2nd commit of the 2025 class
The Arizona Wildcats have been putting in tons of work in the NCAA Transfer Portal in order to shore up the roster for the 2024 season, while the 2025 recruiting class has been coming together slowly. However, that doesn’t mean that work isn’t being put in or that the seeds aren’t being planted.
On Sunday, those seeds started bearing fruit as 3-star quarterback Robert McDaniel announced his decision to play for the Wildcats, flipping from a previous pledge to Cal.
⬇️ @ArizonaFBall @CoachBabers_ @CoachMoevao_3 @CoachBrennan @Fletcher_UofA @coachmattadkins @Hughsonfootball pic.twitter.com/aQsEojWGlk
— Robert McDaniel (@robert_mcdaniel) May 26, 2024
McDaniel, who plays at Hughson High School in California, has had a very good career thus far. He has played in 31 varsity games, including 2 as a freshman. In three seasons, he has racked up 4,971 passing yards, 62 touchdowns and 12 picks while completing just under 60% of his passes. To add to that, he also has 61 carries for 330 yards and five scores.
His junior campaign was very good. The 6-foot-1, 195 pound passer threw for 2,839 yards, 33 touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 59.5% of his passes. He also ran for 180 yards and three scores on 25 carries. Hughson finished the season 10-4 and made it to the Division 4-A Regional Finals. The Huskies lost to the Palma Chieftains, who ended up winning State in the Division.
On the recruiting front, McDaniel had previous committed to Cal in mid-March. Arizona came in with an offer at the end of that month, and he stayed verbal to the Golden Bears for just over two months before decommitting May 24.
McDaniel chose the Wildcats over 17 other offers: California, Indiana, Oregon State, San Diego State, San Jose State, Washington State, Liberty, Virginia and Utah State were some of the schools involved in his recruitment.
He is rated as a 3-star in both 247’s internal rankings and the Composite. Internally, they have him as the No. 34 quarterback and the 45th player in California. In the Composite, McDaniel comes in as the No. 837 player nationally, the No. 51 QB and the 67th best player in California.
He is the second member of Arizona’s 2025 class, joining 3-star tight end Kellen Ford.
You can view his junior highlights below.