TUCSON, Ariz. — Another member of the Arizona Wildcats vaunted secondary, defensive back
Genesis Smith, has been selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. Smith came off the board to the Los Angeles Chargers with the 131st overall pick in the fourth round.
Smith, a Third Team All-Big 12 selection and a semifinalist for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, is the second Wildcat off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft. Arizona has now had multiple players selected in three consecutive drafts for the first time since posting six straight from 2007–12.
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Across three seasons at Arizona, Smith earned time in 37 games and tallied 164 total tackles (87 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, 14 pass breakups, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. He set a career-high in tackles as a junior in 2025 with 77, a mark that was fourth best on the team and second best among defensive backs.
Smith was a major contributor to the Wildcats secondary that finished the year first in the nation in team pass efficiency defense, second in interceptions, and seventh in pass defense.
As a true freshman in 2023 he saw time in all 13 games and helped lead the Wildcats to 10 wins and a spot in the Alamo Bowl, during which he recorded his first career interception. In his final collegiate season in 2025 he helped Arizona engineer a nine-win campaign and a berth in the Holiday Bowl. Those two seasons are among the only eight nine-plus win seasons in program history.
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