Dalton Johnson is making it a habit of showing up when it matters most-and the Big 12 is taking notice. For the second straight week, the Arizona safety has been named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, this time after a standout performance in the Wildcats’ rivalry win over Arizona State on Friday.
The defining moment? A fourth-quarter play that flipped the momentum just as it looked like ASU was knocking on the door. Quarterback Jeff Sims was eyeing the end zone when Johnson diagnosed the play, closed in, and punched the ball loose-snuffing out a potential touchdown and putting a stamp on another clutch performance.
“I knew the play was coming because they’d run it three times,” Johnson said after the game. “I just got to jump on it. I was hoping he’d bounce it outside, but once he stayed inside and kept that ball on the outside hand, I decided to take a shot-and it worked.”
That kind of preparation and instinct is exactly what’s made Johnson the heartbeat of Arizona’s defense, a unit that’s been quietly building into one of the most reliable in the conference. The Wildcats have made a habit of grinding out close games, and more often than not, it’s the defense that’s been the difference.
“I just think that no matter how the outcome of the game is going, we came to play,” Johnson said. “We didn’t come to watch.
We’re out there to make plays. The front seven and the back five are really clicking right now.
We love being on the field together. We trust Coach G, and we trust each other.
That makes it fun.”
It’s not just fun-it’s effective. Arizona’s ability to close out tight contests has been one of the defining traits of this team, and Johnson’s leadership is a big reason why. He’s not just making plays-he’s setting the tone.
“Finishing games is super important,” he said. “We always talk about starting fast, but you’ve got to finish strong.
Whether we’re in a close one or not, we’ve got to close it out-and we did that. The offense came out in the fourth quarter and just started chewing clock, getting four or five yards a pop.
As a defense, we love that. When both sides of the ball are feeding off each other, that’s when we’re at our best.”
Johnson’s impact goes beyond the stat sheet. He’s one of the emotional leaders of this Arizona squad, a player who’s been through the highs and lows of the program and never wavered. Head coach Jedd Fisch made it clear just how much Johnson means to the team.
“Dalton is one of those guys that chose to stay, even when a lot of people were trying to talk him into leaving,” Fisch said. “He’s an awesome Wildcat.
He was recruited by Coach Sumlin’s staff, then went through the transition with me. Last year wasn’t easy-trust me, it wasn’t fun for any of us-but Dalton stuck through it.”
“He’s a leader, a great player, and just an awesome human being,” Fisch continued. “He’s been here through it all.
He shows up every day, leads by example, and consistently makes plays on game day. I can’t say enough good things about him.”
Right now, Johnson isn’t just leading Arizona’s defense-he’s helping define its identity. With the Wildcats surging and bowl season looming, his play and leadership could be the X-factor that keeps this team rolling.