Arizona football recruiting: 3-star OT Ryan Nelson in communication with staff every day|Arizona Hot Topics|Team BattleGround|College BattleGround

The Arizona Wildcats are sitting pretty with 21 verbal commitments for the 2017 recruiting class, only holding a few more open spots. While this coaching staff figures to end this class with some of the most highly-touted recruits, there are still a few necessities, including offensive linemen.

Arizona currently has two offensive line commits in 6-foot-6, 295 pound tackle Edgar Burrola and 6-foot-4, 285 pound guard Cody Shear. It seems as if the Wildcats are going to be pursuing one more, and there are essentially two options: 3-star OT Tucker Robertson, who I have will have more on shortly, and 3-star OT Ryan Nelson.

I was able to catch up with Nelson, the 6-foot-6, 255 pound tackle out of Buena Park, California.

“I’ve been in contact with Coach (Jim) Michalczik almost every day,” Nelson said about his relationship with the staff. “We just talk about everyday things like our families. I really like (Arizona’s) coaches and program.”

Nelson has over 20 offers to his name including California, Northwestern, Utah, Virginia and Washington State, but two are currently sticking out to him.

“UVA might be recruiting the hardest right now, same with Arizona.”

“I’ve seen Arizona, ASU, Cal, Colorado, Colorado State, UCLA, USC,” he said of his campus visits. “I’m going to see Utah in two weeks and I’m taking an official to Arizona and UVA.”

It seems clear that Arizona and Virginia are his leaders, and I got a stronger Virginia vibe from him.

“I like the staff, the school and history of the area,” Nelson said when asked about what Virginia has to offer him. “I want to be a teacher and teach history so it would be a good school and I could play early.”

While he said he won’t be deciding until September at the absolute earliest, he knows what he wants in his future school.

“Where I feel wanted. Where it feels like family. Where I can learn the game while I play and have the best chance to play.”

The Arizona coaching staff has told him that they’ll keep him in the loop in regards to the rapidly filling recruiting class, letting him know when everything starts to fill up.

Arizona beat out Virginia to land Cody Shear. The Cavaliers currently have 17 commitments themselves, two of which are offensive linemen. If they land Nelson, he will be the second highest ranked commit for Bronco Mendenhall’s staff.

At Buena Park, Nelson’s team finished 10-3 last season, losing in the CIF Southwest Division semifinals. His junior year highlights are below.