Sept 27- Arizona has finalized their 2024 recruiting class today, announcing the backs that have joined the Wildcats for the start of the season. 

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With the graduation of three key players including two All Americans in Jacob Broselle and EJ Freeman, the Wildcats have scoured the globe to bring in 19 talented athletes that will look to make an early impact and join the ten forwards named earlier this week.

 

Two of the Wildcats' three USA U18 signings are in this group, with Jake Schumacher (NC) and Brody Johnson (DC) both coming off seasons where they led their teams to national championships in the club and school brackets, respectively. The class also includes two Flyhalves from the Southern Hemisphere, with Saxon Gerstl (AUS) and Connor McIsaac (NZL) already showing well in early trainings and scrimmages. 

 

Joining them is a large group of diverse backgrounds, including last weekend's captain Sintu Mjali who comes to the Wildcats from Saint Andrew's College in South Africa. Scrumhalves Quinn Bevan, Evan Cram, and Declan Postin will look to fill the shoes left by George O'Brien, while centers Brendan Doebel (IL), Tom Manning (UK), and Nick Morgan (GA) combined for five tries off the bench in the Wildcats' season-opening victory over UTEP last week.

 

On the edge, Wings Van Hampton and James O'Connor join the long line of Marin RFC (CA) products to wear the Block A, while Zimbabwean Emmanuel Magutakuona brings his pace and strength to both wing and center. Patrick Barker (Liberty RFC) and Reid Tennant (Camas HS) give the Wildcats two wings from the Pacific Northwest, while Kaleo Agustin (CA), Parker Beilke (CA) and Eli Zsemlye (CO) bring leadership and talent having helped lead their respective teams last season.

 

"This is an exceptional group, and it's early but I can confidently say it's one of the deeper and more close knit groups we've had. There are guys in this group that are going to compete on day one and we're already seeing that. Our supporters are going to enjoy watching this group grow up together because I can tell you how fun they are to coach and work with" said Director of Rugby Sean Duffy.

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-Kaleo Agustin- Wing- De La Salle HS

-Patrick Barker- Wing- Liberty RFC

-Parker Beilke- Fullback- De La Salle HS

-Quinn Bevan- Scrumhalf- Eastside Tsunami RFC

-Evan Cram- Scrumhalf- War Eagle RFC

-Brendan Doebel- Center- Fenwick HS

-Saxon Gerstl- Flyhalf- Sydney Boys HS

-Van Hampton- Wing- Marin RFC

-Brody Johnson- Center- Gonzaga College HS

-Emmanuel Magutakuona- Wing- Peterhouse Boys' School

-Tom Manning- Center- King Edward VI School Stratford-upon-Avon

-Connor McIsaac- Flyhalf- Wakatipu HS

-Sintu Mjali- Center- St. Andrew's College

-Nick Morgan- Center- War Eagle RFC

-James O'Connor- Wing- Marin RFC

-Declan Postin- Scrumhalf- Danville RFC
-Jake Schumacher- Center/Wing- Charlotte Cardinals

-Reid Tennant- Wing- Camas HS

-Eli Zsemlye- Fullback- East HS

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For the Wildcats full Fall schedule, click here.