(Photo via AZ Desert Swarm)
Overview
Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 190-pounds
School/Hometown: Mount Si High School (Snoqualmie, WA) Class: 2021 Offers: Arizona, Colorado, Florida Atlantic, Indiana, Oregon, Oregon State, UNLV 2019 Stats: 256-for-360, 3,145 yds, 34 TD, 1 INT; 132 car, 273 yds, 5 TD Career Stats: 259-for-365, 3,176 yds, 34 TD, 1 INT; 137 car, 292 yds, 7 TD 247Sports Composite Ranking: 3-star (420th nationally, 19th Pro-QB, 11th in Washington 247Sports Ranking: 4-star (198th nationally, 10th Pro-QB, 6th in Washington) Analysis
Brandon Combs: This one’s got me juiced. Gabe and I talked about Millen for about 3 months or so, wondering if and when he’d commit.
Millen has all the tools needed to be a successful QB in the Pac-12. His arm talent is undeniable, able the make any and all throws. You name it: threading the needle, deep fades, in traffic, etc. But his arm talent is the only attribute that allows him to make those throws. His accuracy and intelligence play huge factors as well. Millen completed over 71% of his throws on 360 attempts during his first year as a starter, in a competitive and talent saturated class of high school football in Washington. Just for good measure, we’ll throw in his 34 touchdowns to only one, ONE, interception in 360 pass attempts. His arm isn’t his only weapon, his legs are dangerous as well. Millen can run and he doesn’t seem afraid to do so. He is deceptively quick and can gain chunks of yards at a time. To me though, it’s his ability to create time in the pocket with his legs and avoid pressure that is more impressive. One mark that goes against Millen is lack of experience. He has only one year of starting varsity football under his belt after he sat behind his brother Cale. Millen will also need to add some more muscle to his frame, but I don’t foresee that as a problem once he gets to Tucson. Overall, Millen is a phenomenal pick up for Arizona and continues to add to a strong quarterback room. Grant Gunnell, Will Plummer, and Clay Millen make for a formidable, three-headed monster. Gabe Encinas: This recruitment process an absolute roller coaster to follow despite only holding four Power Five offers throughout the majority of his commitment. Slowly those Power Five schools started filling up their spots at quarterback, but LSU was lingering and Colorado suddenly jumped into the offer pool. Arizona ends up getting a big time win at quarterback, a position that is pretty much barren in terms of uncommitted prospects. While he’s a high-end three-star prospect in the composite rankings, 247 is even more bullish on him, ranked No. 198 overall regardless of position, making him a four-star. As a quarterback he is a special talent. His numbers are through the rough in terms of completion percentage, passer rating, touchdown to interception ratio, total yards. He is one of the best passers in the country. He looks great in the pocket, has great feet and can gently place a ball where he wants or rip it in a tight window. His eyes stay downfield while under pressure and he is able to fight off defenders to get the ball downfield. There are some balls that sail beautifully and you just have to do that little laugh when something is so impressive. His mobility allows him to create some Patrick Mahomes types plays where he makes some incredible throws. You can’t even say it’s reckless as he only threw one interception the entire year. You can tell he is incredibly smart. He understands the passing concepts and he knows what the defense is trying to do and how to manipulate them. He has several audibles on film which is something I really only saw when I watched Rhett Rodriguez. Overall it’s hard to tell what else he could really do to increase his rankings. I think this is a complete quarterback prospect and one of the top in the nation. Maybe it’s a bit of his throwing motion, perhaps his unconventional scrambling that needs to be tightened up, maybe he benefits from having elite receivers because some of those grabs are unreal as well. He’s the perfect mix of Grant Gunnell and Will Plummer it’s unreal. To me this is Grant Gunnell heir apparent. Gunnell will be entering his junior year by the time Millen arrives on campus which would give him a year or two to sit and learn. Hopefully that is the understanding and he takes advantage of that time. Junior Highlights
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(Photo via AZ Desert Swarm)
The Arizona Wildcats received a big commitment from dynamic New Orleans-based wide receiver Tyrese Johnson to start the week.
Johnson became the third player from Louisiana to commit to the ‘Cats this cycle, as they continue to pick up steam in The Boot. The 6-foot-1 receiver is a playmaker on the outside and is great with reeling in contested catches and high-pointing the ball. It’s not hard to see him making an impact early in his career in Tucson. I caught up with Arizona’s newest commit to discuss his decision and more.
Brandon Combs: How does it feel to get your commitment off your chest and know what school you’ll be attending in the future?
