Arizona football splitting QB reps between 3 players to start camp

The Arizona Wildcats football program held its annual media day Wednesday as the team kicks off training camp, and first-year head coach Jedd Fisch addressed the biggest on-field question to begin his tenure: Who will be the team’s starting quarterback come the season-opener?

The ongoing quarterback battle for the Wildcats includes three players: USF transfer Jordan McCloud, Gunner Cruz, a Washington State transfer, and returning sophomore Will Plummer.

For the first five practices, Fisch said the team will split reps at first-team quarterback between the three hopefuls.

“Right when you watch a practice and feel that one guy might have had a better day, the very next day that next person steps up,” Fisch said. “We gotta figure out pretty quickly who is gonna be our guy and then start getting him those reps.”

McCloud has the most experience in the room, playing in 20 games for the Bulls over the past two seasons.

“He’s able to drop the ball in there and he has experience,” Fisch said. “Where the other guys don’t have starting experience, he does.”

In 2020, McCloud started seven games throwing for 1,341 yards and nine touchdowns.

Another transfer into the program, Cruz arrived on campus before spring ball.

The Arizona native wasn’t recruited heavily by the previous coaching staff but joined the Wildcats after appearing last year at WSU briefly, completing 5 of 7 passes for 34 yards and a touchdown.

As for Plummer, he appeared in three games for the Wildcats a year ago, completing 54% of his passes for 388 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions.

After the first five practices of even reps, the coaching staff will reassess the quarterback room and move forward.

“When we know who our starting is, you’ll know who are starter is,” Fisch told reporters. “I’m not really into the gamesmanship to be honest.”

The Wildcats open their season against BYU on Sept. 4 in Las Vegas.

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