Connect with us
Burn+

High School Sports

Analyzing The Top Arizona High School Recruits on National Signing Day

It’s National Signing Day, and Arizona State is on its way to signing 19 different players. So, to celebrate National Signing Day, let’s look at the top six Arizona high school players in the 2024 class.

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

#1. Elijah Rushing, EDGE, Oregon

Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, AZ)

Elijah Rushing was nothing short of dominant each season he played for the Salpointe Catholic Lancers. Listed at 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, Rushing is a constant nightmare for offenses. The edge rusher totaled 32.5 sacks, 129 hurries, 216 tackles, and 42 tackles for loss in his 43 games with the Lancers. While Salpointe did not bring in any conference or state championships during that time, the team won 7+ games in each season, and Rushing was a huge part of that. Opposing offenses would have to gameplan specifically for him each week, as Rushing wreaked havoc in both the run and pass game.

Rushing has a chance to come in and immediately play for an Oregon team with many seniors on their defensive line this year. He will be competing against a lot of Sophomores. Rushing is the second-highest-ranked recruit for the Ducks, along with fellow D-Lineman Ayden Breland. They are also the only two five-stars for Dan Lanning this year, so he is expected to produce immediately. This Ducks team was hurt by their defense this past season. Not being able to get to Michael Penix was a big reason the Ducks lost to Washington twice this year and blew their chance at a playoff birth.

 

#2. Deshawn Warner, EDGE, Kansas 

Desert Edge (Goodyear, AZ)

During his three years on the varsity team of the Desert Edge Scorpions, Deshawn Warner totaled 33 sacks, 156 tackles, 41 tackles for loss, and five interceptions. This past season was by far his most dominant, as he finished with 16 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, two pick-sixes, two offensive touchdowns, and eight forced fumbles. This historic season was a leading factor to why the Scorpions finished the season with 11 wins and got to the 5A championship. Despite losing 42-41 to Higley on a controversial call, Desert Edge put together an incredible season, and the school will forever remember Warner for his impact.      

Warner is by far the top player in the Jayhawks recruiting class. The four-star Edge Rusher is joining a Kansas team that barely averaged two sacks a game last season. At 6’4, 225, Warner instantly will become one of the biggest options for Kansas next season. The Jayhawks have turned their football program around in the last couple of seasons. Deshawn Warner will help that continue. 

#3. Santana Wilson, CB, Texas

Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, AZ)

Santana Wilson has been one of the best cornerbacks in the state for a few years now. The Texas commit started three seasons for the Desert Mountain Wolves, and his absence will be felt next season. In those three seasons, Wilson had 127 tackles, nine interceptions, 35 pass deflections, and six total touchdowns. He is a speedy corner who has incredible awareness and ball-hawking skills. Opposing offenses constantly regretted throwing his way, which could very well happen at the next level.  

Wilson is a four-star but the first on this list where he isn’t even the top recruit in his school’s class. Wilson is the #2 cornerback in Texas’ class behind Kobe Black. The Longhorns were one of the worst teams in the country in passing yards allowed. So, it was known Texas was going to be attacking corners hard in the high school class, but that doesn’t mean the opportunity is there for Wilson. Almost the entire defensive back group for Texas is Freshman and Sophomore, so it will be very hard for Wilson to see playing time early in his career. 

#4. Demond Williams, QB, Arizona

Basha (Chandler, AZ)

Demond Williams’ playmaking ability from the quarterback position was a treat to watch weekly. The future Wildcat started on the Basha Bears’ varsity team for all four years, and his numbers are ridiculous. In those four years, Williams threw for 10035 yards, 93 touchdowns, and just 12 interceptions on a 71.4 completion percentage. In addition, he also had 2,783 yards and 42 touchdowns on the ground. Not only did he put up these numbers, but it also led to the Bears getting victories. Basha had a 38-7 record with Williams at QB, and he brought the school its first open state championship win ever in 2022.

Williams is the top QB in the AZ class and is the #2 recruit in the Wildcats recruiting class. The issue for the QB out of Chandler is that he is going to a school where they already have a future QB. Noah Fifita is a Redshirt Freshman named Freshman of the Year in the Pac-12. He led the Wildcats to one of their best seasons in the past decade and has turned them into a team on the rise. Fifita still has three more years of eligibility, which means Williams will unlikely see the field until he is a Senior.

#5. Noah Carter, EDGE, Washington

Centennial (Peoria, AZ)

Noah Carter could be argued to be the most dominant high school football player in Arizona over the last two years. Carter thrives most as a pass rusher but showed incredible potential as a receiver as well. During his final two seasons with the Centennial Coyotes, Carter had 25 sacks, 88 tackles, and two interceptions. At receiver during those two seasons, he totaled 60 catches for 1027 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was a huge part of the Coyotes’ success as they went 11-2 this past season and made it to the open state championship. This season got him named the Arizona Cardinals High School Defensive Player of the Year. Carter contributed heavily on both sides of the ball and will be a huge loss for the Coyotes as he goes to the next level.  

Carter is joining a Huskies team headed to the College Football Playoff this year. However, they are losing a lot of players to the draft after this season, as most of their starting lineup are upperclassmen. They are also losing a lot of receivers to the draft. Carter is listed as an Edge, but if he plays both ways, Kalen DeBoer will find a way to put him in the lineup. Carter is easily the top recruit in Washington’s class, as he is a top-eight edge rusher in the 2024 class. So Carter should find the field early and often for a fantastic Huskies program.

 

 

#6. Christian Clark, RB, Texas

Mountain Pointe (Phoenix, AZ)

The Mountain Pointe Pride hung their hats on running the football this season, and Christian Clark was a leading contributor. In his three seasons on Varsity, Clark totaled 2443 yards from scrimmage and 29 touchdowns. The Texas commit is well-built and a powerful runner who has incredible vision but can also break out when given an opening. Clark did not have much of an opportunity to showcase his receiving ability outside of his junior season, but he did show great potential when asked to do so. The gameplan ran through him for most games, and his absence will be felt for Mountain Pointe. 

Clark is the highest-ranking three-star committed to Texas, but he isn’t the top RB. Texas is known for developing multiple RBs at a time and turning them into pro prospects. They had both Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson. Both of them went in the first three rounds of the same draft, so if Clark can work himself up the depth chart, he could make an impact alongside Jerrick Gibson 

 

 

 

 

 

Related Topics

More in High School Sports