Tyrese Johnson: “It feels good to make one of the biggest decisions of my life and feel good about it. I’m very excited to attend Arizona and I’m really looking forward to starting a new chapter in my life.” Brandon: What about Arizona attracted you and made you think this is the place for me? Johnson: “What attracted me about Arizona is the family culture they have. That was really pulling me towards them. Also, Arizona is very pretty.” Brandon: Who was your lead recruiter on staff? Johnson: “Coach (Theron) Aych.” Brandon: How is your relationship with him? Did he make your decision any easier? Johnson: “My relationship with him is very good. We talk everyday. He didn’t necessarily make the decision easier nor harder for me. I took it upon myself and asked a couple of close friends to do some research on Arizona with me. We all came together with what we had and I made the decision from there.” Brandon: Being from New Orleans, how does it feel to know you’ll have two other players (Kolbe Cage and Montrell Johnson) from your hometown, as well as Jabar Triplett from Baton Rouge, with you in Tucson? Johnson: “It will be great to play with a childhood friend such as Kolbe. Montrell and Jabar are dawgs as well. I’ve watched their film before committing to see who I’ll be playing with. I couldn’t be more excited to be on the team with them. We are Boot Boys!” Brandon: Are there any other players in Louisiana, or players in general, that you are recruiting to come with you to Arizona? Johnson: “No player in general, but if there are some that I see, I’m on the hunt.” Brandon: Are you looking to enroll early? Johnson: “No, I believe I should graduate on time.” Brandon: Moving to the offseason, what is one aspect of your game you are looking to improve? Johnson: “I’m looking to improve everything. But if I have to choose it would be speed and explosion out of my route.” Brandon: What are your goals for this upcoming season? Johnson: “My goals are to win state championships in football and basketball. I want to leave my school with my legacy and make sure I have fun my senior year.” Junior Highlights
(Photo via @ShieldTaylor1 on Twitter)
The Arizona Wildcats are red hot on the recruiting trail and have added 10 commitments in the past month.
The most recent addition was 3-star running back Montrell Johnson Jr. from New Orleans. However, he isn't the only offensive target for Arizona in Louisiana. Shield Taylor, a 6-foot-4, 235 pound tight end from Alexandria High School in Louisiana, is another such player for the 'Cats. Taylor's recruitment has taken off this offseason. As of now, he has 20 offers with just under half of those coming from Power 5 programs. I caught up with the athletic tight end to discuss his recruitment, Arizona, and more.
Brandon Combs: How many offers do you have so far?
Shield Taylor: "I believe I have around 20." Brandon: Out of those numerous offers, who is standing out to you the most? What makes those schools stand out? Taylor: Mainly the Power 5 programs (Arizona, Arkansas, Duke, Georgia Tech, Michigan State, Northwestern, Stanford, UCLA, Washington). Mainly their competitive football and good education (make them stand out). Brandon: Before the pandemic, were you able to take any visits? Where would you like to visit in the future? Taylor: "I wasn't able to take any visits. I would like to visit the schools I mentioned above." Brandon: Moving on to Arizona, how long have they been recruiting you for? Taylor: "They've been recruiting me for about two or three months." Brandon: Who is your lead recruiter on the staff? Taylor: "I speak to (inside receivers) coach (Theron) Aych the most." Brandon: What does he like about your game and what you could bring to Tucson should you choose Arizona? Taylor: "He likes my versatility. I would be able to bring physicality, versatility, and a mettle mindset to Arizona." Brandon: How would you say your relationship is with Coach Aych? Taylor: "It's pretty good. We talk about once a week." Brandon: Arizona has made it clear that recruiting Louisiana is a priority. What are your thoughts on a West Coast school like them spending a lot of time building relationships in and recruiting Louisiana? Taylor: "I think Louisiana is a great football state. I'm very open to going wherever the best opportunities are." Brandon: Do you have a time frame for when you'd like to make a decision and commit to a school? What are you looking for in a school? Taylor: "I'm thinking sometime before my senior season. I'm looking for a good education and competitive football. I'm also looking for a program that I fit into and a coaching staff that I like." Brandon: Moving to your senior season, what are some of your goals for this upcoming season? Taylor: "Definitely speed improvement, be a better vocal leader, motivate my team to achieve our goals, and be feared by every team in the state. We want to get to the Dome." Brandon: Besides your speed, what aspect of your game are you looking to improve this offseason? Taylor: "Definitely my change of direction." Film Study
Taylor is a do-it-all type of tight end. He is extremely effective in the passing game. He shows off strong hands and some pretty good route execution. He is able to get open surprisingly easy, and even when he isn't, he is still able to reign in contested passes with his long arms and strong hands.
