Hemmila visits in-state schools
Zach Hemmila stopped by Arizona's spring practice last week, he's supposed to watch a workout at Arizona State this week and then attend the Sun Devils' junior day this weekend all in an attempt to get a better feel for two of his top programs.
The Arizona trip went well and he started to develop a good relationship with the coaching staff. That feel with the coaches plus having family close by are going to be two important considerations as the Chandler, Ariz., offensive guard works out his recruitment.
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"I really liked the coaches at Arizona," Hemmila said. "They were nice and they treat me well when I'm there. Everyone knows who I am and I really like that I have family there. If I go there I'd have family at all my home games. The family thing is really important to me.
"I really like the facilities and they're getting a new facility that will probably be done when I get there. It was really nice there. I really liked it."
Seeing Arizona State will also be important for Hemmila, who has offers from both in-state Pac-10 schools along with Oregon State and Montana. Getting to know offensive line coach Gregg Smith better will be crucial.
"I want to be close and have a good relationship with my position coach," Hemmila said. "All the coaches, I want to have a good relationship with them and I want to feel like I'm home and I want to feel like I could be there for four years."
Hemmila, a 6-foot-3, 275-pound prospect, recently returned from a trip to USC and he plans to go back for a lineman camp this summer.
Arizona and Arizona State stand out in his recruitment and Hemmila is also drawn to the California schools, saying he'd like to pick up offers from UCLA and Cal. Being close to family is important so staying in the Pac-10 seems like his plan.
As for camps this summer, Hemmila said he plans to work out at Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon State, USC, UCLA and possibly Cal.