Arizona football recruiting: Linebacker Issaiah Johnson verbally commits to Wildcats

For the first time in the 2018 recruiting cycle, the Arizona Wildcats have landed a verbal commitment from a prospect from California.

Issaiah Johnson, a linebacker from Los Alamitos, tweeted out his pledge to Arizona on Monday afternoon.

“After talking with my family and coaches, I am proud and honored to say that I have committed to the University of Arizona!” the tweet reads.

Johnson is rated as a three-star by Scout, checking in at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds. They also have him ranked as the 7th-best ILB in the West.

He was offered by Arizona back in March while on a visit to Tucson.

“It was good. I had a great time,” he told our Brandon Combs after that trip. “Me and some other athletes were sitting down talking to Coach Rodriguez. Towards the end of the conversation he said he just wanted to let us know that we had an offer to play at the U of A.”

According to Matt Moreno, linebackers coach Scott Boone went by Johnson’s high school to seal the deal on Monday.

Last season, Johnson racked up 140 tackles and six sacks as a high school junior. You can watch his junior year highlights here.

This is the fifth commitment of the 2018 class for Arizona.