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Four-star quarterback and Los Angeles-area product Oscar Rios committed to the Wildcats over the UCLA Bruins on Friday night, becoming the highest-rated prospect in Arizona’s 2026 recruiting class.

Rios also held offers from Kentucky, Oklahoma State, Utah, Nebraska and Washington, among others.

Flanked by his parents and two siblings, Rios committed to Arizona at Downey High School Friday night in Downey, California. Rios’ commitment was streamed live on . Donning a lei and a Cardinal-red jacket, Rios announced his decision and picked up a gray UA hat. Rios and his family quickly changed into UA clothes moments after his announcement.

The 6-3, 175-pound Rios is rated by as the 10th-best quarterback in the 2026 recruiting cycle. Rios is rated by as the 146th-best prospect in 2026, the highest-rated quarterback to join Arizona since Nic Costa in 2001. Rios recently participated in the “Elite 11” quarterback camp in Los Angeles; he wore UA garb during the event.

Rios is entering his senior season at Downey High School, where he is 23-7 over three years. He has completed 347 of 532 passes (65.2%) for 5,909 yards, 53 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his high school career. Rios has also rushed for 1,640 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Last season, he was named Gateway League MVP after passing for 2,554 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions, while rushing for 735 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Greg Biggins, a national recruiting analyst for , said in his evaluation: “Rios is a fast-rising signal-caller and has quickly established himself as one of the nation’s top quarterbacks.”

“Has a whip for an arm and one of the quickest releases in the region,� Biggins said. “A true dual-threat and can take off and pick up chunks of yards or extend a play and use his arm to make a big throw down the field. Shows off a live, accurate arm and throws one of the prettier deep balls in the class. Decisive with his reads, gets the ball out on time and throws with anticipation.

“Extremely tough and has taken some big shots, both in the pocket and scrambling, but never flinches. Highly competitive player, natural leader and draws raves from his coaches for his work ethic and ability to rally his teammates. Lean frame and needs to continue to fill out and add some good weight to handle the shots he’ll take in college but we like where his game is trending and he’s an exciting prospect to track.�

Rios is the first Southern California quarterback to join the Wildcats since current starter Noah Fifita in 2022. Rios was teammates with Arizona linebacker commit Dash Fifita, Noah Fifita’s younger brother, with the Orange County Buckeyes.

Noah Fifita could conceivably return for his senior season in 2026, with Rios as a freshman. Arizona’s other scholarship quarterbacks include redshirt junior and Wisconsin transfer Braedyn Locke and freshmen Luke Haugo and Sawyer Anderson, who is the all-time passing yards (14,674) leader in the Dallas-Fort Worth area — second in Texas high school football history behind former UA quarterback Grant Gunnell, who passed for 16,108 yards.

With the addition of Rios, the Wildcats now have 15 commits for 2026.