him to take part in spring practice and he will have three years to play two at UA.