Another defensive back has been added to Arizona's secondary via the transfer portal.Â
The Wildcats signed former Oregon slot cornerback and safety Daylen Austin, who spent the last three seasons with the Ducks. Austin selected Arizona over Arkansas.Â
Austin is among the several pickups at defensive back for Arizona this offseason, along with Nebraska safety Malcolm Hartzog, Wyoming cornerback Tyrese Boss, Northern Colorado safety Cam Chapa, Fresno College transfer Brandon Holmes, UConn safety Lee Molette III and Charlotte cornerback Dwight Bootle II.  Â
Between Molette (1,354 defensive snaps), Chapa (1,495), Hartzog (1,700), Boss (643), Bootle (461) and Austin (248), the Wildcats are adding a combined 5,901 defensive snaps to their secondary, according to Pro Football Focus.Â
Arizona is bolstering the secondary following the departures of veterans Treydan Stukes, Dalton Johnson and Genesis Smith â who combined for 6,700 defensive snaps at the UA â along with cornerbacks Michael Dansby and Ayden Garnes. The Wildcats also had safety Jack Luttrell, cornerback Gianni Edwards and Marquis Groves-Killebrew â who started six games for the UA in 2024 â enter the transfer portal.Â
Oregon defensive back Daylen Austin (0) prepares for a play against Washington during the first half, Nov. 29, 2025, in Seattle.Â
Austin is one of the most experienced additions to Arizona's defensive secondary. At Oregon, the 6-1, 199-pound Austin had 23 tackles, four pass deflections and an interception. His first-career interception was in a 21-7 win over Wisconsin this past season.Â
Austin signed with Oregon as a four-star prospect out of Long Beach Polytechnic High School (California) in 2023. Former Arizona cornerbacks coach Demetrice Martin recruited Austin to Oregon. Austin was also recruited by UA, Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Texas, USC, Michigan State and Louisville, among others.Â
In 2024, Austin was arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run incident near the UO campus in Eugene. Austin was booked into Lane County jail. According to multiple reports, the crash victim was identified as 46-year-old Frank Seaman, who allegedly threw a large object at Austin's vehicle leading up to the incident.Â
When Austin circled back to confront Seaman, the Oregon defensive back was allegedly threatened by Seaman with a hammer. Austin left the scene and met with a nearby friend to discuss what happened. When Austin drove away from the meeting, his vehicle struck Seaman. Austin fled the scene and immediately contacted his mother and Oregon coaches.Â
In January 2025, Austin was indicted for failing to perform the duties of a driver when another person is injured, which is a Class B felony. Austin's trial is set for February 2027.Â
Despite the incident, Austin played the last two seasons for the Ducks.
"Arizona Athletics recruits student-athletes that it believes will positively impact the campus community and shares its values," a UA spokesperson said in a statement to the Star. "In recruiting prospective student-athletes, (UA) athletics follows the Dean of Studentsâ process and athletics obtains input from the Faculty Athletics Representative and university counsel, as needed.
"While we respect student privacy and do not comment on legal matters, we do recognize the seriousness of matters involving a loss of life and the impact on loved ones left behind."Â Â
Austin played 248 defensive snaps in three seasons â 167 snaps at slot cornerback, 29 snaps at cornerback, 23 snaps at free safety and 21 snaps at strong safety.
Austin's versatility and experience will position him into potentially starting at safety or replacing Stukes at nickel back.
Arizona returns starting cornerback Jay'Vion Cole, who's entering his senior season. Cole was second in the Big 12 with four interceptions. Cole had a pick-six in Arizona's 48-3 win over Weber State. Other returners include freshmen Swayde Griffin and Dajon Hinton, who started in place of Stukes in the Holiday Bowl and suffered a leg injury. Redshirt junior Johno Price, who played 81 defensive snaps in 2025, is expected to return.Â
Oregon defensive back Daylen Austin celebrates a referee's call during the first half against Montana State, Aug. 30, 2025, in Eugene, Ore.Â
The Wildcats signed four-star cornerback Xaier Hiler, a 6-4, 180-pound Dallas-area product, and Chandler Hamilton cornerback Kingston Spivey, the younger brother of Tre Spivey and son of former Tucson Sidewinders star Junior Spivey. The youngest Spivey is joining Arizona as a preferred walk-on.
Arizona's safety group includes redshirt junior Gavin Hunter, redshirt freshman Kason Brown and sophomore Coleman Patmon, who started Arizona's 24-19 loss to SMU in the Holiday Bowl. Arizona signed three-star Georgia safety Hannibal Navies for its 2026 high school recruiting class.Â
Austin is the fifth ex-Duck to play for Arizona in the last three recruiting cycles. Arizona recently had former Oregon wide receiver Kris Hutson, linebacker Justin Flowe, punter Lachlan Bruce and offensive lineman Michael Wooten, who recently transferred to South Florida. Flowe is in the transfer portal as a seventh-year linebacker following a season at UNLV.Â
Arizona has 21 players in its 2026 transfer portal class.Â
Find out the latest updates on Arizona football's activity in the transfer portal with the Star's tracker on Tucson.com and The Wildcaster mobile app. Â
