UPDATED: 3/31/21

Colleges across the nation continue to take notice of the prep talent in Arizona each season. More than 310 players from the Class of 2021 have signed with schools to advance their football careers, and receive an education.

Casteel has a few juniors with offers and one of them is Shakaun Bowser. The 6-4, 225-pound outside linebacker received an offer from a third different Power Five conference as he got one from Michigan last Wednesday. While it's Bowser's first offer from the Big Ten, it's his 13th overall. One area he is planning to work on this year is defeating blocks in the run game. Casteel made the playoffs in its first year as a 6A member as Bowser made 77 tackles and led the Colts with 11 sacks. That earned him First Team All-6A Fiesta Region honors as a defensive lineman (where he also plays). Michigan has a new linebackers coach in George Helow. He comes to the Wolverines from Maryland, where he was the special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach. The Wolverines have begun preparing for the season with spring practices. Due to attendance limitations in the state, Michigan will not be having a final spring game open to the public. That means everyone's first look at UM (2-4 last year) will be on Sept. 4 at home in Ann Arbor against Western Michigan (4-2 in 2020).

Also picking an offer up from Michigan last Wednesday was Lance Holtzclaw. The 6-4, 200-pound defensive end at Desert Ridge already has offers from four Pac-12 schools. He had 27 tackles and a pair of sacks in six games for the Jaguars last year plus nine tackles for a loss. Holtzclaw can also play receiver and hauled in 13 passes for 186 yards. He is ranked No. 8 overall in the state for the 2022 class by Rivals. With Arizona being one of the few states in the West to have a high school football season, it proved advantageous in getting junior film for Holtzclaw.

Earning his first offer last Wednesday was Ethan Lee. The Brophy running back got it from the University of La Verne. Lee, who is 5-8 and 195 pounds, was the Broncos' leading rusher last year. He had 174 yards in six games with most of those coming in the team's last game against Liberty (96 yards on 20 carries). Lee gets his work done in the weight room and is one of BCP's strongest kids and should make a big impact on the offense in 2021. La Verne, located in Los Angeles County, competes in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Div. III). The Leopards last played in 2019 and finished 4-6. Head coach Christopher Krich has been at the school for 10 years and guided the team to the 2015 SCIAC league title.

Chandler heads into the 2021 season in search of its sixth straight state title. The Wolves lose their three top tacklers, but bring back corner Alfred Smith. The 5-10, 160-pound defensive back collected his first offer from Navy last Thursday. Smith had 34 tackles, forced a fumble, and also recovered one last season. He's been playing 7-on-7 ball with one of the best teams around - Tucson Turf. Earlier this month, Tucson Turf traveled to New Orleans and won the Battle Tournament. Navy will kick off the 2021 season with a pair of home games in Annapolis against Marshall and Air Force on the first two Saturdays of September. The game against Marshall (W. Va.) will be the first meeting between the two schools. Navy finished 3-7 last season.

UNLV offered a pair of East Valley tight ends last Thursday. Michael Masunas and Jordan Morris gained them from the Rebels. Masunas, 6-5 and 250 pounds, plays at Hamilton. In addition to blocking for a powerful Huskies' run game (252 yards/game), he caught seven passes last season including a touchdown in the Open State championship game. Masunas was recently clocked electronically at 4.71 in the 40. Morris, 6-4 and 225 pounds, plays at Red Mountain. He was in just three games after transferring from Apache Junction, but made an impact as a big-play pass catcher with four catches for 127 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He had a big weekend in February playing 7's for Redrum, which won the Super Bowl Redzone tournament. UNLV will be holding its home games in Allegiant Stadium for the second year and are hoping to welcome fans this time. The Rebels will open in Las Vegas against Eastern Washington on Thursday, Sept. 2. A week later, UNLV will travel to Tempe to face Arizona State. In the abbreviated 2020 slate, the Rebels were winless at 0-6.

Morris added an offer from Colorado State on Wednesday. CSU will welcome fans back to Canvas Stadium with a home opener against South Dakota State on Sept. 4. The Homecoming Game will be a Mountain West showdown against defending conference champion San Jose State on Oct. 9. The Rams will miss UNLV this season, but host Nevada for Senior Day on Nov. 27. Colorado State finished 1-3 in a COVID-shortened 2020 season.

