(Photo via USAToday) It was a pretty uneventful weekend when it came to the NFL Draft and the Arizona Wildcats. The thought was that a few Wildcats would hear their name called, especially on Day 3. Unfortunately, that did not happen. However, there were three former Wildcats who did sign with NFL programs as undrafted free agents. Let's take a look at who signed and where. J.J. Taylor, RB, New England PatriotsIt is shocking that Taylor wasn't drafted, especially over someone like Lamical Perine, who was drafted by the New York Jets in the 4th round. Even so, Taylor was still able to find his way to the NFL. Shortly after the Draft was concluded, Taylor signed an free agent deal with the New England Patriots. This is a perfect landing spot for Taylor. The Pats have a knack for effectively using backs with Taylor's skillset. Recent examples of this include James White and Dion Lewis. Lewis is a powerful runner and a solid receiver out of the backfield. White is an absolute stud as a backfield receiver and a decent runner as well. Taylor is a great mix of both players, He is a powerful, wrecking ball-like runner who can punish defenders who try to tackle him. He is also a dangerous receiver out of the backfield and became a big safety net for Arizona's quarterbacks the past two seasons. Taylor should be able to thrive in Foxboro and I'd expect him to make the roster. Was labeled as New England's best undrafted free agent signing by 247Sports' Riley Gates. Jace Whittaker, CB, Arizona CardinalsWhittaker was another Wildcat that was expected to hear his name called. Much like Taylor, he didn't get to experience that thrill. Also like Taylor, he landed in a great spot for him. The Cards have some good defensive backs for Whittaker to work with and learn from. What rookie DB wouldn't want to learn from Patrick Peterson, Budda Baker, or even young Byron Murphy Jr? Whittaker can bring a lot to an NFL team. He has great instincts and has a knack for making plays on the ball. He was one of the best cover corners in the Pac-12 during his career at Arizona and that is something that I think can help him at the next level. I expect Whittaker to make the Practice Squad for his first year in the NFL. Was labeled as Arizona's best undrafted free agent signing by 247Sports' Riley Gates. Khalil Tate, WR, Philadelphia EaglesI like this move for Tate. As a matter of fact, during the Rivals Camp in Los Angeles five years ago, he participated as a receiver and beat some of the best DBs out West. What's more, he made it look easy.
Tate could thrive in Philadelphia. The Eagles have a good track record of having success with QB-turned-WR players, a la Greg Ward. Tate trained with former Eagle QB Donovan McNabb before the draft and it makes total sense why the Eagles signed him. Besides his connection with McNabb, Tate presents a unique weapon to Philly's offense. It is entirely plausible that the Eagles can, and will, draw up plays similar to what New Orleans executes with Taysom Hill. Get Jalen Hurts out on the field behind center with Tate split out wide, and it could spell chaos for opposing defenses. Despite what many people may believe, I think that Tate could carve out a niche in the City of Brotherly Love and stick with the team.
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With over half of the Pac-12 having a quarterback committed to their 2021 class, the Arizona Wildcats are still searching for theirs. UA has been recruiting a few quarterbacks, with one of them is Clay Millen.
The talented 3-star from Mount Si High School in Snoqualmie, Washington, checks off a lot of boxes for Arizona and the 'Cats are doing well here. I caught up with the gunslinger from the PNW to discuss his recruitment. Read on for my interview with Millen. Brandon Combs: How many offers are you currently sitting at? Clay Millen: "I have five: Oregon State, UNLV, Arizona, Oregon, and FAU." Brandon: Out of those offers, which schools are standing out the most to you? What puts them above the others? Millen: "I'd say right now, of the offers I have, Arizona and Oregon State stand out the most. "With OSU, I've made a really good connection with Jonathan Smith (OSU head coach) and Brian Lindgren (OSU offensive coordinator/QB coach). I think they're on the rise. With Arizona, Coach (Noel) Mazzone's a really up-beat guy with great energy. So he'd be a great coach to play for. He's is a really funny guy and knows the game." Brandon: What visits have you taken? What visits are you looking to take once you are able? Millen: "The only visit I took was with my 7v7 team, and it was to Oregon. Once this all passes the three visits I know I'll go on for sure are Arizona, OSU, and LSU. I might add other schools depending on how the rest of my recruitment goes." Brandon: How is your relationship with Noel Mazzone? Millen: "It's good. I had a FaceTime call with him this morning (April 10th). He's a great guy and fun to talk to. I'm looking forward to going down there." Brandon: What does he like about your game and what you could bring to Tucson if you chose Arizona? Millen: "He really liked my tape and watching me throw in person. I think some of my main attributes I would bring if I choose Arizona are smarts, accuracy, and the fact I'm really competitive." Brandon: Have you talked to any other coaches on Arizona's staff? Millen: "Just Coach Mazzone over the phone. He said I'd be talking with Coach (Kevin) Sumlin next week, so I'll be looking forward to that." Brandon: Arizona has started to make the PNW more of a recruiting ground for them over the past couple of seasons. Being a player from Washington, what does it mean to you that the Wildcats have recognized the talent up there and are starting to create those relationships? Millen: "I've seen a lot of talented dudes here in the PNW, so it's great that they're recruiting guys from the state of Washington. To be a part of that is awesome." Brandon: Do you have a time frame for when you'd like to like to make a commitment? When it comes time to make a decision, what are you looking for in a school? Millen: "Not sure yet. I was thinking most likely before my senior season. When making a decision, I'll be looking at my connection to the coaching staff, if I'd be a great fit in their offense, and how successful I think they'll be when I get there." Brandon: What aspect of your game are you looking to improve upon this offseason? Millen: "I don't think there's a certain part of my game I'm looking to improve. I'll just be throwing with my receivers and lifting to gain weight to help me be at my best for my senior season." Film Study
As I mentioned above, Millen checks off a lot of boxes for Arizona. His size is the first box to check off, as he sits at 6-foot-3 and around 195 pounds. He can still add some more muscle and not even put a dent in the athleticism he has.
