Football team gets more verbal commitments before signing day

If the Wildcats are able to sign all of their verbal commitments Feb. 4, the list could be the most impressive and most decorated of the Dick Tomey era.

Arizona recently added local standout Antrel Bates, who rushed for over 4,200 yards and 55 touchdowns the last two years at Amphitheater High School. He still has not qualified academically, however, and is waiting for his latest SAT scores.

In addition to tailback, Bates may also play defensive back and wide receiver.

Arizona also received a verbal commitment from a standout wide receiver in California.

Gary Love, of Jefferson High School in Los Angeles, caught 36 passes for 904 yards as a senior and was a three-year letter winner. He too may be used to return kicks for the Wildcats in the future.

The Wildcats added firepower to their defensive arsenal with commitments from defensive lineman Keoni Fraser of Hawaii and linebacker Antonio Pierce from Mount SAC Junior College in California.

Fraser, who recorded 17 sacks last season, is the third recruit to commit from the Island State. Rocky Freitas and Ben Alualu committed earlier this month.

Fraser, from Kailua High School, will help fill the void left by the departure of stalwart Joe Salave'a.

Pierce, rated one of the top 60 JC prospects in the country, had five sacks and forced five fumbles last year.

Meanwhile, Arizona is looking at three top quarterback prospects in hopes of finding a candidate to work under the wings of sophomore-to-be Ortege Jenkins.

Quarterbacks Adam Kenneybrew, of Beverly Hills, Calif., Jeremy Stevens from Lacey, Wash., and Adam Johnson from Entiwanda, Calif., are being pursued by the Wildcats to join previously committed quarterback Jason Johnson.

Kenneybrew is also being recruited by Nebraska, among other schools, despite his rather significant height disadvantage in comparison to Stevens and Johnson.

At 6-feet-7, Stevens would join redshirt freshman Peter Hansen as the second UA signal caller at that height.

Johnson, at 6-5, is also being recruited by Tennessee, as well as Pacific 10 Conference rivals Arizona State, Oregon and Washington State.

The Arizona coaching staff cannot comment on recruits until players have signed their letter of intent.