Taylor is very impressive in the run game as well. He is an aggressive blocker and it is something you can tell he likes doing. He does a great job of setting his edge or being a lead blocker opening up big holes for his running back. He has a very good frame and has room to add some more muscle. It is worth noting that he moves very well for someone of his size and can prove to be a bit elusive, especially in his route running. Like he mentioned in the interview, he can improve his speed a little. The fact that he is able to notice his shortfalls says a lot about his character and his mindset. 2019 Stats
Unable to find stats.
School Info
Name: Alexandria Trojans
League: Class 5A District 2 National Rank: 1,092 State Rank: 23 out of 421 schools Class 5A Rank: 10 out of 71 schools Junior Highlights
(Photo via @Mandyjohnson131 on Twitter)
Overview
Height/Weight: 5-foot-10, 180-pounds
School/Hometown: Katy High School (Katy, TX) Class: 2021 Offers: Arizona, Arkansas State, Army, Colorado State, Houston, Houston Baptist, Louisiana Tech, North Texas, SMU, UNLV, Virginia Tech 2019 Stats: N/A (MaxPreps not updated) Career Stats: N/A (MaxPreps not updated) 247Sports Composite Ranking: 3-star (1,223rd nationally, 98th S, 190th in Texas) 247Sports Ranking: 3-star (108th S, 214th in Texas) Analysis
Gabe Encinas: To be honest I’m pretty surprised that Arizona was able to pull him away from Virginia Tech. It’s a big win for the staff and another great pick up in this class.
At first, Johnson looks a little undersized and I’m interested to see how he will officially measure. Although he appears to be an inch or two shorter than “ideal” he has a solid build at 180 pounds on his frame. But regardless of size, Johnson has elite closing speed and explosiveness. He’s a downhill safety that can cover the flats and fit in run support. He flows to the ball and gets an angle on the ball carrier to bring them down. He shows great tackling abilities and delivers a good hit when he’s wrapping up. Of the seven commitments so far I think Johnson has the most NFL potential. Being ranked outside the top 1,200 has him pretty grossly underrated, and I’d put him inside the top 750 range. To me, he’s Arizona’s highest ranked prospect just ahead of JT Hand. Brandon Combs: Johnson is a really nice pickup for Arizona, and the type of safety the defense needs. He is a tough, hard-nosed player. He likes contact and has excellent form when making tackles. As a matter of fact, I didn’t see much, if any, arm tackles while watching his highlights. Shortly after his announcement, Gabe and I talked about how he is already playing with college-level speed. He has impressive closing speed and he plays with a lot of energy. You can tell that the game has slowed down for him. I’m intrigued to see what adjustment period, if any, he needs once he gets to Arizona. Overall, Johnson has great footwork and decently fluid hips as well. I didn’t see too many issues with eye discipline, even when in coverage. He dissects plays rapidly and flies to the ball carrier with that speed that was mentioned above. That speed also allows him to go toe-to-toe with receivers in coverage. It’s interesting that he is ranked as low as he is. I believe this is due in large part to the perception that he is undersized. Don’t tell him that, as he doesn’t play that way. Junior Highlights
(Photo via Hudl)
The Arizona Wildcats ares slowly, but surely, gaining momentum on the recruiting trail. The 'Cats are now up to four commitments for 2021 and are continuing to make good progress with prospects all around the country.
One such prospect is Steilacoom (WA) High School linebacker D.J. Fryar. Paul Rhoads is leading the charge for Fryar and has caught the attention of the 6-foot-3, 210 pound backer. I caught up with the versatile playmaker to discuss his recruitment, Arizona, his senior season, and more. Read on below.
Brandon Combs: How many offers do you have so far?
