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Replacing Arizona's NFL-bound defensive back trio in Treydan Stukes, Dalton Johnson and Genesis Smith will be the Wildcats' biggest challenge this offseason. Hunter is being challenged by the Arizona coaches to lead the UA secondary. 

"It's no secret we lost thee leaders, three team captains, three guys that were the heartbeat of the team," Hunter said. "The coaches told me to step up and take a leadership role. I've been embracing it. ... Just upholding the standard." 

Stukes, Johnson and Smith were all named All-Big 12 selections — with Stukes and Johnson as first-team choices — this past season. The 2025 season marked the first time since 1972 that Arizona had multiple first-team all-conference defensive backs. 

Additionally, Stukes, Johnson and Smith — nicknamed "the big three" by Arizona's coaches — combined for 6,700 defensive snaps in their Arizona careers.

Losing "the big three" is why Arizona signed eight defensive backs from the transfer portal: safety Daylen Austin (Oregon), safety Malcolm Hartzog (Nebraska), cornerback Tyrese Boss (Wyoming), safety Cam Chapa (Northern Colorado), safety Lee Molette (UConn), cornerback Dwight Bootle (Charlotte), cornerback Zuri Watson (Howard) and safety Matai Tagoa'i (USC). 

Despite the plethora of newcomers in the defensive secondary, Hunter is in line to potentially start at one of Arizona's safety spots. Hunter, who has experience at slot cornerback and free safety, could conceivably be the successor to Johnson at strong safety. 

The 6-2, 207-pound Hunter is entering his fourth season with the program after signing with the Wildcats in 2023, the season Arizona went 10-3 and won the Alamo Bowl in former head coach Jedd Fisch's last season. Hunter signed with ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñAV out of Mililani High School in Ewa Beach, Hawaii. 

Hunter has primarily played special teams at Arizona, but he ascended to a starter in the early stages of the 2025 season, when Stukes was rehabbing from a season-ending knee injury he suffered in 2024. 

With Stukes limited, Hunter started the first two games of the season against Hawaii and Weber State. His first interception as a Wildcat was against his hometown Rainbow Warriors to begin the season. Hunter did a serviceable job in the two games he started, but he was replaced with a longtime starter in Stukes, who was 100% by the time Arizona reached Week 3. 

"I've always been a team-first guy," Hunter said. "I got some good experience under my belt, and when it was time for Stukes to come back, (I did) whatever the team needed. I played a bigger role on the special teams side and focused on my development and stayed ready for when the time came." 

Arce said he's "so proud of Gav and all the growth he has made on and off the field."

"It's been tremendous," Arce added. "I'm super proud of him. Last year, being the guy early on and then we had discussions about how we're going to manage Stukes and when the time comes, he was going to take it. (Hunter) was onboard with it. I think that's the special thing about the culture, and these guys root for one another and each other's success." 

Hunter's third start of the season would be in the biggest game of the season: Arizona's 24-19 loss to SMU in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. Stukes, Johnson and Smith opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft. 

Hunter, Dajon Hinton — who's recovering from a knee injury — and Coleman Patmon — who's now a linebacker — allowed 12 catches on 13 targets for 128 yards; the rest of Arizona's secondary allowed nine catches on 18 targets for 38 yards in the Holiday Bowl. Even though Hunter struggled at times, "it was a good experience being out there with the boys and getting more experience under my belt," he said.

Hunter's 2025 campaign makes him "one of the top returners with playing experience" this upcoming season, Arce said.

"He's been here, he knows the culture and he knows the standard," Arce said. "He did a great job early last year and in his role on special teams, in the bowl game, so we're leaning on him to carry the flag of what Gen, Dalton and Stukes did.

"We're empowering him and bringing those other guys along. They've done a great job of acclimating to the culture. They're older and they've played a lot of snaps, so when they talk, it matters, too." 

Hunter has become "a great student of the game." Stukes mentored Hunter the last three seasons, and "Gav took that and soaked it up like a sponge," Arce said.

"Now he's the guy doing that in the room and leading by example, as well as talking about how we do things and see things," Arce said of Hunter. "I'm so proud of Gavin and all his growth. His best football is definitely ahead of him."

For the first time in his career, Hunter will have the same defensive coordinator as the previous season. He played under Johnny Nansen in 2023, Duane Akina in '24 and Danny Gonzales last season. Gonzales, who signed a contract extension earlier this year after being named a Broyles Award semifinalist, "is everything for the defense," Hunter said. 

"We have full belief in Coach G," Hunter added. "He's the best doing it. Not just with the scheme, but as a man and an overall coach. He's a leader of men and he knows how to rally us together and play like soldiers with violent intentions. He knows how to get us to play like that every day." 

Hunter said "there's no pressure" replacing high-caliber players and leaders in Stukes, Johnson and Smith. He relishes the responsibility in replacing some of the best defensive backs in program history. 

Said Hunter: "Speaking for me personally, I'm a man of faith. The way I look at my life, God is in control. But I also believe faith without work is dead. My full faith is in God, but without putting in the work, it means nothing. We come in the building every day, and we know it's no small task replacing the guys that left.

"We embrace it and we've got full confidence in ourselves and the group we've got this year, our coaches. We're ready to go out there and show what Team 123 can do."