The 17 most valuable Arizona Wildcats football players of 2017: No. 9

Continuing our countdown of the 17 most valuable Arizona Wildcats of 2017.

Before we go any further, some reminders:

“Most valuable” does not necessarily mean “best.” Rather, we’re defining it as the contributions and traits that most influence winning football. They include talent, leadership and projected role and production.

Newcomers were not eligible for the list. Although many might become major contributors this year, especially on defense, their roles are just too difficult to predict in June.

NO. 9: CB JACE WHITTAKER

Ht/Wt/Yr: 5-11, 180, junior

Comment: Whittaker is the ninth player we have profiled in this series, and he’s the fourth defensive back. That should tell you something about the composition of the UA defense.

Its strength undeniably can be found on the back end, where Whittaker is one of several upperclassmen with starting experience on his résumé. Whittaker also possesses the poise, presence and perspective desirable in a veteran leader.

Whittaker enters this year as Arizona’s most accomplished returning cornerback. Despite not becoming a starter until the sixth game, Whittaker led the team with 11 pass breakups. He had five in his first start, at Utah on Oct. 8, the most by a UA player since Antoine Cason had five in 2007.

But Whittaker didn’t talk like a player who had a job locked up when we interviewed him during spring practice. Regarding the idea that the Wildcats will have more depth at corner this season – something they badly need – Whittaker said the following:

“Those guys want to take my spot. I’m not saying I have a spot right now. But those guys, they definitely are hungry. They push me. It’s a great thing.”

That doesn’t stop Whittaker from helping the younger players. Lorenzo Burns, who will be a redshirt freshman this year, said Whittaker, senior Dane Cruickshank and redshirt sophomore Malcolm Holland (who played pro baseball before coming to Arizona) regularly make themselves available to their less experienced teammates.

“I go to them, ask for advice,” Burns said. “Ask them how I looked on the field.”

Whittaker wouldn’t give an overall assessment of the secondary in spring. He’s been around long enough to know that any conclusions reached in March or April are premature.

“We’re warming up right now,” Whittaker said. “We can’t be satisfied with what we’ve done so far.”

Whittaker approaches his individual game with the same mindset. Yes, the numbers were nice last year; besides those 11 pass breakups, he had 35 tackles (31 solos) and an interception.

But Arizona’s defense struggled in every facet, and that included the secondary. Whittaker had trouble at times with bigger receivers. He also needs to turn more of those pass breakups into picks.

Whittaker easily was the Wildcats’ most consistent corner, though, and he should continue to get better. Meaningful playing time and another offseason in the weight room only can help in that regard.

Whittaker doesn’t have to play like he did in the Utah game to be one of Arizona’s most valuable players. But that performance showed what he’s capable of if everything clicks.

THE 17 MOST VALUABLE WILDCATS OF 2017