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Arizona defensive back Gavin Hunter referred to "the big three" as the "heartbeat" of the UA defense. 

The big three? Former Arizona defensive backs Treydan Stukes, Genesis Smith and Dalton Johnson. The NFL-bound trio leave a significant void in Arizona's defense after combining for 6,700 defensive snaps at the UA. Stukes, Smith and Johnson "really set the foundation for this place," said UA safeties coach Brett Arce. 

With the aforementioned trio as the leaders of Arizona's defense, the Wildcats finished seventh in college football in passing defense and first in turnover margin in 2025. The Wildcats had more takeaways (31) than touchdowns allowed (28) and led the Big 12 in interceptions (22), which was second nationally. They led college football in takeaways per game (2.5).

Arizona was tops in college football in passing defense efficiency and had multiple first-team all-conference defensive backs in Stukes and Johnson, which hadn't been done at the UA since 1972.

Between losing Stukes, Johnson and Smith, along with several other players in the defensive secondary, Arizona emphasized defensive back in the transfer portal, signing eight: Daylen Austin (Oregon), Malcolm Hartzog (Nebraska), Tyrese Boss (Wyoming), Cam Chapa (Northern Colorado), Lee Molette (UConn), Dwight Bootle (Charlotte), Zuri Watson (Howard) and Matai Tagoa'i (USC). 

Arce is "super proud of the progress" made by the defensive backs this spring.

"Those are big shoes to fill, a lot of production, but these guys have been doing a great job," Arce said. "We've got a lot of depth in there right now. It's a heck of a competition. ... One day, one guy flashes. The next day, another guy flashes. That's what you want."  

Between Hartzog (1,700 defensive snaps), Chapa (1,495), Molette (1,354), Boss (643), Watson (598), Bootle (461), Austin (248) and Tagoa'i (35), Arizona is adding a combined 6,534 defensive snaps of experience to its defensive secondary via the transfer portal, according to Pro Football Focus.

"There's no substitutions for snaps played," Arce said. "There's nothing like going in between those white lines with the pressure on. We found guys to come in and have those snaps and have played in big-time games. That's super valuable.

"Playing experience is everything. ... Repetition is the mother of all learning, and to do it in a stressful environment, there's no greater growth than that. I think we did a good job of addressing those needs. We're losing a lot of snaps played with those three and we tried to find guys who could do that. ... It's a fun race to watch." 

Arce is "really happy with (Hartzog's) progress," he said.

"He's had a ton of growth since he's been here," Arce said of Hartzog. "He's played a lot of football and is a guy at a high-level." 

Hartzog is originally from Silver Creek, Mississippi, a small town in southern Mississippi that's between Starkville, Mississippi and New Orleans. Best way to describe Hartzog's hometown, "a lot of country stuff out there," he said.

"It's not a big city. It's a population with like 200 people. Everybody knows everybody," Hartzog said. "I liked growing up there. I had a lot of fun with friends and family. Down here (in Tucson), it's different." 

Hartzog, who had a game-sealing interception against Cincinnati in 2025, recorded 108 tackles, 4½ tackles for loss, 21 pass deflections and eight interceptions during his four-year career at Nebraska. Hartzog played multiple positions in Nebraska's secondary, including 909 snaps at cornerback, 474 snaps at slot cornerback, 237 snaps at strong safety and 67 at free safety.

"I loved my time there," Hartzog said of Nebraska. "I appreciate them for everything they've done for me, creating who I am today and continuing to get better each and every day. That was a good spot for me."  

At Nebraska, Hartzog encountered Arizona linebackers coach Josh Bringuel and defensive backs assistant coach Tariq Thompson, who both joined Arizona last year following stints in Lincoln. When Hartzog entered the transfer portal, "I couldn't turn down the opportunity to come out here and play for them," he said. 

"I felt that relationship as soon as I stepped on campus," Hartzog said. "I felt like it was the right fit for me."

When Arce scouted Hartzog, he viewed the Nebraska transfer as the potential successor to Stukes at slot cornerback. Similar to Stukes, Hartzog has "taken ownership in our culture and our beliefs," Arce said.

