The Arizona Wildcats 2011 recruiting class is growing in star power, almost by the day. Rob Hankins, a four-star linebacker from Dallas and one of the state of Texas’ top players, verbally committed to the UA this morning.
The Parish Episcopal High School star brings some name recognition to one of UA coach Mike Stoops’ best recruiting classes yet.
Canyon del Oro High School running back Ka’Deem Carey, another four-star recruit, verbally committed 10 days ago.
Hankins chose Arizona over offers from many of the nation's top programs, including Boise State, Arkansas, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oregon and Oklahoma State.
The Rivals.com recruiting service lists Hankins as the nation's ninth-best inside linebacker. Hankins led Parish Episcopal with 125 tackles 25 for loss and 12 sacks as a junior.
He is expected to replicate, if not exceed, those numbers as a senior. The 6-foot-1-inch, 219-pound Hankins already has the frame and measurables to be a standout college player: He can run the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds, and can bench-press 410 pounds.
Hankins addition could mean big things for the Wildcats, who have become increasingly adept at finding standout football players in Texas. A pair of Lone Star State products, wide receiver Mike Thomas and defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, have parlayed their UA careers into pro contracts.
Thomas is entering his second year with the Jacksonville Jaguars; Mitchell, meanwhile, just signed a multi-million dollar rookie contract with the Houston Texans.
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