Arizona Wildcats Flip Utah 2016 3-Star QB/LB Commit Kahi Neves
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The 2016 Arizona recruiting class has been stocked full of talent under center at one time or another with a one-time verbal commitment from 5-star quarterback Shea Patterson, now committed to Ole Miss, and with 4-stars Devon Modster and Khalil Tate currently part of the haul. On Saturday the Wildcats coaching staff added a third potential quarterback to the mix, Kahi Neves.
Neves, listed at 6’3”, 235 pounds, helped Timpview High School make the Utah High School Football State Championship Game running a record of 11-2. Neves passed for 2,439 yards with 19 touchdowns against 12 picks while rushing for 470 yards on 121 carries with another seven scores.
Neves had been a commitment to Utah since October of 2014 but as a quarterback. Arizona may have a different use for the extremely athletic Neves, at linebacker. In 2014, Neves played for Brighton High School (Salt Lake City) helping the Bengals to a 10-2 record. Brighton used Neves some at quarterback but he stood out at linebacker coming up with 65 tackles, three sacks, and a fumble recovery.
The Wildcats now have 17 verbal commitments to their 2016 recruiting class with all but one recruit hailing from outside Arizona. The class is a mix of under the radar talents like DT Markell Utsey and J.J. Taylor to guys like OL Michael Eletise along with quarterbacks Tate and Modster.
Arizona Wildcats 2016 Recruiting Class
CB Isaiah Hayes, 5’11”, 175 lbs, Calabasas HS, Calabasas, CA
SS London Iakopo, 6’0”, 215 lbs, Long Beach C.C., Long Beach, CA
SS Gavin Robertson, 6’2”, 200, lbs, Auburn Mountainview HS, Auburn, WA
DE Jake Burton, 6’6”, 255 lbs, Granite Hills HS, El Cajon, CA
DT Justin Holt, 6’1”, 300 lbs, Salpointe HS, Tucson, AZ
DT Markell Utsey, 6’4”, 295 lbs, Parkview HS, Little Rock, AR
LB Jacob Colcion, 6’1”, 216 lbs, La Habra HS, La Habra, CA
OG Bryson Cain, 6’5”, 265 lbs, Great Oak HS, Temecula, CA
OG Michael Eletise, 6’4”, 300 lbs, Kaiser HS, Honolulu, HI
QB Devon Modster 6’1”, 215 lbs, Tesoro HS, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
QB/LB Kahi Neves, 6’3”, 235 lbs, Brighton HS, Salt Lake City, Utah
QB Khalil Tate, 6’1”, 205 lbs, Junipero Serra HS, Gardena, CA
RB Russell Halimon, 5’9”, 180 lbs, Allatoona HS, Acworth, GA
RB Tyliek Raynor, 5’9”, 170 lbs, Imhotep HS, Philadelphia, PA
RB J.J. Taylor, 5’6”, 155 lbs, Centennial HS, Corona, CA
WR Devaughn Cooper, 6’0”, 175 lbs, Narbonne HS, Harbor City, CA
WR Sean Riley, 5’9”, 165 lbs, Narbonne HS, Harbor City, CA
Photo credit: scout.com; Kahi Neves at an Elite 11 camp.