"I've been proud of how he took it and ran with it," added Arizona's safeties coach. "It hasn't been rough or there hasn't been any bumps in the road. I think he knows this is a big year for him. He has been taking everything in stride and attacking each day." 

There's one noticeable difference between Stukes and Hartzog: height. Stukes is a 6-2, 195-pound defensive back, while Hartzog is 5-8, 184 pounds. Hartzog is "not as tall, but he's got long arms and long limbs," Arce said.

"He's super twitchy and athletic and has short-area quickness," Arce said. "Even though he might be small height-wise, he's a pit bull. That dude is tough, and he's one of the strongest guys in the weight room. ... Even though he might not have the height, his quickness and strength can get under people's pads, and he can avoid them; that's a problem.

"His corner skills from when he was at Nebraska, he can cover anybody, similarly to Stukes. Those attributes, along with him just being a pit bull and a tough guy with strength, size doesn't matter in this case." 

Hartzog's frame is why the defensive back relentlessly studies film. Hartzog relies on brain over brawn. 

"Especially my size, it's harder," Hartzog said. "I gotta have that edge to continue to get better each and every day, and put myself in a position to be great." 

And don't let the frame fool you, "I've been very productive in my college career, and I'm trying to keep that going here," Hartzog said. 

Even though they were never teammates, Hartzog is aware of the caliber of players Arizona's defensive backs are succeeding, and said, "It's going to be a test to do what they did, but we're here to make our own path and take it to the next level for ourselves. We just gotta continue to get better."

Through two-plus weeks of spring football practices, there "hasn't been one guy standing out, you can see growth in all of their games and different areas, and that's exciting as a coach, because that's what you want," Arce said.

"The room as a whole is getting a lot better and that's what you want."

Hartzog is currently penciled in as the successor to Stukes, who played six seasons for the Wildcats and was a multi-year starter, but "it's wide open," Arce said. The true competition won't begin until Austin, Chapa and others return from injury rehab. 

"Every day is a new day," Arce said. "We're trying different people in different places, because we believe in doing that. ... It's going to be a big offseason for them when they do get those reps. ... That's what you want in the room, competition. ... Unlike in years past, because the big three was so good and so dominant, I think you can have some guys rotating in and staying fresh, because we are deeper in that case.

"We'll see how the chips fall when it all ends."  

Extra points

– Arce, on Tagoa'i moving from linebacker to safety: "He had that skillset. You see a lot of guys transition from behind to go down, but he's made that transition smoothly. I haven't had a guy do that, to be honest. He's really aggressive in the run game, the linebacker skill is there, and he has a good feel on when gaps open and when he needs to hit. ... There's a lot of work that needs to be done, but I've been super proud of the progress he's made early on." 

– Arce, on Chapa, who's limited this spring due to injury: "You talk to any coach in the Big Sky, they knew Cam Chapa's name. He was an enforcer out there, not only physically but in the coverage skills, he's got that Genesis range, which is what we saw, along with the physicality. ... I can't wait to get him on the field and get to work, because I have high expectations for Chapa and what he can bring." 

– Hartzog said the wide receiver he's been often matched up with in practice has been sophomore Giovanni Richardson. Said Hartzog: "He's been one of the ones that's getting me better each and every day. We both have our days and go back-and-forth with each other. He's one of those guys that you gotta be on your Ps and Qs for." 

– On Thursday, Arizona's cornerbacks wore boxing gloves in a one-on-one drill, a tactic that trains cornerbacks to refrain from grabbing jerseys. Colorado State transfer wide receiver Jordan Ross beat Boss on a post route. Second-year wide receiver Isaiah Mizell hauled in a deep pass from quarterback Noah Fifita over Boss. 

– The final team period was capped by three field goals by junior kicker Michael Salgado-Medina; his makes were two 34-yard field goals down the middle, a 36-yarder and a 46-yarder from the left hashmark. Salgado-Medina is the only kicker taking reps this spring. The Wildcats are adding freshman kicker and Austin, Texas-area native Ian French this summer.