Arizona has around 20 players in its 2026 transfer portal class, and the majority of the Wildcats' pickups are defensive backs.
Former UConn safety Lee Molette III became the newest member of the Arizona defensive secondary following four seasons with the Huskies.
Molette is one of six additions to the defensive secondary since last week, along with Nebraska safety Malcolm Hartzog, Wyoming cornerback Tyrese Boss, Northern Colorado safety Cam Chapa, Fresno City College transfer cornerback Brandon Holmes and Charlotte cornerback Dwight Bootle II.
Molette is one of Arizona's most experienced newcomers and comes to Tucson with 1,354 defensive snaps under his belt in four seasons with the Huskies, according to Pro Football Focus. Between Molette (1,354 defensive snaps), Chapa (1,495), Hartzog (1,700), Boss (643) and Bootle (461), the Wildcats are adding a combined 5,653 defensive snaps to their secondary.
The 6-1, 190-pound Molette, who's from Brentwood, Tennessee, recorded 124 tackles, eight pass deflections, an interception and a fumble recovery for the Huskies from 2022-25. Molette played all four years under former head coach Jim Mora, who's now the head coach at Colorado State.
Arizona is bolstering the secondary following the departures of veterans and All-Big 12 defensive backs Treydan Stukes, Dalton Johnson and Genesis Smith — who combined for 6,700 defensive snaps at the UA — along with cornerbacks Michael Dansby and Ayden Garnes. The Wildcats also had safety Jack Luttrell and cornerbacks Gianni Edwards and Marquis Groves-Killebrew — who started six games for the UA in 2024 — enter the transfer portal.
Arizona returns starter 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 at cornerback 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.
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.
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.
