Wildcats’ depth chart for BYU game highlights youth at QB, DB

The first depth chart for the Arizona Wildcats reflected head coach Jedd Fisch’s noncommitment when it comes to who plays quarterback against BYU in the 2021 opener. And who starts.

That is, unless you think the player listed first is ahead.

Redshirt freshman Gunner Cruz is followed on the depth chart by freshman Will Plummer with an “and” designation between them. While Fisch said he may never go to a second quarterback if one of them gets off to a good start Saturday in Las Vegas, that “and” is notable.

Other position groups with two starters listed on the first depth chart read “or” between their names.

That includes Treshaun Hayward or Jerry Roberts at MIKE linebacker, as well as Jaydin Young or Gunner Maldonado at free safety.

Speaking of the safeties, the depth chart emphasizes the youth with the entire defensive back room for the Wildcats. Young and Maldonado are freshmen.

Two sophomores, Christian Roland-Wallace and Isaiah Rutherford, will start at cornerback.

There is much more experience at the linebacker spots. Senior WILL linebacker Anthony Pandy, junior VIPER backer Christian Young and senior SAM linebacker Kenny Hebert join Hayward (senior) and Roberts (redshirt junior).

Redshirt junior Jalen Harris, a captain, joins a defensive line that includes seniors J.B. Brown and Trevon Mason, plus sophomore nose tackle Kyon Barrs.

On offense, all of the offensive linemen and all of the starting receivers are at least juniors, save for sophomore left tackle Jordan Morgan. The only relative inexperience on that side of the ball is at quarterback and then running back, the latter including four players on the depth chart who are sophomores or younger.

Follow @kzimmermanaz