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Thursday afternoon, local recruiting analysts predicted that it would be a big day for the Arizona State Sun Devils and the state of Arizona. Just after 1 p.m. on Friday, three players from Arizona high school football powerhouse Saguaro committed to the Sun Devils.
Sun Devil for life! #ForksUp #ValleyPride #StayTrue pic.twitter.com/ObTiAZoLbh
— Corey Stephens (@CoreyStephens74) June 17, 2016
Forks Up!! #godevils #forksup #ValleyPride #NewDevilsOrder pic.twitter.com/SNnzU3DJYH
— Jared (@jared_poplawski) June 17, 2016
Forks Up! #StayTrue #GoDevils pic.twitter.com/KMWMqAy9nH
— SQUINTZ (@kyle_soelle) June 17, 2016
This is the first time in the internet era (maybe ever) that three local prospects committed to Arizona State on the same day.
In the history of recruiting websites, three local HS players have never committed to ASU on the same day. Saguaro gets that distinction.
— SunDevilSource.com (@SunDevilSource) June 17, 2016
The commitments also establish a pipeline from Saguaro to ASU, as the school as recently seen stars such as Byron Murphy (Washington) and Christian Kirk (Texas A&M) leave the state to play college football.
Poplawski stands 6-foot-4 and weights around 230 pounds. He caught 32 passes for 438 yards last season as a tight end for the Sabercats and fielded offers from Colorado, Memphis, Louisville and Illinois. ASU was his first offer last fall.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Soelle will play Devilbacker for the Sun Devils, according to SunDevilSource. Soelle actually transferred to Saguaro this spring after spending his first three years at Notre Dame Prep. He reportedly fielded 13 offers including from Boise State, Cal, Utah and Washington.
Stephens was the latest Sabercat to receive an offer from the Sun Devils after thriving at an ASU camp earlier in the month. He stands 6-foot-3, weights 285 pounds and could play tackle or guard for the Sun Devils, again, according to SunDevilSource.
All three prospects carry a three-star rating from the 247 Sports Composite.
Three three Saguaro prospects join quarterback Ryan Kelley and linebacker Loren Mundy in ASU's 2017 recruiting class. Four of ASU's five commitments currently hail from the Grand Canyon State.