Arizona head coach Brent Brennan called safety Genesis Smith a consistent high-energy player that remained loyal to Arizona when other programs pursued him as a transfer. Smith is part of what is expected to be an elite Arizona secondary in 2025.
Safety Dalton Johnson and nickelback Treydan Stukes return for Arizona in 2025 to anchor their defense and secondary. Johnson has missed only one game in his Arizona career. Smith has played in every game. Stukes started 12 of 13 games as a true freshman in 2023 and four in 2024 before suffering a season-ending knee injury.