TUCSON, Ariz. -- The 2017 football season has arrived. 

The Arizona Wildcats will open their season this Saturday night at Arizona Stadium when they welcome in the NAU Lumberjacks for a 8 p.m., kickoff. 

Below is a full preview of the season opener:

Some Game Themes: Slowly but ever so surely, the offseason has drawn to a close. Game week is here and football returns to Arizona Stadium this Saturday when the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks square off against the Arizona Wildcats … It's been a relatively quiet offseason for the Wildcats, whose wounds of a 3-9 season a year ago have healed and sealed into a sturdy chip on their collective shoulder. The focus is firmly on the future, and the future is now in more ways than one for Arizona … A 120-man roster includes nearly 70-percent of the team being a freshman or sophomore, including 61 total freshman (including redshirts) … The youth movement is both necessary and encouraging. Last year's freshman class proved more talented than many experts predicted. This year's class, which includes 48 total first-year players in the program, appears to have more depth of talent than any in recent seasons … Sure, there will be growing pains with such youth, but equally as important will be the leadership to steer the young bucks in a positive direction. The Cats have noticeably more present leadership out of their senior class, which is determined to erase the memories of last year's nightmare … Arizona's strength should be in its running game. Last time out, a depleted unit set the school rushing record with 511 yards in a victory over ASU. This year, a healthy Nick Wilson and J.J. Taylor make up a formidable backfield duo, while quarterbacks Brandon Dawkins and Khalil Tate now both have starting experience under their belts. Up front, seniors Jacob Alsadek and Layth Friekh anchor an offensive line that is experienced, though not deep … Defensively, Arizona is significantly more athletic, especially in the secondary. The Cats are also bigger, and a bit deeper, up front. If a young linebacking corps develops, the defense should be able to hold its own and create more turnovers than a season ago … While internally the program feels good about its 2017 season, Jerome Sauers' Lumberjacks will look to quickly spoil those aspirations. NAU will be motivated to avenge its last trip to Tucson that saw UA set programs record for scoring (77) and total offense (792) … The Lumberjacks will bring a few familiar faces with them on their trip. Linebacker Jake Casteel is the son of former UA defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel, while freshman tight end Max Michalczik is the son of current UA offensive line coach Jim Michalczik …  But enough with the pregame chatter, let's get some football. See you Saturday night at Arizona Stadium.

For Openers: Arizona is 82-26-5 all-time in the first game of the season, winning eight of the last nine (lost in 2016) and 14 of the last 17 overall ... After opening a season ago in a neutral site game in Glendale, Ariz., against BYU, the Wildcats open at home now for the sixth time in the last seven years ... UA has given up a grand total of 98 points over the last nine season openers (10.9 ppg), including 18 in last year's two-point loss. The Cats have outscored those foes 346-98 over the eight games … Rich Rodriguez is 11-4 all-time in season openers at West Virginia, Michigan and Arizona.

Home Openers: Arizona Stadium has been a friendly place for Wildcat home openers. In the 2000s, Arizona is 16-1 in its first home game, which includes a current 16-game winning streak. The only loss came on Sept. 2, 2000, to Ohio State. Otherwise, the Wildcats have outscored their opponents 587-177 over the 16 victories, which averages out to a 37-11 score. UA is a perfect 5-0 under Rich Rodriguez in season debuts at Arizona Stadium.

Outta This League: Over the last five season, Rich Rodriguez and the Wildcats have compiled an impressive 17-2 record against teams that hail from conferences other than the Pac-12. Those 19 contests against non-conference opponents includes a perfect 11-0 mark at Arizona Stadium, a 3-1 record in bowls and a 2-0 tally against the Lumberjacks. Arizona's only losses in such games have incidentally come in the same stadium. The Wildcats lost the 2014 Fiesta Bowl against Boise State and last season's Cactus Kickoff Classic against BYU – both at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Otherwise the Cats have been spotless home or away against non-Pac-12 opponents under Rodriguez.

