Arizona football safety Genesis Smith declares for the NFL Draft

If opting out of the Holiday Bowl wasn't enough evidence Genesis Smith is turning pro, the Arizona safety made it official on Sunday and declared for the NFL Draft. 

Smith leaves Arizona after three years and will forego his final year of eligibility and enter his name in the NFL Draft pool, he announced on his social media platforms. 

Smith said the Arizona football program "has truly become my home and has helped me grow in so many ways over the past three years. I can't express my gratitude enough. Thank you, Tucson." 

Smith signed with the Wildcats out of Chandler Hamilton in 2023 and contributed as a freshman in Arizona's seven-defensive back dollar package. Smith recorded his first interception in UA's six-takeaway performance against Oklahoma in the 2023 Alamo Bowl. 

Smith became a starter in 2024 following a season-ending injury to Gunner Maldonado and had a breakout season with 63 tackles, 3.5 stops for loss, nine pass deflections, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a team-high three interceptions. Smith started at three positions — free safety, strong safety and nickel back — in Arizona's defensive secondary as a sophomore.

Smith entered the transfer portal in 2024, along with defensive backs Treydan Stukes and Dalton Johnson, and took an official visit to Washington for a potential reunion with former Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch, but the trio returned to Arizona for Brent Brennan's second season as head coach. 

During the holiday season in 2024, Arizona's "Beyond Football" program helped Smith start his own foundation and begin a holiday campaign, Christmas Cats, to donate gifts to families in Tucson and Phoenix during the holiday season. Smith also hosted a camp at Doolen Middle School in the spring. Campers attended the Arizona spring showcase in April and toured the UA football facilities.

Smith extended Christmas Cats for another year this past season. He was named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, which recognizes 22 college football players and a head coach for their commitment to community service.

Smith was also a semifinalist for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, which is given annually to a college football player who exemplifies excellence in community service, academics and performance.

Back to homepage

Subscriber Login

Keep reading with a digital access subscription.

Subscribe now

Arizona defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales said Smith "is one of the greatest human beings I’ve ever been around." 

“He has servant leadership on our team, and that’s why everyone loves the young man,” Gonzales said in October. “I can go on for all of our time on Genesis Smith, but I won’t. I love him as a human being, as a person, as a football player, as a captain. His faith is super strong. Everything he does is elite. ... I cannot say enough positive and amazing things about Genesis Smith.”

As a junior, the 6-2, 202-pound Smith was one of Arizona's top defensive players and recorded a career-high 77 tackles, nine pass deflections and an interception. Smith was named a third-team All-Big 12 selection. In three seasons as a Wildcat, he recorded 165 tackles, five interceptions and 19 pass deflections.

Smith, Stukes and Johnson opted out of the 17th-ranked Wildcats' 24-19 loss to SMU in the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl in San Diego to avoid getting injured before the NFL Draft. The trio combined for 6,700 defensive snaps in their time at Arizona. They were replaced by redshirt sophomore Gavin Hunter and freshmen Dajon Hinton and Coleman Patmon. 

After the Holiday Bowl, Brennan said "three weeks ago, we had some of our players tell us that they were not going to play in this football game."

"Those are family decisions, and we respect that," Brennan said. "We love those guys. Those guys have made an incredible impact on our program this season, and for all the years they've been here at the University of Arizona. I want to be respectful of that for them and their families."

Added Brennan: "I understand people being frustrated and I can't expect people in the outside world to have a clear understanding about how all of these things move in the current era of college football. But those guys are incredible Wildcats. Those guys were amazing leaders for this program. They chose to stay when the entire world tried to lure them away with money and all kinds of stuff, and they chose the U of A, they chose to finish their careers here.

"I understand people being disappointed, but I love those three guys." 

Smith is considered a Day 3 (Rounds 4-7) prospect for the NFL Draft and was labeled as a draftable prospect on ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr.'s big board. Smith currently isn't scheduled to participate in pre-draft showcases. 

The 2026 NFL Draft is April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.