Genesis Smith 'continues to accelerate his growth and development' in Arizona's secondary

Arizona sophomore defensive back Genesis Smith was named Big 12 co-Defensive Player of the Week for his standout performance in the Wildcats’ 27-3 win over the Houston Cougars on Friday.

Other players to receive co-Defensive Player of the Week honors on Monday include West Virginia linebacker Reid Carrico and Colorado defensive tackle Amari McNeill.

Despite making a program-record 62-yard field goal along with a 51-yarder against Houston, Arizona kicker Tyler Loop didn’t receive Big 12 weekly honors. Colorado returner LaJohntay Wester, who had a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter of CU’s rout of Utah, was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week.

Smith had a career-high seven tackles, 1.5 stops for loss, an interception, a fumble recovery, a pass breakup and had zero missed tackles against Houston, according to Pro Football Focus. Smith also made two noticeable tackles on punt coverage.

After the game, Arizona head coach Brent Brennan said Smith “is one of the most engaging and energetic young people I’ve ever been around on the football field,” and the defensive back’s “energy is contagious” for the UA defense.

Smith, who has started at three different defensive secondary positions this year, is one of many UA players who started the season as a backup, but had to be a part of what Brennan called “the race to maturity” and take on a larger role due to season-ending injuries to veteran starters and team captains in nickel back Treydan Stukes and safety Gunner Maldonado.

“I just think it’s so cool how that young man just continues to accelerate his growth and development,” Brennan said of Smith. “That was something that we started to see in the spring. It was already a really good group in that room. ... He just continues to show up every week.”

Brennan said Smith, a Chandler native and former Hamilton High School star, is “a great demonstration of when you put in the effort and the energy into the practice environment and the process, it gives you a chance to have the result you want to have on game day.”

Since Maldonado and Stukes are expected to medically redshirt this season, the Wildcats could have a loaded defensive secondary. If cornerback Tacario Davis declares for the NFL Draft, Stukes, who originally played cornerback at Arizona, could replace him with Marquis Groves-Killebrew or Emmanuel Karnley as the other cornerbacks.

Smith being thrust into a leadership role this season at the expense of his mentors’ health could pay off in the long run for Arizona’s secondary.

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“It’s huge, because the best way to get good at football is by playing in the games,” Brennan said. “Practice is obviously critical and lifting weights and meetings, all of that stuff is an important part of the process.

“But nothing accelerates that development like playing in the games. It’s been beneficial for Genesis — and it’s beneficial for us — that he’s been able to play a bunch.”

TCU has ‘been up-and-down’

Arizona’s upcoming opponent on Saturday, TCU, is “obviously a team that’s been up-and-down, but it seems like they’re playing good football and coming off a bye, which I think will be helpful for them,” Brennan said.

Since starting the season 2-0 with wins over Stanford and Long Island, the Horned Frogs are 4-4, but recently beat Oklahoma State before their bye last week. TCU has the best passing offense in the Big 12, averaging 329.6 yards per game. TCU quarterback Joshua Hoover leads the conference with 3,233 yards to go along with 22 touchdowns. Wide receiver Jack Bech is second in the Big 12 behind Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan for receiving yards (982).

TCU also ranks third in the Big 12 in passing defense, allowing an average of 186.5 yards per game, but the Horned Frogs are 14th in rushing defense, surrendering 172.1 yards per contest.

“They’ve got a really good, athletic group that runs to the ball,” Brennan said. “When you’re look at that kind of speed, that’s something you’re always considering, how we’re going to handle that. They’re extremely well-coached.”

Brennan said TCU head coach Sonny Dykes, who was an offensive coordinator at Arizona under Mike Stoops for three seasons from 2007-09, “has always been creative” as an offensive play-caller.

“He was creative when he was here,” Brennan said. “Having coached against a bunch of his teams, they’ve always been extremely explosive offensively. So we’ve got our hands full on both sides of the ball. Going on the road, tough game late in the season in November, and obviously it’s a huge game for us. We’re putting in the time and putting together the best plan we can to give us a chance on Saturday.”

Extra points

• Brennan, on senior defensive back Owen Goss, who led the Wildcats with nine tackles, 1.5 stops for loss and a pass breakup against Houston: “He’s another great guy who works extremely hard. I’m encouraged by that. I think we all are. He’s really been a great addition to our team.”
• Brennan, on discussing the ramifications of sports gambling with the Arizona players: “It’s something you have to talk to them about, educate them about. It’s a different world that they live in now, because of access to the phone, and you’ve seen lots of people have an issue with that across the country over the last few years. We’re just trying to educate them as much as we can on the dangers of that and how complicated that can make their life. What are we worrying about right now? What are we focused on? We need to be focused on playing great football at TCU on Saturday. That’s it.”
• The Biletnikoff Award will announce its semifinalists on Tuesday. McMillan is expected to be one of 11 players named a semifinalist for the national award given to the best wide receiver in college football. McMillan has 69 receptions for 1,136 yards and seven touchdowns this season. He is 112 yards away from becoming Arizona’s all-time receiving yards leader.
• The kickoff time and television coverage for Arizona’s regular-season finale against rival Arizona State in Tucson won’t be announced until either Saturday night or Sunday, as the Big 12 flexed the Territorial Cup game to the six-day selection window.