Dartin' Dawkins: In his first full season as Arizona's starting quarterback last season, Brandon Dawkins averaged 7.2 yards per carry, which is the highest mark by an Arizona quarterback since at least 1958. Dawkins became the first Arizona quarterback to lead the team in rushing and passing since Ronald Veal in 1987. The redshirt junior from Oxnard, California, completed 98 of 182 passes for 1,348 yards and eight touchdowns. He rushed for 944 yards and 10 touchdowns. Dawkins finished five yards behind B.J. Denker, who rushed for 949 yards on 50 more carries than Dawkins in 2013. Denker's 949 rushing yards are the most by an Arizona quarterback since at least 1958. Dawkins has 1,123 rushing yards, which is third-most by a Wildcat quarterback since at least 58. Dawkins is 296 rushing yards away from eclipsing Veal, who has 1,419 career rushing yards to his credit. The dual-threat quarterback's 94.4 rushing yards per game ranked fourth best in the Pac-12 last season, and he was the only quarterback in the top 10. He had three 100-yard rushing games, and was the only quarterback in the league to finish with multiple 100-yard efforts.

He Can Sling it, too: While Dawkins did a lot of damage on the ground last season, he still showed he can beat you with the pass, as well. Dawkins was especially strong through the air at the start of last season in his first three contests. Over his first three games, versus Grambling State, Hawaii and Washington, Dawkins threw for 625 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He completed 62 percent of his passing, going 50 of 81. He also had at least one 50-yard completion in each of the three games. His production slowed a bit starting in Week 4 when he began battling injuries, but still had a pair of 50-yard completions over his final three starts of the season against Colorado, Oregon State and Arizona State. For the season, Dawkins completed 53.8 percent of his passes and had 1,348 yards to his credit.
 
Don't Forget About the Other Guy: While Dawkins got most of the work last year at quarterback, Khalil Tate raised plenty of eyebrows in his true freshman season. Pressed into duty as a 17-year-old true freshman because of injuries, Tate made his first career start at home against USC on Oct. 15. He passed for 58 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 72 yards and a score against a Trojan squad that went on to be crowned Rose Bowl Champions. Tate saw his first action of his career two games earlier against UCLA when he entered for an injured Dawkins. He completed five of nine passes for 72 yards and two touchdowns. He also showed his strength and aggressiveness that game, rushing for 79 yards on 15 carries. Tate finished with 243 passing yards and 237 rushing yards in his rookie campaign. Dawkins and Tate have been battling for the starting job throughout camp with Coach Rich Rodriguez yet to announce a starter for Saturday's season opener.
 
All of the Starts: Experience certainly won't be an issue for the big boys up front for the Wildcats this season. The Arizona offensive line features six players who have started at least four games each. All total, the Wildcats have 89 returning starts and 116 games played returning among their top six linemen. Redshirt senior right guard Jacob Alsadek leads the way with 35 career games played and 33 starts. Senior left tackle Layth Friekh has 25 career games and 21 starts to his credit. Another senior, Gerhard De Beer, has played in 21 games over the past three seasons with 12 starts. Additionally, redshirt sophomore Nathan Eldridge started all 12 games at center last year, while fellow redshirt sophomore Cody Creason has 12 games and four starts on his resume. Finally, redshirt junior Christian Boettcher has played in 11 games with seven starts. Creason and De Beer are likely to split time at right tackle, while Boettcher can play left guard and center. Last season, Eldridge became the first UA freshman to start at center since Blake Kerley in 2006. Both players went on to start all 12 games that season.
 
Big Play Shun: Arizona welcomes back its leading receiver from a year ago in junior Shun Brown. Brown led the Wildcats with 521 yards and three touchdowns on 29 catches. He played in all 12 games, starting 10. He instantly emerged as a big-play threat from the slot and a favorite target of quarterback Brandon Dawkins. Brown had 12 plays (eight receiving, two rushing and two returns) that went for more than 20 yards. He also hauled in four catches that went for 50 or more yards. Brown's longest catch of the season went for 75 yards when he scored on a pass from Dawkins against Utah. Brown also had a 56-yard catch against Hawaii, a 54-yard catch against Washington and a 50-yard reception against Colorado. As a team, Arizona had 11 plays that went for 50 or more yards with Brown accounting for four. Brown also had a 43-yard catch against Oregon State. Brown's 12 plays of 20 or more yards tied for the team lead with quarterback Brandon Dawkins.