Like Smith, Chris Thomas Jr. got his first offer last week. The Cactus wide receiver earned it from Morgan State. The 6-foot, 170-pound athlete had to sit the first three games after transferring from Moon Valley, but ended up with 200 yards receiving with a pair of touchdown catches. Thomas Jr. also scored TDs on a fumble return and a kickoff runback. In addition to being a playmaker, he carries a 4.0 GPA. Thomas Jr. is the first Cactus player to earn a Division I offer since head coach Joseph Ortiz arrived at the West Valley school. Morgan State, located in Baltimore, is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (FCS). The league suspended the spring football schedule in February. The Bears are preparing for the fall season, which will begin on Sept. 4 at home against Towson (Md.). The game is known as the Battle for Greater Baltimore. Morgan State finished 3-9 during its last action on the field in 2019.

Saguaro offensive guard Parker Brailsford is seeing his offer count rise. The 6-3, 265-pound lineman is now up to 14 offers with five of those from the Pac-12 after obtaining one from Washington State last Saturday. The Cougars have a commitment from Desert Edge quarterback Adryan Lara so far in the '22 class. Brailsford can squat 555 pounds and has a great deal of versatility. He played each of the five spots on the line during a 5-1 season for Saguaro that earned it an Open Division tournament spot. Brailsford received the offer from Safeties coach Mark Banker. Washington State (1-3 in 2020) will play seven home games this year with the first three at home in Pullman. Utah State will visit on Sept. 4 followed on the next two Saturdays by Portland State and USC. The Cougars will travel to Tempe on Oct. 30 and have won two of the past three meetings with Arizona State. Arizona will close out the home slate for WSU on Nov. 19 in the first meeting between the schools since 2018.

St. Norbert College extended offers last week to Owen Faulkner and Jake Burrow. For both North Valley juniors, it was their first offers. Faulkner is a 6-1, 245-pound defensive tackle at O'Connor. He recorded 56 tackles with seven of them for a loss plus 1.5 sacks as the Eagles advanced to the 6A semifinals. Burrow is a 6-foot, 290-pound center at Notre Dame. The Saints were also in the final four as they finished 5-3 and made the 5A semifinals. Burrow recently benched 405 pounds. It was a canceled year for St. Norbert in 2020. The Green Knights play in the Midwest Conference (Div. III) and are planning to resume in full this fall. The opener is Sept. 4 at home in Wisconsin against Loras College (Iowa). In the 2019 season, SNC finished 6-3.

On Tuesday, Bryan Bogardus pocketed his first offer from St. Norbert. The 5-10, 205-pound running back transferred from Horizon to Saguaro prior to last season. Because of the transfer, Bogardus had to sit the first four games. He got into two in the second half, but due to cancellations from Sabercat opponents and then having to withdraw from the Open Division tournament due to COVID-19 cases, those were his only two games in Black & Gold during his junior year. As a sophomore at Horizon in 2019, Bogardus rushed for 604 yards and scored 11 touchdowns.

Here's the rest of the offers over the past week:

Cienega defensive end Brody Kallman received his first offer from Culver-Stockton (Mo.).
Arizona College Prep offensive tackle Keaton Messerole received his first offer from St. Norbert.

This list shows four-year college offers received by juniors throughout the state. It's not limited to just 6A and 5A. It will be constantly updated as we approach the Early Signing Period from December 15-17. Those are the first days that high school seniors can sign a letter of intent to agree to attend an institution.

Verbal commitments are shown in bold.

CLASS OF 2022 OFFERS

Quaron Adams - Chandler (RB): Arizona, Arizona State, California, Hawaii, Howard, Idaho, Iowa State, Kansas, New Mexico, Northern Arizona, Oregon

Christian Anaya - Hamilton (WR): Northern Colorado

Elijah Barclay - Salpointe (WR): Arizona, Hawaii, Illinois State, Nebraska, Purdue, TCU, Utah, Utah State

Bryan Bogardus - Saguaro (RB): St. Norbert

Treyson Bourguet - Salpointe (QB): Arizona, Columbia, Idaho, Vanderbilt

Shakaun Bowser - Casteel (LB): Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Colorado State, Fresno State, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Michigan, Oregon State, Southern Mississippi, Utah, Utah State

