4-star EDGE Elijah Rushing commits to Arizona over Pac-12 rival Oregon

Tucson (Ariz.) Salpointe Catholic four-star EDGE Elijah Rushing is staying home. Rushing pulled off a major surprise on Thursday night, picking hometown Arizona over the Oregon Ducks.

While Oregon was considered the favorite to land Rushing for much of the spring and summer, the hometown Wildcats were able to pull off a huge recruiting win for head coach Jedd Fisch.

As a sophomore he played in every contest for Salpointe Catholic High School, racking up 75 tackles, nine stops for loss and 7.5 sacks. He then had 73 tackles, 13.5 tackles for a loss, 11.5 sacks and 59 hurries in 2022.

Staying home won out

The Wildcats hosted him on campus more than a half-dozen times as a recruit, and impressed upon him what he could do if he stayed close to home.

“They’re telling me to stay home, that they’ll develop me and I can do something special for the city,” he told On3’s Chad Simmons in May.

After taking over a program that went 0-5 in 2020 under Kevin Sumlin, Fisch and Co. went 1-11 in his first season but improved to 5-7 a year ago, including late-season wins over UCLA and Arizona State.

“It’s different from the past few years,” Rushing said. “They’re starting to make the right decisions and they’re moving up. I know they’re going in the right direction. That’s what I can see. They’re going in the right direction with the right coaches there that can really bring the program out of wherever it was at before.”

Elijah Rushing Recruiting Profile

The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder is the No. 30 overall prospect and No. 4 EDGE in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 1 player in Arizona.

On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power writes this about him as prospect:

“Tall, rangy pass rusher with projectable tools. Has a big frame for a rising junior, checking in at 6-foot-5.8, 224 pounds prior to his junior season. Had a good sophomore year, tallying 7.5 sacks while primarily playing defensive end in a three-man front. Shows disruptive qualities both as a pass rusher and pursuit defender. Plays with good bend, particularly for a taller prospect. Posted encouraging athletic testing marks in the combine setting. Will need to continue to add functional strength as he fills out his frame and progresses as a player.”