Less than three years after Arizona football coach Jed Fish stressed at the introduction of Zoom phones that the Wildcats “must beat Arizona” in recruiting, his next recruiting class now features some of the nation’s top defensive and offensive players. state.
Four-star quarterback Damond Williams Jr. is the second half of that combo, promising to head to Arizona Monday morning after making an official visit to the UA campus over the weekend.
Chandler Basha quarterback Daemond Williams Jr. passes against Phoenix Mountain Point in a 2021 high school football game.
Alex Gould, Republic of Arizona
Williams joins Salpoint Catholic High School star Elijah Rushing. 247 Sports Com As America’s No. 1 edge rusher in 2024, and as a top offensive and defensive player to serve the Wildcats.
in his presentation video Posted on Williams’ Twitter accountSurrounded by his family, the quarterback privately announced his move to UA in a 2016 home video.
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“I would like to thank all the colleges for their interest in me, but without further ado, I plan to take my talents to the University of Arizona,” Williams, 10, said at the time.
Williams’ father, Daemond Williams Sr., was a standout defensive back at Pima Community College in 2004, then had 65 tackles and three interceptions in two seasons with the Spartans before finishing college at Michigan State. Recorded.
A 5-11, 180-pound senior to in-state powerhouse Chandler Basha, young Williams is Arizona’s third-best prospect by 247 sports and 17th in the nation in a 24-year hiring cycle. Considered to be an excellent quarterback. rivals.com lists him as a four-star quarterback.
In three seasons at Basha High School, Williams passed for 6,785 yards, 59 touchdowns and nine interceptions, while rushing for 1,647 yards and 22 points. Williams and Basha beat the Rushing and Lancers 46-14 in Tucson last season, with Williams completing 16-of-23 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns, and 66 rushing yards on seven carries. Earned.
From the moment Fish was introduced as Arizona’s head coach on Dec. 23, 2020, he stressed the Wildcats need to keep more in-state rookies closer to home.
On a Zoom call from inside the New England Patriots office that day, Fish said: We should be able to contest some of them. ”
Since Fish’s inauguration, the Wildcats have acquired players from high-profile Arizona programs such as Salpoint and Chandler Hamilton, as well as Trinity League Los Angeles divisions such as Martell Day, Servite and St. John Bosco. Giants also won.
“We’re in a program to win games,” Fish said at Pac-12 Media Day earlier this month. “We want to have as many winners in our locker room as possible. A high school that knows what it takes to win.Work hard.I want those kids in our program.”

Demond Williams Jr. (center) (left to right) flanked by his sister Holly, father Demond, mother Clarissa and brother Jordan play college football in Mississippi at an event at Basha High School on December 30, 2022. In Chandler announced his intention to play. Williams was fired from Ole Miss in early July.
Mark Henle, Arizona
Williams committed to Ole Miss in December, but made the commitment earlier this month, just weeks after 2025 five-star quarterback Austin Simmons was reclassified into an unprecedented two-weight division to join the Rebels this season. was released. Williams drew attention from UCLA and Michigan State University, among others.
The Bryce Young-esque Williams became the third quarterback to pledge a scholarship to Arizona since Fish’s inauguration, alongside Noah Fifita (2022) and Brayden Dorman (23). four, including former transfer Jayden De Lola). The Fish administration’s philosophy is to sign one quarterback per recruiting class.
Last month, Williams entered the Elite 11 quarterback camp and finished the event with the following ratings: rivals.com As the nation’s No. 15 quarterback. Despite his “small stature,” Rivals said his commitment in Arizona “immediately changed the conversation, and I came to admire his quick release and consistency in more difficult scenarios.” said. Few people in this position have the fluidity he has, which allows him to deliver strong performances regardless of demands from the coaching staff. ”
With the addition of Williams, Arizona’s 19-player class now has seven intrastate qualifiers. In addition to Williams and Rushing, the Wildcats also have edge rusher Kiona Wilhite (Salpoint), wide receiver Brandon Phelps (Gilbert American Leadership Academy), and offensive tackle Matthew Rudd (Glendale Apollo). ), running back Adam Mohammed (Apollo) and guard Michael Watkins have also qualified. (Apollo).

Chandler Basha quarterback Daemond Williams Jr. throws a pass against Peoria Liberty during the 2022 high school football game.
Patrick Breen, Republic of Arizona
On the first day the coaches were able to reach out to the 2024 recruits, all of Arizona’s field coaches attended a morning weightlifting session at Sal Point to set the tone for their quest for top talent in the state. arranged.
“On the very first day of January, when the coaches were allowed out and onto the high school campus, the entire (UA) coaching staff, all the coaches showed up at 6 a.m.,” said Salpoint coach Eric. Rogers said. “It left a lasting impression, there is no doubt about it. It was special and meant a lot to our football program and to our children. We always have an open relationship.”
“I was very happy that the local university came to support me,” Rushing said.
“They want to see us and they want us to succeed,” Rushing said. “It’s been good for us in terms of relationships and allowed us to bond.”
At Pac-12 Media Day, Fish said the Wildcats “had two of the best recruiting classes Arizona has ever had in the last two years.”Arizona’s 2022 recruiting class finished 22nd overall 247 Sports Comranking. In 2023, the Wildcats finished 40th. With the addition of Williams 247 Sports Com Arizona is the 33rd-ranked country and fourth in the Pac-12 behind Oregon, USC and Stanford.
“We expect to finish even higher this year,” Fish said.
This time, Arizona didn’t have to look for strong prospects. This is a manifestation of Mr. Fish’s promise.
“Our goal is to keep the kids in Arizona at home. Our goal is to keep the kids in Tucson home,” Fish said at Pac-12 Media Day. rice field.
“We are working hard to reach that goal.”
Arizona’s Jed Fish makes a big splash at the Pac-12 Media Day event in Las Vegas on July 21, 2023, on the couch next to Pac-12 Network personality Ashley Adamson and Yogi. Instead, he took the podium to explain the roster and the upcoming season. Loss. Video Courtesy: Pac-12
Arizona quarterback Jayden De Lola threw for 3,685 yards and scored 25 touchdowns in his first season at UA, but had a Pac-12-worst passing 13 interceptions. He hopes to fix that next season.
Please contact Star Football Reporter Justin Spears. jspears@tucson.com. Twitter: @JustinESports
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