RECRUITING: Desert Pines football players Fields, Poutasi make college choices

Two Desert Pines football players made oral commitments to Power 5 conference schools last weekend, Jaguars coach Tico Rodriguez said Monday.

Rising senior linebacker Tony Fields II committed to Arizona and senior-to-be offensive lineman Poutasi Poutasi pledged to Louisville. Both players announced their intentions on Twitter.

Fields’ and Poutasi’s commitments are nonbinding, and the first day they can sign a letter of intent is Feb. 1. Arizona’s and Louisville’s coaches cannot comment until that time.

“Louisville is Poutasi’s dream school and is extremely excited,” Rodriguez said. “And Tony loves U of A’s family atmosphere.”

Fields had 19 scholarship offers and made an unofficial visit to Arizona last weekend, his second trip to the school. The 6-foot-2-inch, 205-pounder was a second-team all-state selection as a junior after recording 93 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions.

Fields is rated a three-star prospect by Rivals.com and Scout.com.

The 6-3, 295-pound Poutasi also was a second-team all-state pick last fall. He is a consensus three-star recruit and is rated the state’s No. 8 prospect in the class of 2017 by Rivals.com.

Poutasi was offered a scholarship by Louisville on April 29 and chose the Cardinals over offers from Colorado State, Hawaii, San Diego State, UNLV, UNR and Weber State.

Poutasi is the cousin of Desert Pines offensive lineman Samuel Poutasi, an Oregon recruit, and current Tennessee Titans offensive lineman Jeremiah Poutasi.

Fields and Poutasi are the fourth and fifth Desert Pines players from the class of 2017 to make an oral commitment this spring, joining quarterback Marckell Grayson (UNLV), running back Isaiah Morris (UNLV) and wide receiver Randal Grimes (Southern California).