When he shifted to safety during the season opener at Hawaii, lifelong cornerback Jace Whittaker had minimal experience at the position. Yet it wasn’t completely foreign to him either.
This will take a little explaining. Let’s start with the Arizona Wildcats’ walk-through practice before the Hawaii game. That’s when Whittaker took reps at the “Spur” safety spot. It was the first time he had ever done it. It was mostly a contingency plan — an if-necessary kind of deal.
It became necessary when Rainbow Warriors slot receiver Cedric Byrd II lit up the UA secondary for 10 catches, 128 yards and three touchdowns in the first half.