Wildcats land local hero
The Arizona Wildcats landed a player who was flying under the recruitnek radar screen when running back/linebacker Brandon Lopez (6-2, 210, 4.5) from Vail (Ariz.) Cienega decided to play and attend school close to home.
Lopez fits the mold that former Wildcat head coach Dick Tomey was famous for obtaining. The Wildcats never recruited guys off list and were never afraid of signing players that weren’t well known but were talented.
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The Wildcats are at it again with the pledge of Lopez.
“Brandon was offered two weeks ago,” Cienega head coach Nemer Hassey said. “He is going to let the Wildcats know this week that he is accepting their offer.”
“Brandon is a great kid with an outstanding work ethic,” Hassey said. “As a running back, he has shown tremendous speed and power but he projects as a Pac10 linebacker."
Hassey wasn’t kidding when he said Lopez has a great work ethic. He certainly is no stranger to the weight room. Lopez benches 300, he cleans 310 and he squats 500.
Lopez rushed for 1,620 yards and 18 touchdowns while leading the team in tackles as a junior. He was also his team’s punter and averaged a very impressive 44 yards per punt.
Vail is in Tucson’s backyard and the Wildcats weren’t about let a good one get away.
Part of the reason that Lopez was somewhat unknown was because Cienega has only been playing varsity ball for two years.
“I always wanted to play at Bear Down Stadium,” Lopez said. “I’ve wanted to play fro Arizona since I was little.”
“It will also be easier for my family and friends to come see me play,” Lopez said. “That was important to me.”
Arizona was the only school that has offered but UCLA was scheduled to come and see Lopez play, but he is solidly in the Wildcat camp.
Besides Arizona and UCLA, archrival ASU was also recruiting Lopez along with Washington, Colorado State and Wyoming.