Arizona's Genesis Smith motivated to rewrite 'inexcusable' rating in College Football 26

FRISCO, Texas — Some were surprised when they saw Arizona safety Genesis Smith’s player rating in EA Sports’ “College Football 26” video game, including Smith.

To find Smith, who was given a 78 overall rating in College Football 26, on Arizona’s roster in the newly released video game, you have to scroll down a little bit. Smith didn’t crack Arizona’s 10 highest-rated players list.

When the Arizona junior was asked about his player rating at Big 12 Media Days this week, Smith pondered for a moment and said he’s “not too happy about it.”

“At least I’m in the game, so that’s good,” Smith said with a smile. “It definitely could’ve been a lot better, but it’s all good. Hopefully I get bumped up later.”

Added Smith: “It happens. There’s nothing I can do about it except go out and play in real life and ball out.”

When Smith’s playing rating was revealed this week, senior strong safety Dalton Johnson said the Wildcats “were a little confused and we don’t quite understand it, but I think it’s a chip on his shoulder.”

“He’s gotta go and change that,” Johnson added. “It’s a chip on his shoulder, but it’s not right.”

Arizona slot cornerback Treydan Stukes said Smith’s 78 rating is “far too low.”

“That might be EA’s biggest blunder of the year so far,” Stuke said. “It’s just inexcusable.”

Johnson and Stukes essentially did their best Rodney Dangerfield impersonation — and they have an argument.

Smith carved out a mainstay role in Arizona’s defense last season and recorded the team’s third-most tackles (63), along with six pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He was named the Co-Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week following Arizona’s win over Houston. Smith had seven tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery and no missed tackles against the Cougars.

Due to injuries to Stukes, Johnson and free safety Gunner Maldonado, Smith stepped in as a sophomore and started at three different positions in Arizona’s defensive secondary last season. The 6-2, 203-pound Chandler Hamilton product was thrust into a starting role and played “tremendously,” Johnson said.

“Once Gunner Maldonado went down, it meant Genesis had to step up,” said Johnson. “I think he did a great job at that. Now, after getting that experience, one thing I noticed in spring ball was his voice and his energy. If I had a bad day mentally, Gen was the one lifting me up and vice versa. He’s young, but I can count on him as a vet.”

Smith “has grown as a player and as a man,” Stukes said.

“I think that’ll be evident,” Stukes said. “The game is going to slow down for him. If you haven’t heard of the name yet, you will this year.”

The “high-energy, high-effort” Smith was one of the nearly 30 Wildcats to enter the transfer portal in December and “he was a guy that the people came hard after in the portal, but he stayed true to Arizona,” Brennan said.

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The agent-less Smith took an official visit to Washington, which has ex UA head coach Jedd Fisch and several of Smith’s former Arizona teammates, and “it was a lot all at once, but after my first trip to Washington, it was clarity for me and I wanted to come back (to Arizona).”

“The brotherhood, it’s hard to pass up on,” Smith said. “Knowing the opportunity I have at Arizona, the brothers I can lean on when times get tough, it’s hard to pass up. ... That’s the reason I did come back, the culture. It’s a brotherhood.”

When he returned to Arizona in the spring, he unofficially led the Wildcats in interceptions and was among the top playmakers and turnover-creators in pass coverage and in the backfield during spring practices.

Smith’s top goal this season for Arizona’s defense is to have the “most turnovers in the nation, not just the Big 12,” he said.

“I think it’s possible,” Smith said. “We have a lot of ballhawks, dudes making plays on the ball each and every play in the spring. We just gotta continue to pursue the ball and be physical.”

Smith replaces a two-year starter in Maldonado at free safety, but the budding standout in Arizona’s secondary, Johnson and Stukes — who is back at Arizona after redshirting last season following a season-ending knee injury — have combined for 4,550 defensive snaps in their careers. Arizona’s trio, who all represented the Wildcats at Big 12 Media Days at Ford Center this week, in the secondary is the team’s most experienced group.

“We take our roles as leaders seriously and be role models any way we can, just trying to make sure everyone is on the same page and holding everyone accountable,” Stukes said.

Arizona defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales said Smith “could be the best defensive football player in the league this year if he does the things he did in spring ball.” Those lofty expectations should warrant a higher player rating in a video game, right?

“I’m not worried about a 78 and that I have to prove myself,” Smith said. “Knowing the plans I have for myself and for the team this year, I feel like we’re going to have a successful season, just from all the work we’ve put in on and off the field, the film room, the weight room.

“Going out there and continue to work. I feel like our hard work will pay off.”

Extra points

– Brennan, on coaches’ name and likeness added to College Football 26 this season: “Most of the messages I’ve been getting are friends and people talking smack about how weird I look in the game. I haven’t seen it yet, but I think it’s cool the game is back in play because it was such a big game in my early career and late college years. To see it come back with excitement and enthusiasm, is pretty cool. It’s cool for our players and it’s cool for college football.”

– Smith said the Big 12 is “well-balanced.” Added Smith: “No team is dominant. Any game can be a trap game. You gotta come in with respect for everybody. If you don’t, that’s when you lose and get hit in the mouth. Stay physical and the most physical team will win.”

– Brennan said “there’s parity in the (Big 12) and anyone can win it.” Added Brennan: “I think that’s unique about the Big 12 and everyone is excited about that.”

– The Wildcats are “a lot more mission-focused” this season, according to Smith. Said Smith: “We’re a lot more process-oriented and not really focused on the year before. Last year, a lot of dudes were looking back on that 2023 season and tried to recreate that. We’re just trying to be ourselves this year. We’re not trying to recreate anything. We’re just working and then we’ll go from there.”