D.J. Fryar: "I'm sitting at six as of right now." (Air Force, Arizona, Army, Boise State, Nevada, Washington State) Brandon: Out of those six, which schools are standing out to you? What makes them stand out over the others? Fryar: "Definitely Arizona, Army, and Boise State. What makes them stand out is the communication and the dedication and drive to get me there." Brandon: Have you taken any visits yet? Once the travel restrictions are lifted, where are you looking to visit? Fryar: "I've taken two vists, Oregon and Oregon State. Once I'm able to travel, I'm looking to visit Boise State, Wazzu (Washington State), Arizona, possibly Air Force, and possibly Army. I probably going to take a trip to Nevada. I might go back down to Oregon and Oregon State. I also might head to Wyoming." Brandon: While on your visits, and your visits in the future, what are you looking for? Fryar: "I'm mainly looking for the environment around the football program, how they get along as a team." Brandon: Regarding Arizona, how long have they been recruiting you for? Who is your lead recruiter on the staff? Fryar: "I'd say about a month now. Defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads." Brandon: How is your relationship with Paul Rhoads? Fryar: "It's pretty good. We are building a nice and strong relationship right now. So it's going pretty good." Brandon: What does Coach Rhoads like about your game and what you could bring to Tucson if you chose Arizona? Fryar: "He's told me that he likes my size and the size I could add. He likes my tenacity, work ethic, and how I play." Brandon: Arizona is started to recruit the PNW heavier than usual. They added Jalen John from Oregon last cycle and are recruiting QB Clay Millen hard. As a player from Washington and the PNW, what are your thoughts on Arizona attempting to establish themselves in the Northwest? Fryar: "It's good because up here we don't get a lot of looks. It's harder for a lot of people to see us. It's good to know we are getting looks and our work ethic is is paying off." Brandon: I know you have a lot of versatility, especially with your size. What position is Arizona recruiting you at? Fryar: "They are looking at me as an inside linebacker." Brandon: Do you have a time frame for when you'd like to commit? When it comes time to make a decision, what are you looking for in a school? Fryar: "At the latest, I'd probably say, October. The earliest would probably be August. I'm mainly looking for the friendship and relationship with the coaches. I also want to go to a top and really good business program." Brandon: Speaking of majors, anything in particular in business that you are looking at? Fryar: "I'm mainly looking at marketing and entrepreneurship." Brandon: Moving to your upcoming senior season. You just made the move to transfer to Steilacoom High School. What are your thoughts on making that move from your hometown to down the road? Fryar: "It's good. The transition really wasn't that hard, it was pretty smooth. I felt welcome once I got there. It was a pretty easy move." Brandon: How do you feel about your team's upcoming season? Fryar: "I feel great. We are going to make another long run, most likely back to the state championship. Just got the keep our heads straight, and as long as we don't lose focus, we'll be good." Film Study
Fryar has a lot of the talent that you want in a linebacker. His size and frame jump out at you while watching his film. He has a excellent frame for a linebacker and one that will allow him to gain muscle with ease.
I love his versatility as well. The theme so far for how Arizona is recruiting the defensive side of the ball, and the three commitments they have on defense, is versatility. Fryar predominately lined up as the middle backer for the Sentinels, however, he played safety and running back as well. This experience at safety makes him effective in pass coverage from the linebacker spot. Fryar plays fast and aggressive. He has the ability to read, dissect, and react to plays quickly. He has a quick first step and has impressive burst as well as speed. Fryar is a solid playmaker who has a high ceiling. He has the talent and skillset the coaches are looking for and would provide immediate help at a position of need. As mentioned above, Arizona is in a good spot with Fryar and should be as his recruitment moves forward. His relationship with Rhoads and the other coaches will be important, but so will Arizona's business program. 2019 Stats
Defense: 87 tackles, 5.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, 2 INT, 1 PBU, 1 fumble recovery
Junior Highlights(Photo via @showtime9_ on Twitter) About a month ago, the Arizona Wildcats staff got some not-so-good news as one of their promising young players received an injury that'll put him out for the season. Incoming freshman linebacker Jabar Triplett Jr. tore his Achilles while working out and prepping for his first college season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Baton Rouge native has since had a successful surgery and is on the mend. The good news is he and his family have kept a positive mindset on the situation and that is something that will help him on his road to recovery. I caught up the talented inside backer to discuss his injury, surgery, plans for his freshman season, recruiting, and more. Brandon Combs: How is recovery from your surgery going? Jabar Triplett Jr.: "Recovery is going good. I'm getting used to everything." Brandon: That's great to hear! How did the surgery go? It looked like it went pretty well. Triplett Jr.: "Yeah the surgery went pretty well. This fixed me up right and got me back right." Brandon: What timeline did they give you until you can start walking again? Triplett Jr.: "I have to go in to get a cast. Then I