Arizona signed multiple defensive linemen during National Signing Day on Wednesday, including former San Jose State edge rusher Tre Smith, Syracuse defensive lineman Kevon Darton and junior-college outside linebacker Cyrus Durham.
Smith is the first SJSU defensive player to follow head coach Brent Brennan and defensive line coach Joe Seumalo to Arizona.
Smith, a 6-5, 255-pound Mesa native, prepped at Red Mountain High School and joined San Jose State in 2021, before having a breakout season as a redshirt sophomore. In 2023, Smith recorded 66 tackles and 6.5 sacks and was named a first-team All-Mountain West selection.Β Β
"I think he'll fit right in," Seumalo said of Smith via the team's social media channels. "With the work that he put in the last couple years at San Jose and then coming right in, the transition will be about as normal as it could be. Obviously he wants to come in here and get after it. He'll be the aggressive player that he was at San Jose State. I'm excited. I think he'll fit right in with the group."Β
Seumalo called Smith a "reliable teammate."Β
"He's a guy that does extra. ... In terms of a teammate, he'll be a great teammate," said the Arizona defensive line coach. "He's a very mature young man that will love and appreciate the things the school has to offer."
Darton was the first defensive player to sign with the Wildcats under Brennan on Wednesday.Β
Darton, a former Worcester Academy star in Flitchburg, Massachusetts, joined Syracuse as a walk-on in 2019, before becoming a mainstay in the Orange defense and starting the last two seasons at nose tackle. The 5-11, 271-pound logged 110 tackles, 12 stops for loss, five sacks, a forced fumble and fumble return in four seasons at Syracuse.Β
"He's got that innate ability to skinny his way through some of those blocks and be able to make plays," Seumalo said of Darton. "Stout at the line of scrimmage and he'll definitely demand two blocks. As a linebacker, you love stuff like that, when guys use up blocks and linebackers are able to come downhill and make plays. He's a tough, all-around player."
Durham, a 6-4, 240-pound outside linebacker and edge rusher, had 66 tackles and 10.5 sacks in 13 games at College of San Mateo in Northern California.
Durham hails from a martial-arts background, "so it sort of comes natural in terms of hand combative and the agility of playing football," Seumalo said.
"It makes him more of a fierce competitor," he added.Β
Smith, Durham and Darton help Arizona's defensive line depth, which lost several players to graduation and the transfer portal. Senior defensive tackle Bill Norton is the only starter on the defensive line from last season's Arizona team returning for 2024.Β
