Arizona safety Dalton Johnson removed his name from the transfer portal on Thursday and will stay with the Wildcats for the 2025 season.
Johnson and sophomore nickel back and safety Genesis Smith both withdrew their names from the transfer portal on Thursday.
Johnson and Smith entered the transfer portal with nickel back Treydan Stukes, cornerback Tacario Davis and free safety Gunner Maldonado, among a few other defensive backs. Preseason All-Big 12 linebacker Jacob Manu also entered the transfer portal after Arizona’s 4-8 campaign in head coach Brent Brennan’s first season.
Arizona defensive back Dalton Johnson (43) during a game against Texas Tech on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Tucson.
Johnson was one of few players to sign with Arizona in December 2020 after former head coach Kevin Sumlin was fired. Johnson and offensive lineman JT Hand, who transferred to Oregon State last week, were the only players from Arizona’s 2021 recruiting class on the roster this season.
Johnson, a Katy, Texas, product, mostly played special teams in his first two seasons, but ascended to starter status in Arizona’s defensive secondary alongside Maldonado last season. Johnson forced the fumble that was returned by Maldonado for an 87-yard touchdown, which sparked the Wildcats’ come-from-behind win over Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl.
After injuries to Manu and others in Arizona’s defense this season, the Wildcats shifted to a dime defense with Johnson as a linebacker-safety hybrid. The 5-11, 202-pound Johnson led the Wildcats in tackles (94) this season. Johnson has 188 career tackles, six forced fumbles, two sacks and an interception.
With Johnson and Smith returning, along with cornerback Marquis Groves-Killebrew and safety Jack Luttrell, who tied Smith with a career-high three interceptions this season, the Wildcats currently have four defensive backs with starting experience from this past season.
In the last three seasons, Johnson has played 1,498 defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
Arizona recently added three defensive backs in the transfer portal: cornerback Jay’Vion Cole (Texas), cornerback Michael Dansby (San Jose State) and safety Jshawn Frausto-Ramos (Stanford).
