Cats stay hot with local talent
One of the ways you build a program is make sure you keep your best local players close to home. The Arizona Wildcats struck pay dirt again nabbing arguably the best player from their home base in Tucson when running back Xavier Smith (6-0, 205, 4.5) from Tucson (Ariz.) Sunnyside decided to stay close to home.
“I committed to Arizona Friday night,” Smith said. “I am glad that I made my decision and my family is happy that I made my decision.”
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“I will still maybe take some trips but I am solid to Arizona,” Smith said. “The coaches and really everything about Arizona is great.”
“I know I will get very good support at Arizona.”
Smith was one of the main reasons that Sunnyside won the State Division 4A championship in 2003. He was selected second-team all-state and first-team all-area and all-region after rushing for 1,800 yards. He scored 23 rushing touchdowns and averaged 10.2 yards per carry in 2003.
In an earlier interview with Rivals.com Sunnyside head coach Richard Sanchez said, “This guy is legit. Xavier is a player.”
“Xavier can run and do all the things the great backs do,” Sanchez said. “He such a great athlete that he could end up playing linebacker on the next level. He has that type of ability.”
“We didn’t use him much on defense until the playoffs,” Sanchez said. “He replaced a starter when he got hurt. We played him on defense when we had our backs against the wall.”
“The thing to remember about Xavier is he such a great athlete and has extremely quick feet.”