Parker Brailsford - Saguaro (OG): Air Force, Arizona, Boise State, BYU, Colorado, Colorado State, Kansas State, Michigan State, New Mexico, Northern Arizona, Oregon State, San Diego State, USC, Washington State

Gavin Broscious - Desert Edge (OG): Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, MICHIGAN STATE, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, UNLV, Utah, Vanderbilt

Devin Brown - Queen Creek (QB): Arizona, Arizona State, Iowa State, Michigan State, North Carolina State, Northern Arizona, Northwestern, Oregon State, USC, Wisconsin

Jake Burrow - Notre Dame (C): St. Norbert

Connor Clinton - Casteel (SS): Army

Kaden Cloud - Williams Field (RB): Air Force, Army, Columbia, Navy, Oregon State

Nason Coleman - Chandler (TE): Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, BYU, Colorado State, Dartmouth, Idaho, Iowa State, Nebraska, New Mexico, Princeton, UCF, UNLV, Utah, Utah State, Yale

Brandon Craddock - O'Connor (LB): Morgan State

Miles Crutchley - Saguaro (LB): Army

Brevin Czosnyka - O'Connor (LB): Army, Navy

Jalen Daniels - Red Mountain (QB): Howard, Morgan State

Russell Davis - Hamilton (DE): Arizona, Colorado State, East Carolina, Fresno State, Idaho, Nevada, San Diego State, Utah State

Ridge Docekal - Saguaro (QB): Appalachian State, Bucknell, Columbia

Amar Elmore - Chandler (DE): Dartmouth

Owen Faulkner - O'Connor (DT): St. Norbert

Angel Flores - Casa Grande (QB): Columbia, Georgetown, Morgan State, Northern Arizona

Kyion Grayes - Chandler (WR): Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, Iowa State, Kansas, Miami (Fla.), Michigan State, Nebraska, Northern Arizona, OHIO STATE, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, USC, Utah

Devon Grubbs - Desert Vista (RB): Air Force, Arizona, Arizona State, Northern Arizona

Donovan Guyton - Williams Field (FS): Air Force

Kaden Hicks - Mountain Ridge (OG): Lake Forest

Andrew Hinojos - Campo Verde (OT): St. Norbert

Blaine Hipa - Chandler (QB): Hawaii, Tennessee

Jacob Holmes - Chandler (DT): Arizona, Arizona State, Fresno State, Idaho, Oregon State, San Diego State, San Jose State, Utah State, Washington State

Lance Holtzclaw - Desert Ridge (DE): Air Force, Arizona, Boston College, Idaho, Iowa State, Kansas State, Michigan, Oregon State, San Diego State, Vanderbilt

Taj Hughes - Brophy (WR): Presbyterian

Javen Jacobs - Saguaro (RB): Air Force, Arizona State, Army, Colorado, Colorado State, Idaho, New Mexico, Northern Arizona

Aziya Jamison - Williams Field (RB): Arizona State, BYU, Idaho, New Mexico, Northern Arizona

Isaiah Johnson - Chandler (DT): Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Utah State

Brody Kallman - Cienega (DE): Culver-Stockton

Bryan King - Queen Creek (FS): Northern Arizona, Southern Mississippi

Adryan Lara - Desert Edge (QB): Arizona, Iowa State, Kansas, Oregon State, WASHINGTON STATE, William & Mary

Ethan Lee - Brophy (RB): La Verne

Anthony Lucas - Chaparral (DT): Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, California, Colorado, Florida State, Georgia, Iowa State, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA, USC, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin

Micah Lutu - Saguaro (OG): Arizona State, New Mexico

Marcus Lye - Brophy (K/P): Presbyterian

Nicco Marchiol - Hamilton (QB): Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Charlotte, Colorado, Colorado State, Florida, Florida Atlantic, FLORIDA STATE, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Liberty, LSU, Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Penn State, Rutgers, South Florida, TCU, USC, Utah, Washington State

Ivan Martin - Saguaro (CB): Army, Navy

Nick Martinez - St. Mary's (QB): St. Norbert

Michael Masunas - Hamilton (TE): Air Force, Army, Florida State, Maryland, New Mexico, Northern Arizona, Pennsylvania, San Diego State, UNLV

Jeryl McIntosh - Desert Edge (RB): Morgan State

Keaton Messerole - Arizona College Prep (OT): St. Norbert

Kane Metts-Terrell - Liberty (WR): Morehead State

Kevin Miniefield Jr. - Desert Ridge (CB): Air Force

Tristan Monday - Saguaro (DE): ARIZONA, Baylor, Colorado, Florida State, Idaho, Iowa State, New Mexico