Speaking of his athleticism, you can check that box off as well. He moves well in the pocket and can also use his legs to make plays. Prime example of this is the second play in his highlights where he dodges and breaks free from would-be tacklers. He then proceeds to launch an accurate pass downfield for a completion to his receiver. His vision and pocket presence check off more boxes. It's blatantly obvious that he sees the field extremely well, delivering accurate passes at every level. He also shows the ability to stand in the pocket and step into throws, or use his legs to evade pressure and still deliver strong, accurate throws. If you haven't sensed a pattern, the last box he checks off is arm talent. Millen can make almost any, if not every, throw. He has a very strong arm and his accuracy is astounding. There are multiple instances of Millen "threading-the-needle," placing the ball right where it needs to be, or perfectly leading his receivers. To me, his ability to accurately deliver passes on the run is the most impressive. Let's not forget that Millen completed over 70%....70%...of his passes last year. Just wow! Overall, Millen has all the tangibles. He very much reminds me of freshman QB Will Plummer and even sophomore starter Grant Gunnell. Arizona is in a good position with him and it'll be interesting to see how the 'Cats will fare once they are able to get him onto campus. 2019 Stats
Passing: 256-for-360, 3145 yds, 34 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: 132 car, 273 yds, 5 TD Junior Highlights
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Last season, head coach Kevin Sumlin and offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone made it very clear that the Arizona Wildcats will be looking to add at least one quarterback to every recruiting class.
One name to keep an eye on as the process goes on is Cameron Friel from Kailua High School in Hawaii. Noel Mazzone and the Arizona staff has done a great job so far in Friel's recruitment, and that relationship might help tip the scales in favor of the 'Cats in the end. I caught up with the tall gunslinger from the islands to discuss his recruitment. Read on for my interview with Friel. Brandon Combs: How many offers are you up to at this point in the process? Cameron Friel: "My offers at the moment are Navy, San Diego State, and Nevada. "Arizona is actually not a committable offer just yet. They're REALLY interested in me. I'll be on a FaceTime call tomorrow (April 10th) with Coach Noel Mazzone! So we'll see how that goes." (UPDATE: Friel said the call went incredibly well and the communication between him and Arizona has intensified.) Brandon: What other schools are you talking to that you feel are close to offering? Friel: "California, Western Kentucky, Utah, Utah State, BYU, Yale, and Fresno State." Brandon: What visits, if any, have you taken so far? What schools are you looking to visit once visits are allowed? Friel: "I'm looking to get up to California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada. I also want to head to Oregon State." Brandon: When it comes to visiting Arizona, what will you be looking for while on campus? Friel: "A great football facility, how easy it is to get around campus, and a good rehab center for after practice." Brandon: You mentioned you have an upcoming call with Coach Mazzone, how is your relationship with him? Friel: "Coach Mazzone and I talk a lot. It all started last year when I attended a camp at the University of Redlands and I met him there." Brandon: What does he like about your game and what you could bring to Tucson if you ultimately chose Arizona? Friel: "He likes that I have a quick release and he really likes my form. He has always told me that I have a strong arm. That, along with my quick feet, would be a great combination for the Wildcats!" Brandon: I noticed that you have a connection with Coach Andy Buh as well. Is he also recruiting you to Arizona? How is your relationship with him? Friel: "Coach Buh is great! We have a great relationship as well. He's always sending me graphics and showing love! He's been recruiting me since he arrived at U of A!" Brandon: When it comes to making a commitment, do you have a time frame in mind? What are you looking for in a school? Friel: "I don't actually have a time frame yet. It's been hard lately with this virus going around. I can't really explore my options like normal, so I just have to do research. When it comes to a school, the main things I'm looking for is a great environment, coaches that will always be there for me, and awesome teammates to build a strong bond with." Film Study
Friel has great size, sitting at 6-foot-4 and around 205 pounds. That size is something Noel Mazzone likes in his QBs. However, as you read above, that's not the only thing that stands out to Arizona's offensive coordinator.