The Hometown Kid: Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, who played his high school football at Tucson High and Mountain View in Marana, is the team's leading returning tackler with 78 stops last season. Flannigan-Fowles patrolled the "bandit" safety for the Wildcats and led the entire squad with 59 solo stops. He started all 12 games for the Wildcats, joining cornerback Dane Cruikshank as the only two defensive players to start every game for Arizona. He had interceptions in back-to-back weeks last season, picking off a pass against Grambling State in Week 2 and then notching an interception against Hawaii a week later. Last season, Flannigan-Fowles had the highest Playmaker Index of all returning Pac-12 players, according to Pro Football Focus. Playmaker Index is figured by adding passes defended and interceptions and then dividing by total targets. Flannigan-Fowles' Playmaker Index was 25 percent. Pro Football Focus also noted that Flannigan-Fowles defended the pass the second best of all returning league players. He held opposing quarterbacks' passing rating to 59.3, which is second to Utah's Chase Hansen.
 
Feeling Safe: Similar to running back on offense, Arizona will start the 2017 season with a stable of capable safeties in the defensive backfield, led by Flannigan-Fowles. Dane Cruikshank, who started all 12 contests last year as the boundary corner, spent much of camp at safety. While he still can play corner, Cruikshank is likely to start the season as the "Spur" safety for the Wildcats. Cruikshank had 60 tackles, seven pass breakups and two interceptions last season as a junior. At the free safety spot, the Cats could start true freshman Scottie Young Jr., who impressed coaches with a strong camp. Also in consideration is sophomore Isaiah Hayes, who played in 11 games last year and totaled 38 tackles. The Cats also have sophomore Tristan Cooper, who played in 11 games last year with 35 tackles at the "Spur" spot behind Cruikshank. Redshirt freshman Jarrius Wallace will also likely see some playing time as will true freshman Troy Young.

From the Diamond to the Gridiron: Arizona's roster features two players – Donavan Tate and Malcolm Holland-- who spent a combined 10 seasons playing professional baseball. Tate played six seasons in the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers systems after being the No. 3 pick of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft by the Padres. He retired from baseball following the 2016 season. A top-tier quarterback prospect when he was at Cartersville High School in Georgia, Tate decided to give college football a try after his baseball career ended. Tate, now 26, reconnected with coach Rich Rodriguez, who recruited the quarterback out of high school. He moved to Tucson in the summer and has five years to play four seasons. Holland was a 33^rd round pick of the Dodgers in 2011 and signed with the club. He retired after the 2014 season and joined Arizona in 2015. Holland, a former middle infield partner of current Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager in the minors, redshirted in 2015, before playing in all 12 games last year as a reserve corner and special teams contributor.

"The Edgemen": When Brian Knorr arrived at Arizona as the special teams coordinator and defensive ends coach, it didn't take him long to have his ends form an identity. Knorr named the group "The Edgemen", and he should get plenty of production from his group this season. Among the players who will see time at the "Stud" end position, are senior DeAndre' Miller, sophomore Lee Anderson and true freshman Kylan Wilborn. On the other side, Justin Belknap, Jack Banda, Larry Tharpe Jr., and others figure to have an impact. Banda and Belknap each played all 12 games last year and combined for 5 ½ tackles for loss. Miller played in nine games last year and had five tackles-for-loss.

Pac-12 Nets Notes: The fact that the Pac-12 Network is televising Saturday's game is not all that noteworthy by itself, but you'll want to know a couple things. First, broadcaster Kate Scott has been assigned to provide the play-by-play call for the game. In doing so, Scott will become the first woman to do regular season football play-by-play for the Pac-12 Networks. Second, with approval from NAU, halftime will be shorted from the standard 20-minute length to only 15 minutes. This is part of an experimental initiative the conference is exploring in select non-conference games being televised by the Pac-12 Network. So if you're in the press box Saturday night, be sure to finish your halftime cookie a little quicker than you're accustomed to.