Arizona's defensive secondary depth continues to take hits in 2020, after junior safety Christian Young opted out of the season on Wednesday, due to an ankle injury.
In his third year with the program, the 6-foot-2-inch, 206-pound Houston native played in Arizona's season-opening loss to USC, but didn't record any statistics. Sophomore safety Jaxen Turner started in his place during Arizona's first two contests against USC and Washington.
Young became the third Wildcat to opt out of the season, but still remain on the roster, joining running back Bam Smith and defensive end JB Brown. Smith and Brown opted out before the season for COVID-19 concerns.
Young was also the third UA defensive back to step away from the program on Wednesday. Freshmen cornerbacks Edric Whitley and Khary Crump are no longer with the Wildcats. Whitley tweeted his decision to enter the transfer portal, while Crump's withdrawal is unknown.
Departing scholarship players have plagued Arizona's secondary for the last year, beginning with Day Day Coleman's decision to transfer in December. Since then, the Wildcats have lost safeties Chacho Ulloa, Xavier Bell, Troy Young and Scottie Young Jr. (no relation) to the transfer portal. Counting Wednesday's departures, Arizona lost eight players to the transfer portal or, in Young's case, injury.
As of now, the only scholarship players in Arizona's secondary this week are Turner, cornerback Lorenzo Burns, cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace, safety Jarrius Wallace, cornerback Bobby Wolfe, junior-college transfer Isaiah Mays, cornerback McKenzie Barnes, safety Rhedi Short and cornerback Malik Hausman.
The Wildcats (0-2) face UCLA (1-2) in Pasadena Saturday at 6 p.m.