Friel can spin the ball...plain and simple. He can make pretty much any throw, and can throw it all over the field. He has impressive accuracy and vision of the field. His arm strength is also something to note. There are quite a few instances where you see him make a good throw across his body, or accurately deliver a ball down field while off-balance or on the run. It's truly something to see. That type of arm strength is pretty impressive for a high school player. He also uses his legs effectively to move around the pocket and avoid pressure, showing a mobility that I think can be easily overlooked by his arm talent. And much like Friel stated, his footwork is also pretty damn good. Based on watching some snips of Mazzone since being at Arizona, that is very important to him. Friel has a great base to build on for the next level. I wouldn't be surprised if Arizona offers a full scholarship to Friel in the near future. With that said, this is a recruitment to keep an eye on for sure for Arizona fans. Junior Highlights
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The 2021 recruiting cycle is in full effect, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The Arizona Wildcat coaching staff has only upped their intensity on the recruiting trail, sending offers out to players all over the country.
Three star defensive end Tyler Kiehne, from Los Lunas High School in New Mexico, picked his offer from the Wildcats a few weeks ago and the 'Cats are making a great impression so far. A large part of that is new defensive line coach Stan Eggen and the relationship he's built with Kiehne. I spoke with the big pass rusher about his recruitment, views of Arizona, and more. Read on below for the interview. Brandon Combs: How many offers are you up to at this point in the process? Tyler Kiehne: "I have 10 offers." (Arizona, California, Kansas, New Mexico, Toledo, UCLA, Utah, Washington State, Wisconsin, Western New Mexico) Brandon: Out of your offers, which schools are standing out the most? Kiehne: "Wisconsin, Utah, UCLA, Arizona, and Cal." Brandon: What makes those 5 schools stand out over your other offers? Kiehne: "I just feel like those are the schools that are most interested in me at the moment, and where I have the best opportunities at." Brandon: What visits, if any, have you taken so far? What visits would you like to take once you able to visit campuses again? Kiehne: "I have taken visits to Cal, Stanford, Oklahoma State, UCLA, and Texas Tech. I would like to go to Wisconsin, Utah, UCLA, Arizona, and Cal again." Brandon: When it comes to the Arizona visit, what will you be looking for while in Tucson? Kiehne: "I'll just be looking for how I feel there. If I feel at home and if I feel the love from the coaches. It'll also be my first time in Tucson, so I want to see what the city is like as well." Brandon: Does the close proximity of U of A have any appeal to you, or does location not have much weight with your decision? Kiehne: "It does. Tucson is out of state but close enough to home. Location has a significant weight on my decision, but it's not a factor that will make or break my decision." Brandon: How did your offer from Arizona come about? Kiehne: "Coach (Stan) Eggen recruited me when he was at UNM (New Mexico). When he moved to Arizona, he told me that he was going to keep recruiting me. That's exactly what he did." Brandon: How is your relationship with Coach Eggen? Kiehne: "It's great! We've been building our relationship since I was a freshman in high school, so I've known him for a long time. He has always believed in me and wanted me to play for him!" Brandon: What does Coach Eggen like about your game and what you could bring to Tucson if you chose Arizona? Kiehne: "He likes my pass rush and my speed. I can bring a relentless attitude on defense. I can bring toughness and grit that a defense needs. I can also bring intensity, leadership, and energy." Brandon: When it comes to a commitment, do you have a time frame for when you want to make a decision? What are you looking for in a school? Kiehne: "I would like to commit sometime during the football season. I'm looking for the place where I will have the maximum amount of opportunities, both on the field and in the classroom." Brandon: With players like Connor O'Toole (Utah) and Philip Bidi (Texas Tech) going to Power Five schools last cycle, do you feel that New Mexico football players are starting to get the respect and attention they deserve? Kiehne: "I think that we are slowly getting to that point. We have a lot to prove to the rest of the country and I think we will do that." Brandon: What aspect of your game are you looking to improve this season? Kiehne: "I'm looking to get stronger."
Flipping on Kiehne's film and you can see what defensive line coach Stan Eggen loves.
Kiehne is relentless, plain and simple. He has an explosive first step and a great mixture of skills and technique. This allows him to enter the backfield quick, fast, and in a hurry. He has a great frame and already has a solid amount of good weight on him. Once he gets into a college lifting program, he's going to be a monster. Kiehne was very productive last year, as seen by his stat line. According to MaxPreps, Kiehne finished his junior season with 56 tackles, 13 tackles-for-loss, 9 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, a blocked punt, and a blocked field goal. Overall, Kiehne fits exactly what Arizona needs on the end with his combination of size, speed, and aggressiveness. Arizona is in a great position so far and the relationship with Stan Eggen shouldn't be overlooked. Junior Highlights: |