Arizona's first depth chart is out for the opener against BYU. There are a lot of "ORs" being used but there aren't many surprises. Pretty much all the players that have had buzz throughout the month are mostly present on the depth chart.
Here are five things that jump out at me about how the depth chart looks right now.
* The first thing that jumps out is that there are 12 true freshmen on the depth chart right now. Will all of them play? Probably not, but there are a good amount of them who will see the field this year especially with the new rule that will allow them to play in four games without burning their year of eligibility.
Of the guys listed who look like they will have the best shot to play I would say Donovan Laie, Jake Peters, Mykee Irving, Day Day Coleman and McKenzie Barnes.
* We now have a more tangible list to work from with the offensive line. There aren't any surprises with the first group. Layth Friekh is being listed as the first left tackle, but we know he won't be playing this week. That means the backup, Laie, should be getting the start this weekend. Thiyo Lukusa will be right next to him as the starting left guard with Michael Eletise backing him up. Josh McCauley gets the call at center while junior college transfer Steven Bailey will back him up if the staff sticks to this depth chart. Bryson Cain will get the start at right guard while walk-on Jon Jacobs will be the top reserve at the position. Cody Creason is the top right tackle listed with Edgar Burrola listed behind him.
* At cornerback, the other position that was looking a little shaky during camp, Arizona has listed Jace Whittaker on one side with Tim Hough backing him up. On the other side there are a couple ORs with Lorenzo Burns listed at the top of the list, but an OR separates him and Troy Young with another OR between Young and Barnes. Essentially the staff is leaving open the possibility of any one of those players starting.
Azizi Hearn, who was working with the first unit at one point in camp, is third behind Whittaker and Hough.
* Two of the three safety spots remain open according to the depth chart that was released. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles is the only one listed as a starter with Christian Young OR Chacho Ulloa as his backup. At spur, Tristian Cooper is listed first but there are ORs between him Xavier Bell and Day Day Coleman.
Isaiah Hayes is the top free safety listed, but like the spur position there are ORs separating all three players with Scottie Young Jr. listed second and Jarrius Wallace listed as the third potential starter at the position.
* One spot that is going to throw off fans who have not been paying attention is Anthony Mariscal third on the running back depth chart ahead of Nathan Tilford. You could see this one coming for a while now, but Mariscal was the next man in the rotation back when the media was last allowed to watch and it has remained the same heading into game week. JJ Taylor is at the top with Gary Brightwell second behind him. Tilford is not out of the rotation by any means, but I think most fans are going to be caught off guard by him not being the third back.
Here are five things that jump out at me about how the depth chart looks right now.
* The first thing that jumps out is that there are 12 true freshmen on the depth chart right now. Will all of them play? Probably not, but there are a good amount of them who will see the field this year especially with the new rule that will allow them to play in four games without burning their year of eligibility.
Of the guys listed who look like they will have the best shot to play I would say Donovan Laie, Jake Peters, Mykee Irving, Day Day Coleman and McKenzie Barnes.
* We now have a more tangible list to work from with the offensive line. There aren't any surprises with the first group. Layth Friekh is being listed as the first left tackle, but we know he won't be playing this week. That means the backup, Laie, should be getting the start this weekend. Thiyo Lukusa will be right next to him as the starting left guard with Michael Eletise backing him up. Josh McCauley gets the call at center while junior college transfer Steven Bailey will back him up if the staff sticks to this depth chart. Bryson Cain will get the start at right guard while walk-on Jon Jacobs will be the top reserve at the position. Cody Creason is the top right tackle listed with Edgar Burrola listed behind him.
* At cornerback, the other position that was looking a little shaky during camp, Arizona has listed Jace Whittaker on one side with Tim Hough backing him up. On the other side there are a couple ORs with Lorenzo Burns listed at the top of the list, but an OR separates him and Troy Young with another OR between Young and Barnes. Essentially the staff is leaving open the possibility of any one of those players starting.
Azizi Hearn, who was working with the first unit at one point in camp, is third behind Whittaker and Hough.
* Two of the three safety spots remain open according to the depth chart that was released. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles is the only one listed as a starter with Christian Young OR Chacho Ulloa as his backup. At spur, Tristian Cooper is listed first but there are ORs between him Xavier Bell and Day Day Coleman.
Isaiah Hayes is the top free safety listed, but like the spur position there are ORs separating all three players with Scottie Young Jr. listed second and Jarrius Wallace listed as the third potential starter at the position.
* One spot that is going to throw off fans who have not been paying attention is Anthony Mariscal third on the running back depth chart ahead of Nathan Tilford. You could see this one coming for a while now, but Mariscal was the next man in the rotation back when the media was last allowed to watch and it has remained the same heading into game week. JJ Taylor is at the top with Gary Brightwell second behind him. Tilford is not out of the rotation by any means, but I think most fans are going to be caught off guard by him not being the third back.
