After losing 'important pieces' on defense, Arizona Wildcats have next-man-up mentality

In sync, Arizona veteran defensive backs Gunner Maldonado, Treydan Stukes and Dalton Johnson announced their plans to stay one more season at the UA.

Maldonado, Stukes and Johnson each played pivotal roles in Arizona's defensive success last season.

Maldonado's 87-yard fumble return for a touchdown that sparked Arizona's comeback against Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl was created by Johnson, who was also the lead blocker along with Stukes.  

The Star nicknamed Stukes, Johnson and Maldonado the "Three Amigos." Now it's down to one amigo, Chevy Chase — err, Johnson. 

Stukes, a two-year team captain and nickel back, is out for the rest of the season after he suffered an ACL injury in the first half of the Wildcats' upset of Utah. The following week, Maldonado suffered a leg injury near the Texas Tech sideline and could potentially miss several games.

Coupled with Johnson's injury that sidelined the strong safety for the loss to Kansas State, the "Three Amigos" rarely shared the field beyond the season opener. 

Both Maldonado and Stukes could medically redshirt this year and return for the 2025 season since they've only played in four games this season. 

"That's a sad situation for the young man," Akina said of Stukes. "I'm not going to slight the value he has for this football team, because he's very important to this football as a model, as a player, his unselfishness." 

Stukes "has been the personification of resilience" since he suffered the injury at Utah, said his dad, Ray Stukes, on social media on Wednesday.

"His attitude is positive, he is still heavily invested in the well-being of his teammates (that) he considers brothers, and seems to have a firm grasp of what it means to pour energy into the things you control," the older Stukes added.

"Nothing in his football career has come easy so it's no big surprise that he's right back on the path of most resistance, and (he's) looking forward to taking on another challenge. This experience has allowed him to take a huge step in personal growth." 

Even after Stukes left the Utah game with an injury, he still found a way to make an impact by taking notes and became a player-coach. 

"A guy that should be feeling sorry for himself and his feelings. He's just finding another way for us to win football games," said Arizona defensive coordinator Duane Akina. "One of the young players missed an assignment on a big play, Stukes had notes and by the time I got in there at halftime, I said, 'Hey, (nickel backs coach Brett Arce), draw it up.' He said, 'Coach, Stukes is already going through it.' ... That's the culture that we've worked hard to build in the DB room and also the defensive room."

Akina said Stukes' impact on the sidelines for Arizona's win at Utah "is going to be an example that will live far beyond 2024."

"I'll constantly use that as an example of what a great teammate looks like," said the Arizona defensive coordinator. 

Akina didn't minimize the losses of Stukes and Maldonado in the secondary. 

"Those are important pieces to the success of our football team," Akina said. 

However,  injuries are "the nature of this football game," Akina said. 

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"That's why you constantly have to preach to your team that you're just a play away," Akina said. "I know it's a boring saying, but it is the reality. It is the next man up." 

Easier said than done. 

"I've been spoiled with Dalton, Gunner and Stukes," Akina said. "Those are as high-IQ players as I've had, and you stick (linebacker Jacob Manu) in the middle of the field. The guts of any sport is the middle of the defense." 

The Wildcats have a few options in the defensive secondary to replace to Stukes and Maldonado, including sophomore and Chandler native Genesis Smith, who trains at four positions: nickel back, free safety, strong safety and a role in the "dollar" package with seven defensive backs. Smith has started at nickel back, strong safety and free safety this season. 

"Guys like that have great value to your football team," Akina said. 

Smith contributed as a true freshman last season and his first interception as a Wildcat was one of Arizona's six takeaways in the Alamo Bowl. The 6-2, 203-pound Smith has two interceptions this season; he nearly had three last Saturday against Texas Tech after jumping a pass that grazed his fingertips. 

Arizona head coach Brent Brennan said Smith "has this incredible energy and big smile," a joy for football that stems from his dad. 

"He's a really funny, humorous dude," Smith said. "The big family that I have, I feel like being around a bunch of people, we're always laughing and having fun. Whenever I get around the football team, it's like a big family."

Even though Smith has been thrusted into a more prominent role in Arizona's defense, losing "key pieces in our room was tough initially," he said.

"It still is tough, but it just means new people gotta step up. We've got a lot of young guys willing to step up and I think they're ready for the job," Smith said. "Treydan and Gunner, they're still playing a big part in their leadership role in the room, so that's good." 

Smith will either start at nickel back or free safety on Saturday against No. 14 BYU. Colgate transfer Owen Goss, who Akina said is "growing every week," could step in at nickel back while Smith starts at free safety. Following a rocky start at Kansas State, with breakdowns and missed tackles, "the game is starting to slow down a little bit" for the graduate transfer Goss.

Akina hinted "maybe it's a game where (Tennessee transfer) Jack (Luttrell) will have an opportunity to come in and play" at free safety. Luttrell, a Georgia native who played one season at Tennessee before transferring to the UA under former head coach Jedd Fisch. 

Luttrell, who Akina called "an outstanding athlete," has yet to play a defensive snap, but has logged 59 snaps on special teams, according to Pro Football Focus.  

"What Jack is learning, like a lot of young players, the game is not played on paper, where you run and jump; he's got all of those things," Akina said. "The game is played on the grass. Many times, he's learning the mental side of the game. Sometimes as young players, you have to go through growing pains. That's the facts of life. We just gotta keep bringing him a long."

Regardless of who starts in Arizona's secondary on Saturday, "they've had great models in how to do it with Gunner and Stukes and those guys — and we still have Dalton out there," Akina said.

"All you can do is coach the football team. It's the next man up. Let's go play. Someone put the ball on the ground and blow the whistle, because BYU will be there. We're gonna play. ...  As a coach, you can look at the cup of water however you choose to. Is it empty? Is it full?

"All you can do is talk about the good things that they've done, because there are a bunch of positive plays they've put on tape."