Arizona and head coach Kevin Sumlin added to an already heavy defensive class with commitment No. 21 of the 2021 recruiting class on Sunday.
The commitment comes from 6-foot-1 and 222-pound inside linebacker KC Ossai from Conroe (Texas) Oak Ridge High School. If the name sounds familiar, his brother is Joseph Ossai, a standout linebacker with Texas.
“He’s helped a lot,” Ossai said of his brother. “Obviously family means a lot to me during deciding where I’m going so him and my other brother Philip being behind my decision and helping me narrow down everything was great.”
With a completely new defensive staff, Arizona has made defense the focus for the 2021 recruiting class under new coordinator Paul Rhoads.
“I feel like it’s a staff that can help change the narrative instantly and I’m more than happy to be apart of it,” said Ossai.
Not only is Rhoads the defensive coordinator, he will also be coaching the inside linebacker position, the same position Ossai is expected to play.
“I love he’s attention to detail and can’t wait to lead the defense under his leadership,” said Ossai.
Ossai chose Arizona over Air Force, Army and Louisiana-Lafayette among others after receiving his offer from Sumlin on Feb. 19.
“It just felt more like home even though it’s about a 17-hour drive from where I live right now,” said Ossai.
The commitment gives Arizona a total of five linebackers for the 2021 recruiting class as the program tries to fix what has been a disappointing defense, especially in the front seven, for a few years.
Arizona Football Class of 2021 Commits
| Pos | Name | Ht/Wt | HS/JC | Committed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OLB | Jackson Bailey | 6-1/220 | Red Oak (TX) HS | 5/8/2020 |
| RB | James Bohls | 6-0/195 | San Clemente (CA) HS | 8/23/2020 |
| DT | Evan Branch-Haynes | 6-2/270 | S.F. Sacred Heart HS | 6/7/2020 |
| OLB | Kolbe Cage | 6-0/205 | New Orleans Holy Cross HS | 5/5/2020 |
| CB | Javione Carr | 5-11/160 | Arlington (TX) Sam Houston HS | 9/10/2020 |
| OT | Luke Eckardt | 6-7/265 | Richmond (IL) Richmond-Burton HS | 7/17/2020 |
| ILB | DJ Fryar | 6-3/205 | Steilacoom (WA) HS | 7/4/2020 |
| DE | Kevon Garcia | 6-2/215 | Houston Dekaney HS | 6/15/2020 |
| OC | JT Hand | 6-3/285 | Mission VIejo (CA) HS | 5/31/2020 |
| DE | Ja'Quez Harvey | 6-4/245 | Los Angeles Locke HS | 7/28/2020 |
| S | Dalton Johnson | 5-10/180 | Katy (TX) HS | 6/15/2020 |
| RB | Montrell Johnson Jr. | 5-11/200 | New Orleans De La Salle HS | 7/6/2020 |
| WR | Tyrese Johnson | 6-1/190 | New Orleans Booker T. Washington HS | 7/20/2020 |
| ATH | Logan Kraut | 6-2/190 | Santa Rosa (CA) Carrillo HS | 7/12/2020 |
| QB | Clay Millen | 6-3/188 | Snoqualmie (WA) Mt. Si HS | 6/19/2020 |
| CB | Jakelyn Morgan | 6-1/175 | Tyler (TX) Legacy HS | 8/27/2020 |
| DE | Alex Navarro-Silva | 6-5/220 | Riverside (CA) CC | 6/27/2020 |
| ILB | KC Ossai | 6-1.222 | Conroe (TX) Oak Ridge HS | 8/2/2020 |
| OT | Cade Parrish | 6-5/295 | Snow College (UT) CC | 8/1/2020 |
| DE | Ja'Marian Peterson | 6-3/238 | New Orleans De La Salle HS | 7/26/2020 |
| TE/QB | Colby Powers | 6-4/235 | Klein Collins (TX) HS | 6/26/2020 |
| RB | Stevie Rocker Jr. | 6-0/185 | CDO HS | 7/16/2020 |
| ILB | Matthew Weerts | 6-2/217 | Batavia (IL) HS | 6/22/2020 |
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com writer Troy Hutchison hails from Tucson and is a lifelong Arizona Wildcats follower. He has been involved in sports journalism over the last two years while taking communications courses at Pima Community College.
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