Arizona Wildcats 'very comfortable and very excited about' progress at cornerback

Between the start of Arizona’s spring practice schedule to now, arguably the most improved player has been San Jose State transfer cornerback Michael Dansby.

Since the start of training camp, Dansby has positioned himself as a potential starter in Arizona’s secondary.

The absence of returning starter Marquis Groves-Killebrew, who started six games for the Wildcats last season after stops at Texas A&M and Louisville, has contributed to more opportunities in practice for Dansby, but the San Jose State transfer hasn’t given the UA coaches any reason to bench him once Groves-Killebrew returns.

Arizona cornerbacks coach Chip Viney said Dansby has made “huge gains” since the spring.

“The way he attacked the offseason, getting bigger and getting stronger,” Viney said. “And then just being healthy and available on the field and making plays when presented to him.”

Viney recruited Dansby to San Jose State out of McClymonds High School in Oakland, California. Dansby said his childhood in the Bay Area was “nothing too fancy.”

“I was pretty much inside my whole childhood or playing football or playing sports,” Dansby said. “Nothing out of the ordinary. I was inside a lot on the games and playing sports.”

Dansby doesn’t have many hobbies beyond football, but said he recently “picked up a lot of shows lately,” including “Scandal” on Netflix.

“I don’t have too many hobbies besides watching film and recovering,” he said.

Dansby signed with San Jose State to play for Viney and head coach Brent Brennan. Dansby’s potential cornerback counterpart and McClymonds teammate, Jay’Vion Cole, transferred to San Jose State in 2023 after starting at Cal Poly.

Dansby and Cole’s “chemistry was always going to roll over wherever we (went),” whether it was at San Jose State or Arizona, said Dansby.

The 5-11, 185-pound Dansby had 68 career tackles, 14 pass deflections, five interceptions and a touchdown at SJSU. Unlike several of his San Jose State teammates, Dansby didn’t transfer away from the program or follow Brennan to Arizona like running back Quali Conley, defensive end Tre Smith and tight end Sam Olson, among others.

“It was just a personal thing,” he said. “I just wanted to stay one more year.”

Dansby said San Jose State head coach Ken Niumatalolo, who was a finalist to become Arizona’s head coach in 2018, “is a very good coach and I’m glad I got that year under him.”

Entering his senior season, Dansby said he “just wanted a bigger opportunity for myself and my family,” so he entered the transfer portal.

“I know where my talents should be at,” he said.

Dansby wasn’t necessarily a no-show in the spring, but he was definitely behind Cole, West Virginia transfer Ayden Garnes and Groves-Killebrew as far as contributors at cornerback — and that’s without defensive captain and nickel back Treydan Stukes, who’s working his way back from a knee injury he suffered last season. Stukes took first-team reps in a team period on Friday.

Now? Dansby is potentially Arizona’s top cornerback with multiple pass deflections and interceptions in training camp. Dansby credited his “confidence and my mindset and just me getting comfortable with the defense,” he said.

“That’s the biggest thing from spring to fall camp,” Dansby said.

Added Cole: “For Dansby, his confidence is key. ... I feel like that’s what separates us, knowing everyone in the room can compete. ... We’re very competitive as a group.”

In recent practices, along with a safety tandem of Dalton Johnson and Genesis Smith, Dansby and Garnes have been starters at cornerback with redshirt sophomore Gavin Hunter at nickel back. Garnes also has experience at nickel back and “is a young man that’s highly competitive and willing to play anywhere, whether it’s inside or outside,” Viney said.

“He’s a young man that really bring value to this defense and to this team,” Viney said of Garnes.

Even though Groves-Killebrew has been absent in training camp, the “sky’s the limit” for the college football journeyman, who was in line to start this season.

“If you asked MGK, I think he’ll tell you the same thing,” Viney said.

Groves-Killebrew has immersed himself in Arizona’s new defense and “is doing an awesome job,” Viney said.

“There isn’t a guy that’s more present,” said Arizona’s cornerbacks coach. “He actually bugs me when we get out to practice, because I can’t move around because he’s literally in my hip pocket. He’s doing an awesome job that way.”

When Groves-Killebrew and Stukes returns, Viney will have to determine the three starting cornerback and nickel back spots — two considering Stukes is a sure-fire starter. Will the two be Dansby and Garnes? Dansby and Cole? Cole and Garnes? Regardless, whichever cornerback of the bunch starts, they’ll add several years of starter experience to the starting lineup.

Viney said, “you most definitely can” rotate cornerbacks, but “I can’t say whether or not that’s something that we do here.”

“We may, we may not,” he said. “I think it’s all depending on the guys that are available and the guys that we feel comfortable and trust to go out there and compete on Saturdays. ... The guys are showing up every day and the guys are competing. They’re giving us their all.

“We’re very comfortable and very excited about what we have. I can’t wait to put it on display (on) Saturdays.”

Gianni Edwards ‘plays with a lot of fire’

The difference between the heaviest player and the lightest player on Arizona’s roster is 251 pounds.

The heaviest player is College of San Mateo transfer offensive lineman Siale Uluave at 409 pounds. The lightest player is freshman cornerback and Dallas-area native Gianni Edwards at 158 pounds. And Edwards is one of the most fearless of the freshmen Arizona signed in its 2025 recruiting class, along with safety Coleman Patmon and nickel back Swayde Griffin.

The 5-11 Edwards, a Forney, Texas product, “plays with a lot of fire and is very, very competitive,” Viney said.