Andrew Morris - Mesquite (LB): Idaho, New Mexico, Northern Arizona

Jordan Morris - Red Mountain (TE): Colorado State, Nevada, Northern Arizona, San Diego State, UNLV, Utah State, Yale

Benjamin Morrison - Brophy (CB): Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, Boston College, Colorado, Duke, Florida State, Indiana, Iowa State, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, UCLA, UNLV, Washington, Washington State

Andrew Petersen - Casteel (DT): Southern Mississippi

Tyler Powell - Brophy (TE): Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, Florida State, Idaho, Iowa State, New Mexico State, UCLA, UNLV

Jai Rodriquez - Desert Vista (OT): Arizona State, Idaho, Northern Arizona

Daniel Santiago - Horizon (DT): Air Force, Arizona, Army, San Diego State, Yale

Tony Servin - Sierra Linda (OG): Mayville State

Brayten Silbor - Chaparral (QB): Northern Arizona, Pennsylvania

Alfred Smith - Chandler (CB): Navy

Gavin Smith - Notre Dame (WR): Arizona State

Jax Stam - Liberty (FS): Army, Georgetown, New Mexico, Pennsylvania

Grayson Stovall - Hamilton (OG): ARIZONA, Arizona State, Charlotte, Colorado State, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan State, Oregon State, Utah

Zac Swanson - Brophy (DE): Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, California, Colorado, Florida State, Indiana, Iowa State, Kentucky, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Oregon State, Texas, UCLA, USC, Utah

Trevor Swan - Perry (OG): Arizona State

Malaki Ta'ase - Mesa Mountain View (DE): Southern Utah

Chris Thomas Jr. - Cactus (WR): Morgan State

Elijah Warner - Brophy (QB): Eastern Kentucky, Marshall, Presbyterian, Tennessee-Martin

Kolten Warner - O'Connor (SS): Central (Iowa), St. Norbert

Tucker Wilburn - Cesar Chavez (DE): Arizona State

UPDATED: 3/22/21

Over the past few years, the Saguaro Sabercats have sent star players on to college in the SEC (Georgia), Big Ten (Ohio State), Big Twelve (Oklahoma State), along with a handful to the Pac-12 Conference (Arizona State, USC, UCLA, Washington, Oregon). One of the local schools has been missing from this list, but its new coaching staff said it was going to prioritize in-state recruiting.

Chalk one up for head coach Jedd Fisch and the Arizona Wildcats, who gained a verbal commitment from Saguaro defensive end Tristan Monday fittingly, on Monday. The 6-4, 240-pounder announced on social media that he is staying in his home state.

"I believe in what Coach Brown is bringing for me on the field," Monday said in a text message. "As well as my whole family being U of A fans."

That would newly hired defensive coordinator Don Brown. He comes from Michigan, where he guided the Wolverines to a top 12 ranking in defense in four of his five seasons there. Brown has 45 years of experience and is known for his aggressive attacks earning him the nickname Dr. Blitz.

Getting to the quarterback is something Monday has done a lot of the last two years for the Sabercats. He has tallied 15.5 sacks in that time leading SHS in the category each season and helped the team to back-to-back Open Division tournaments.

Arizona is set to begin spring practice on Tuesday and will go at it on Tuesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays for five straight weeks. That will lead up to a Spring Game on April 24 at noon. The event will be televised on the Pac-12 Network and feature guest alumni Tedy Bruschi and Rob Gronkowski as coaches. It will be at Arizona Stadium in Tucson and the UA athletic department is hopeful that a limited number of fans will be able to attend for no charge. Arizona (0-5 in 2020) will kick off its 2021 season on Sept. 4 in Las Vegas against BYU (11-1 in 2020).

ARIZONA WILDCATS

Tristan Monday (DE) - Saguaro
Grayson Stovall (OG) - Hamilton

FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES

Nicco Marchiol (QB) - Hamilton

MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

Gavin Broscious (OG) - Desert Edge

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

Kyion Grayes (WR) - Chandler

USC TROJANS

Devin Brown (QB) - Queen Creek

WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS

Adryan Lara (QB) - Desert Edge