Hemmila sticking with Pac-12

From the first time Zach Hemmila visited Arizona he hit it off with the coaching staff and always knew the Wildcats would be high on his list.

So after taking his mother to the Tucson campus on Thursday to show her around the four-star offensive guard from Chandler, Ariz., said he felt like it was the perfect time to make his commitment.

"They recruited me hard every time I've been down there," Hemmila said. "I've been down there three or four times for games and I went down there for a junior day and for a spring practice and I went down (Thursday) to show my mom because she hasn't really been down there besides to a game.

"It suits me well. The coaches are really nice and they're already treating me like I'm one of their own. I just knew in my heart they're going to take care of me with academics. My goal is not to make it to the NFL. My goal is to come out of college and be a better man and to get my education and get a good job.

"Making it to the NFL would be great but not a lot of people do it. It fit me right so I could do what I want to do."

The 6-foot-3, 275-pound prospect had offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon State and San Diego State. He's rated eighth at offensive guard, No. 234 in the 2012 class and sixth in the Arizona state rankings by Rivals.com.

Hemmila said his relationship with offensive line coach Robert Anae and the rest of the coaching staff really made his decision much easier.

"It was like that from the start," Hemmila said. "The first time I went there for junior day they already knew who I was.

"I hit it off with coach Anae. All the offensive players said coach Anae was one of the best coaches and he treats you like family. He's a great man. Coach (Tim) Kish is a funny guy. I hit it off with him, the offensive coordinator and everyone."