“The kid has a fire and a competitive nature that is like no other,” Viney said of Edwards.

Garnes said Edwards’ “first couple practices were shaky, but now he’s getting in tune and starting to get the technique.”

“Once he grows into his body and grows mentally, he’s going to be a great player,” Garnes said.

Back to homepage

Subscriber Login

Keep reading with a digital access subscription.

Subscribe now

Said Cole: “As he learns how practice and grow into his body, he’s going to be a dog. He’s learning the playbook and we’re going to need him at some point in time in the season, so as he matures and gets older, he’s going to be very good.”

Snacks and soundtrack of training camp

A few times each practice, Arizona will pause training camp for a “TV timeout.”

Using a megaphone, assistant director of football operations Parker Tipton yells “TV timeout.” Once the magic words are heard, the music stops and players and coaches congregate in an area with snacks and beverages.

It’s not quite orange slices and Capri-Sun akin to the halftime breaks from the youth sports days, but the UA nutrition staff provides the players and coaches plenty of options.

The options: sliced watermelon and mango, bag of grapes, mandarin oranges, Uncrustable sandwiches (peanut butter and jelly), Honey Stinger energy waffle, Goldfish, Scooby Doo graham crackers, Belvita bars, Rold Gold pretzels, Precision Fuel chew bar, Gushers, Rice Krispies Treats, shots of pickle juice (essential for cramps), electrolyte additives, Welch’s fruit gummies, Black Forest gummy bears and mini bottles of Powerade.

The five-minute pause allows position coaches to talk to players in between individual and team periods, as Brennan meets with coordinators midfield.

Dansby often chooses watermelon, fruit snacks and Powerade. Ditto for Garnes, but add a granola bar. Cole “is big on the purple (Powerade) with a couple slices of watermelon. Keep it simple,” he said.

Arizona tight end said Tyler Powell said “our nutritionist staff always carries gummies in a cup to give us extra carbohydrates and get us fueled up during those TV timeouts.”

“I usually get a couple of those and a little blue Powerade,” he said.

Added tight end Sam Olson: “I like getting some of those gummies, too; sometimes a piece of watermelon. The nutrition staff has something called ‘sauce.’ I’m not sure what’s in it. There’s carbs in it, electrolytes, stuff like that. I get some of that, some gummies and maybe a piece of watermelon if I’m feeling pretty hungry or whatever.”

Once the break ends, the music fires up again and it’s back to work.

Here are some of the (mostly hip-hop) songs Arizona has listened to during training camp this year:

“All of the Lights” by Kanye West featuring Rihanna and Kid Cudi

“Dreams & Nightmares” by Meek Mill

“It Wasn’t Me” by Shaggy

“It’s Goin’ Down” by Young Joc

“Jimmy Cooks” by Drake featuring 21 Savage

“Make No Sense” by YoungBoy Never Broke Again

“My Boo” by Ghost Town DJ’s

“No Friends in the Industry” by Drake

“Nokia” by Drake

“Rags to Riches” by Rod Wave featuring Lil Baby and ATR SonSon

“Robbery” by Tee Grizzley

“Salt Shaker” by Ying Yang Twins featuring Lil John and the East Side Boyz

“Sandstorm” by Darude

“Seek and Destroy” by Metallica

“Spirit in the Sky” by Norman Greenbaum

“Ski” by Young Thug featuring Gunna

“Skrilla” by Kodak Black

“Staying Alive” by DJ Khaled featuring Drake and Lil Baby

“Turks and Caicos” by Rod Wave featuring 21 Savage

“Tweaker” by Gelo (LiAngelo Ball)

“Wild Side” by Motley Crüe

Extra points

— Viney, on the importance of covering wide receivers in Arizona’s aggressive defense under defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales: “Whenever you play the defensive back position, you’re on an island. I wouldn’t say it’s the calling to the defensive coordinator’s style of play. It’s just something you want your guys to be able to do. Any offense this day in age can get you on an island and get those one-on-one matchups, but it’s something we pride ourselves on being able to do and being prepared for it, because we know they’re going to come up in a game.”

— Arizona linebackers coach Josh Bringuel was named a “30 Under 30” selection by 247Sports.com as one of the top 30 college football assistant coaches under 30 years old.

— Safety Genesis Smith intercepted quarterback Noah Fifita in the first team period during Sunday night’s practice, which was open to the public. Smith also had a pass deflection in a goal-line 7-on-7 period. In the 7-on-7 period, wide receiver Tre Spivey III had two touchdown grabs, including one in the back of the end zone. Fifita ended the 7-on-7 period with a touchdown pass to Washington State transfer receiver Kris Hutson.

— Portland State transfer running back Quincy Craig caught a short pass near the right sideline and sprinted for a 90-yard touchdown in a team period.

— Walk-on freshman kicker Tyler Prasuhn made all three of his field-goal attempts, including a 48-yarder. Sophomore Michael Salgado-Medina made 3 of 4 and missed a 44-yard field goal, but made a 48- and 56-yarder.

— Junior college transfer defensive tackle Zac Siulepa has officially joined the team and attended practice on Sunday. The 6-7, 365-pound Garden City Community College (Kansas) transfer and New Zealand native is expected to play for the Wildcats this season. Siulepa, College of San Mateo defensive line transfer Ezra Funa and Bay Area offensive lineman Peter Langi were the last signees awaiting to be academically cleared. The 6-2, 275-pound Funa is expected to redshirt this season and have two years of eligibility remaining, while Langi is doubtful to join the team this season.