Poindexter emerges as top target for Wildcats
Shawn Poindexter was basically an afterthought in Arizona’s 2016 recruiting class.
He was a tall receiver from Glendale (Ariz.) Community College whose name hadn’t been on the radar of the staff of then-Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez. Poindexter had committed to Marshall on the Monday before 2016 Signing Day.
The next day, Rodriguez saw his game tape for the first time.
“Let’s see. I was watching film yesterday with the offensive coaches,” Rodriguez said on 2016 Signing Day. “We need some size at wideout, and for some reason, someone mentioned his name and said there’s a 6-6 guy up the road.
“I put on his film and said, ‘Oh, what’s the story? We got the background and made a few calls, talked to the kid. And in the space of three hours, we went from, ‘I didn’t know who the hell he was’ to ‘he’s about ready to sign with Arizona.’ …
“That one happened not normal.”
It wasn’t normal, but it’s working out just fine for first-year Arizona coach Kevin Sumlin.
Poindexter — officially listed at 6-foot-5 and 218 pounds — has been a bright spot on offense for Arizona (3-5, 2-3 Pac-12) as it prepares to take on No. 19 Oregon (5-2, 2-2) on Saturday night in a Homecoming game.
Poindexter has 30 catches for a team-high 552 yards and four touchdowns, also a team-best. He had six catches for 106 yards and two scores in a 31-30 loss at UCLA last Saturday night, when sophomore quarterback Rhett Rodriguez filled in for an injured Khalil Tate.
“He’s made plays all year,” Sumlin said Monday.
“I think defenses have changed a little bit with him. If they gave him one-on-one, he’s proven that he can consistently make plays. On 50-50 balls, he’s going to make the majority of them.”
Poindexter, a redshirt senior, is having a breakout season after catching 25 passes for 376 yards in his first two seasons. Sumlin said Poindexter affects the way defenses play coverage — meaning he draws extra attention — but opponents have often challenged Arizona with man-to-man coverage, considering the passing-game struggles of Tate and the questionable arm strength of Rodriguez.
“Shawn Poindexter did a nice job last week in man-to-man situations, competing for the football,” Sumlin said. “He has size; he has talent.”