Signing Day rewind: More 2019 prospects find homes
Most of Arizona’s top 2019 football prospects signed on the Early Signing Day in December, but Wednesday still had some suspense.
Chandler defensive tackle Matthew Pola-Mao declared for Kansas State over Nebraska, USC and Iowa State, and Gilbert Perry tight end Kyle Patterson picked the Air Force Academy over Alabama and Washington.
Pola-Moa’s brother, three-time All-Arizona safety Isaiah Pola-Moa, is at USC. And Gilbert Williams field defensive back Noa Pola-Gates, Pola-Mao’s cousin, signed with Nebraska, hoping Matthew would follow him.
Alabama and Washington, not to mention Georgia, were in hard pursuit of Patterson in the past month.
Pola-Mao, who played his first three varsity seasons at Phoenix Mountain Pointe, developed a close bond with Kansas State defensive tackles coach Mike Tuiasosopo, who was at USC when the Trojans were recruiting both Pola-Mao brothers.
A weekend visit to Manhattan, Kan., last weekend after the Wildcats offered him, sealed the deal for Pola-Mao.
“It was an amazing visit,” the 6-foot-2, 305-pound Pola-Mao said. “I loved it a lot. I love the head coach (Chris Klieman). He was great at North Dakota State. He knows how to win. It’s a great program.”
Patterson, 6-6, 235, was offered by Washington a day after his Perry team lost to Chandler in the 6A championship game in early December.
The Huskies appeared to be the favorite. Then came an offer from Alabama.
Patterson visited Washington in mid-December, but he appreciated the many reasons to commit to Air Force Academy.
“Just talking to my parents, with the Air Force, I’m going to be serving the next 40 years, not just the next four,” Patterson said. “That’s a thing that’s for me. I’m still competing at a D-I level, so it’s not a drop-off by any means.”
His dad, Shawn Patterson, who played at Arizona State and for the Green Bay Packers, was impressed by his son’s decision.
“He looked at, ‘Where was he going to be challenged most?’ “Shawn said. “When you look at the programs, the Air Force will challenge you and push you and teach you and do more than anybody else.
“He was looking at being the best man that he could be, as well as being something greater than himself. That’s a huge part of his heart, to be others-oriented. He’s always had others at heart. Part of service is who he is.”
More than 150 Arizona high school football seniors signed with four-year colleges between the early and traditional signing days.
Scottsdale Saguaro had the most player sign with four-year colleges with 14. Chandler had 12 players sign.
Saguaro could wind up with 15 of its 19 seniors signing with four-year colleges. Coach Jason Mohns said that receiver/ safety Josiah Jacobs still is expected to sign.
Two players who only got on the field in the second half of the season after obtaining restraining orders against the Arizona Interscholastic Association from a Maricopa County Superior Court judge signed on Wednesday.
Saguaro receiver/running back Marqui Johnson signed with Sacramento State, and Chandler cornerback David Eppinger signed with Idaho. Both players helped lift their teams to their respective state championships.
As great as Pac-12 California did in Arizona, pulling six players, led by Chandler running back DeCarlos Brooks and Phoenix Desert Vista defensive lineman Brett
Johnson, Idaho pulled one more.
The Vandals swooped in and signed seven players from the Valley. That included Phoenix Pinnacle receiver/back Kaleb Covington and twins Hayden and Hogan Hatten of Saguaro. Hayden, a tight end, and Hogan, a linebacker, had committed to Brown, but after a coaching change at the Ivy League school, both reopened their recruiting.
Air Force topped what Idaho did, getting eight from the Valley, including Saguaro safety Nate Polk.