DAVID HARDEN/Arizona Daily Wildcat QB Kris Heavner was thrown into the UA quarterback mix after seeing action last week against Purdue. The true-freshman is expected see significant playing time tomorrow against TCU.

When Kris Heavner left the small town of Johnson City, Texas this summer for the deserts of Tucson, a starting job so early in the 2003 season wasn't even a consideration.

The true freshman has since walked into a situation that involved two older, more experienced quarterbacks who were vying for snaps behind center.

With the Wildcats in the midst of an embarrassing first half of the season, and the questionable quarterback slot yet to be filled, Heavner is slated to get most of the snaps this weekend against TCU ÷ a school just four hours from Heavner's old stomping grounds.

"Coach (Mackovic) told me I'll be playing a lot," Heavner said. "I'm excited about that."

As a senior at Lyndon B. Johnson High School, Heavner was given First-Team All-State honors for 2A schools ÷ but it was his work ethic that really stood out to Mackovic.

"After we recruited him and during the recruiting process, I found out some things about him," Mackovic said. "Every time I called his home, he was working out."

His commitment is almost a lost art in college football of the 21st century.

When asked what he was going to do on his birthday ÷ Heavner turned 19 on Wednesday ÷ his mind was still focused on the pigskin.

"I'm not going out," he said. "I'll just stay home and study my playbook."

When he isn't studying, he spends the rest of his free time in the weight room.

"He goes to the weight room and our players recognize him," Mackovic said. "He just made up his mind that he is going to be the toughest guy that he can be, and that he is going to be able to do the things he needs to do."

His work habits paid off last week against Purdue as he saw his first significant playing time of the year, completing 5-of-12 passes for 55 yards, including a 36-yard bomb to receiver Biren Ealy ÷ the only Wildcat score of the day.

"Coach (Mackovic) told me that I was going to get some playing time (last week)," Heavner said. "I was pretty excited and felt ready and comfortable."

With Heavner being thrown in the mix at the QB position, a lot of questions have risen about tension in the huddle, but the kid from Johnson City ÷ population 1,191 ÷ said both of the team's veteran quarterbacks, sophomore Nic Costa and red-shirt freshman Ryan O'Hara, continue to educate him.

"I'm the youngest quarterback, and they help me so much," Heavner said. "Instead of me going to them for advice, they come to me and help me out. They tell me what I'm doing wrong."

With the Wildcats' last non-conference game coming tomorrow against a TCU team ranked No. 19 nationally ÷ and coming off a 2002 season in which its defense ranked first in the country ÷ this freshman might be the jumper cables to get this diesel running.