Arizona’s secondary is getting a serious facelift heading into the 2026 season - and not just a cosmetic one. After losing four key contributors from last year’s group, the Wildcats have hit the transfer portal hard, bringing in a wave of new defensive backs to help stabilize a unit that’s been stripped of experience but not short on potential.
Let’s start with what Arizona lost. Cornerback Michael Dansby and safeties Dalton Johnson and Treydan Stukes all exhausted their eligibility, while safety Genesis Smith opted to enter the NFL Draft.
That’s a lot of snaps walking out the door - 6,700 combined, to be exact, per Justin Spears. Those four were foundational pieces in the Wildcats’ secondary, and replacing them was never going to be a one-man job.
Arizona’s response? Bring in numbers - and experience.
Six of the Wildcats’ 21 transfer additions are defensive backs, and together, they bring 5,901 career defensive snaps to Tucson. That’s not a one-to-one replacement, but it’s a significant infusion of reps from players who’ve seen the field at the college level.
Among the cornerbacks joining the program: Daylen Austin (Oregon), Dwight Bootle III (Charlotte), Tyrese Boss (Wyoming), and Brandon Holmes (Fresno City College). At safety, Arizona adds Cam Chapa (Northern Colorado), Malcolm Hartzog (Nebraska), and Lee Molette III (UConn). That’s a mix of Power Five, Group of Five, FCS, and junior college experience - a blend that gives the Wildcats both depth and versatility in the defensive backfield.
Even with the turnover, Arizona isn’t starting entirely from scratch. The Wildcats return a few familiar faces from the 2025 two-deep: safeties Colemon Patmon (rising sophomore) and Gavin Hunter (rising redshirt junior), along with cornerbacks Jay’Vin Cole (rising redshirt senior) and Johno Price (rising redshirt junior). Those returners will be counted on to provide leadership and continuity as the new faces get up to speed.
But don’t be surprised if a few young players push their way into the rotation. Dajon Hinton, a redshirt freshman and the No. 87-ranked cornerback in the 2025 recruiting class, is expected to compete for snaps this season.
Then there’s Xaier Haier, one of five four-star signees in Arizona’s 2026 class. The coaching staff is high on Haier, and he could be an immediate contributor as a true freshman.
At safety, keep an eye on Hannibal Carter Navies. At 6-foot-2.5 and 195 pounds, he brings intriguing length to the secondary. He’ll need to bulk up to become a more physical presence, but the tools are there for him to develop into a difference-maker down the line.
What’s working in Arizona’s favor during this transition is coaching continuity. Head coach Brent Brennan returns his entire defensive staff in 2026, including cornerbacks coach Chip Viney and safeties coach Brett Arce. That kind of stability can’t be overstated, especially when you’re integrating so many new players into one of the most communication-heavy units on the field.
Bottom line: Arizona’s secondary is undergoing a major overhaul, but it’s not a rebuild in the traditional sense - it’s more of a rapid retool. With a mix of proven college experience, promising young talent, and a returning coaching staff, the Wildcats have the pieces in place to keep their defense competitive in 2026. The big question now is how quickly those pieces can come together.