The Arizona Wildcats signed big 3-star California interior defensive lineman Evan Branch-Haynes.
High School: Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 285 pounds
2020 Stats: No stats, season starts in early 2021
Offers: Arizona, Dartmouth, Fresno State, Idaho, Montana, Stetson
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 2,070 nationally, No. 119 defensive tackle, No. 169 in California
Analysis: I believe Branch-Haynes is one of the most underrated players in the class.
A leg injury hampered his junior season last year. No one has been able to see him in action since then due to the pandemic so his ranking appears to be based on limited action last year.
Branch-Haynes is incredibly explosive. His movement off the snap is faster than I think anyone would believe. You add that with his explosiveness and you have someone who lives in the backfield.
What’s more, Branch-Haynes uses his hands effectively, which allows him to shed blocks without breaking a sweat.
He had had good strength before the injury so the key will be to get that back. I can’t wait to see him in action this spring for his senior season.
Junior season highlights