Since the offseason started for Arizona, the Wildcats have added eight defensive backs. The newest addition: Howard cornerback Zuri Watson, who committed on Friday.
Watson joins Arizona after playing two seasons at Howard. The 6-1, 175-pound Watson has three years of eligibility remaining.
Watson signed with Howard in 2024 following his standout career at Northside Christian School in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Watson redshirted his freshman season in 2024 and played in 15 games this past year, recording 34 tackles, nine pass deflections and an interception.
Watson joins Oregon safety Daylen Austin, Nebraska safety Malcolm Hartzog, Wyoming cornerback Tyrese Boss, Northern Colorado safety Cam Chapa, Fresno City College transfer Brandon Holmes, UConn safety Lee Molette III and Charlotte cornerback Dwight Bootle II as defensive backs added to Arizona's secondary.
Between Watson (598 defensive snaps), Austin (248), Molette (1,354), Chapa (1,495), Hartzog (1,700), Boss (643) and Bootle (461), Arizona is adding a combined 6,499 defensive snaps of experience to its defensive secondary via the transfer portal.
Arizona is bolstering the secondary following the departures of veterans 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, safety Devin Dunn, cornerback Gianni Edwards and Marquis Groves-Killebrew — who started six games for the UA in 2024 — enter the transfer portal.
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 but suffered a leg injury in the first half. Redshirt junior Johno Price, who played 81 defensive snaps in 2025, is expected to return.
Arizona has 22 players in its 2026 transfer portal 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.