have to wear the cast 6 to 8 weeks. After that I'll be in a walking boot. It's not too bad." Brandon: Describe to a me a little how the injury happened. Triplett Jr.: "A couple of friends and I were out working out on the levy, getting some work in. We were just doing some bounds up the levy. One my last one, when I jumped and came down, it felt like somebody kicked me and I fell down to the ground instantly. Had a nice little pop like something had broke. I kept walking on it because I thought it was a little sprain or something." Brandon: How have the Arizona coaches reacted to this news? Triplett Jr.: "All the coaches at Arizona have been checking in on me, hitting me up, calling me and everything. They are ready for me to get down there and get my rehab going. I kind just spend more time learning the playbook this year and then they'll be ready for me next year." Brandon: Besides learning the playbook, will you also be picking the brains of the linebackers already on the team? What are you hoping to learn while watching the team? Triplett Jr.: "Oh yes sir! I want to learn the speed of the game and watching the two linebackers ahead of me (Colin Schooler and Tony Fields). Watching how they play and learn from their good plays and mistakes. That way, when I come in next year, I can improve on my skills and integrate some of their skills with mine. They are some good linebackers." Brandon: We've talked a little about the Paul Rhoads hire a few months back. What are your thoughts on playing for him? What are you hoping to learn from him? Triplett Jr.: "I'm very excited to play under Coach Paul Rhoads. I looking forward to him teaching me to become a great linebacker and learn the game even better. He's got some good players coming in for Arizona this year. The defense, we're going to be good this year." Brandon: You are coming in as an inside linebacker. Is there anything you like more about playing inside rather than outside backer? Triplett Jr.: "I like playing inside because I can make plays in the middle of the field, you know? Tackles, hit the running back, and spy on the quarterback." Brandon: I know COVID-19 has slowed life down for everyone, but do you have an idea about when you are moving to Tucson? Does the staff want you to do rehab in Tucson? Triplett Jr.: "I was trying to go in June. However, it might end up being the beginning of July. I'm going to start rehab a little bit down here (Baton Rouge) but I'm going to finish the rest of my rehab up there in Tucson." Brandon: Moving to recruiting for just a moment. Arizona has been active and aggressive in recruiting Louisiana. How does that make you feel as a player from The Boot coming to play in Arizona? Triplett Jr.: "That makes me feel good because out here in Louisiana, we have a lot of talent out here. And that's what we are going to need in Arizona, some Louisiana kids. Have to get it up and rolling." Brandon: Have you been recruiting any Louisiana players to Arizona? How has the response been? Triplett Jr.: "Oh yeah. I've been talking to some of the players, telling them to come join us. They say they really like Arizona. They like the coaching staff, the ones they've been talking to and who's recruiting them." Triplett Jr. is going to make the most of his time while recovering from his injury. Learning from Colin Schooler and Tony Fields will only help him and allow him to learn from some of the best linebackers in the Pac-12. Couple that experience with the time he'll have to learn the playbook, and you have a recipe for someone who should see no problem seeing the field once he is fully healed.
(Photo via 247Sports)
Overview
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 210 lbs High School: Holy Cross School Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana Offers: Arizona, Houston Baptist, Nevada, South Alabama, Southern Junior Season Stats: Unknown Career Stats: 44 tackles, 2 INT, 1 PBU, 1 forced fumble (incomplete; unable to find Junior stats) 247Sports Composite Ranking: 3-star (1,032nd nationally, 73rd OLB, 28th in Louisiana) 247Sports Ranking: 3-star (70th OLB, 38th in Louisiana) Analysis
Cage is a nice first addition to the 2021 class. He brings a lot to the table, and one thing the coaching staff loves is his versatility. He has the ability to play either safety or outside linebacker. Spoiler, he'll most likely be playing linebacker in Tucson.
He has fantastic eye discipline and sees the field well. This allows him to dissect plays as they progress and react quickly. This reaction time is helped by his high football IQ and solid footwork. Cage plays fast and aggressive. He is not afraid of contact and hits the ball carrier with a surprising amount of power sometimes. This, coupled with his speed, stops ball carriers in their tracks allowing him to take them down. He also appears to have solid tackling form. He will need to work on some things. He will need to add around 10-20 pounds to his frame to play backer at the college level. He is more than reliable in pass coverage and plays the run well. However, one would like to see more pass rush from him. There are a couple of special teams plays that showcase his possible pass rushing abilities, but not many actual pass rushing situations. Even though he has solid form while tackling, he will need to widen his base a little. This will give him stability and allow him to produce more power. Overall, though, Cage is a very nice addition to the defense. Based on his film and productivity, it would not be surprising to see him see the field his freshman year. Junior Highlights(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.
(Photo via Hudl)
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
(Photo via Hudl)
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 |