Arizona adds two linebackers
Prior to Monday, Arizona's 2013 recruiting class was built mostly of prospects who will more than likely end up on the offensive side of the ball. However, Monday evening the Wildcats received commitments from two linebackers to help bolster the defensive side of the ball.
Santa Rosa (Calif.) Cardinal Newman prospect Philip Wright was the first to give the Rich Rodriguez's staff his verbal pledge, and then in-state recruit DeAndre Miller made his commitment shortly after.
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The 'Cats were the only program to offer Wright, while Miller picked UA out of a group of about 14 offers - which included the likes of Arizona State, Boise State and Minnesota.
"I wasn't getting a lot of offers, and Arizona was the first school to offer me," Wright said. "I felt like it was a school that they saw something in me that other schools didn't, so it just felt right. I was actually on my unofficial today and I just fell in love with the campus and the school."
For Miller, a three-star recruit from Buckeye, Ariz., the decision to join the Wildcats became easy once he made it to campus Monday.
"I went on an unofficial visit today, and they just sold the school to me and I bought it," the talented prospect said. "They said I could play a few different positions at linebacker - all three of the spots - so I'm looking forward to helping them."
The Wildcats are looking to improve the depth at linebacker in the future and the possibility for early playing time was certainly something that stuck out for both Miller and Wright.
"Oh yeah, that was a big influence," the in-state recruit said.
Wright agreed with that sentiment and he hopes to be able to step on the field right away once he arrives in Tucson in 2013, but he knows it won't come without some work.
"We watched film," the California recruit said. "And they said that when I get there I'm going to have to compete and we'll see what happens. But they also said that the linebackers in my class are going to get to play."
Both Wright and Miller wanted to make their decisions prior to their senior seasons, so they both felt today was the right day to end their recruitments. Now the focus will be on improving as players and trying to earn championships in their final year of high school.
The two commitments gave the Wildcats Nos. 12 and 13 in the 2013 class, and they came just a day after Thomas Woodson gave his pledge to the program.
Click Here to view this Link.Matt Moreno
GOAZCATS.com Senior Recruiting Editor