Arizona football is going into the 2025 season with a new defensive coordinator. The third in three seasons, and fourth in the last five years.
With the departure of Duane Akina, who left to Texas after originally being set to coach Arizona’s defensive backs, special teams/linebackers coach Danny Gonzales has taken the role as defensive coordinator.
Gonzales goes into his second season with the Wildcats with hopes to turn that side of the ball into an elite squad.
“Our goal is to be a top 15 defense in the country,” Gonzales said. “Do we have enough talent? We do now. It’s our job to coach their tails up and get them to play hard, and if they believe what we’re doing, we’re going to be damn good.”
Arizona lost some key players from last season to the transfer portal, such as Gunner Maldonado (Kansas State) and Jacob Manu (Washington). However, Gonzales’ goal this offseason was to add depth to the defense.
With additions like Riley Wilson, Max Harris and Blake Gotcher, he believes that the defense is able to play with flexibility when it comes to player rotation.
“I think we have a chance to do some really special things in that room because of what we added,” said Gonzales. “Ideally, if we have a good rotation of between seven and nine, we would have a chance to be pretty good and keep those guys fresh and healthy.”
Going along with Wilson, one player Gonzales is really high on is Chase Kennedy, who was third on the Wildcats with five tackles for loss in 2024.
“Chase Kennedy has been outstanding,” Gonzales said. “Both those guys can play on the line of scrimmage and be a dominant defensive end type. You saw what Chase Kennedy was able to do at the beginning of last season, and then Riley was very similar at Montana.”
If Kennedy or Wilson end up being the fourth defensive lineman in certain formations, they will be alongside redshirt senior Tre Smith. Thanks to new defensive line coach Joe Salave’a, Smith has taken a new approach to his technique and overall mindset.
“The emphasis on details,” said Smith. “Just in terms of your step, your hand placement, your eyes, and whether that be run or pass. Then even outside of football, just life, like just winning at life. That’s a big thing he preaches to us.”
Even though Gonzales wants to add depth to the defense, he still wants to lean on the experience and leadership of his veteran players.
Two of those players include Dalton Johnson and Genesis Smith. Both players entered the transfer portal once the season ended, but each decided to return to Arizona for one more year.
“I felt like I just owed it to myself to kind of just check in and make sure U of A was the place for me,” Johnson said. “Ultimately, that’s what I realized when I got in the portal, and that’s why I got out and decided to stay.”
Johnson finished last season as the leading tackler with 94 tackles and had two forced fumbles. With all the injuries last season, Johnson had to play out of position in many games. It did not stop him from having fun.
“It was fun being able to show my versatility, whether that’s DB or linebacker,” Johnson said on having to play out of position. “Just challenging myself to have to learn a new position in the middle of the season, whatever I have to do to help the team.”
While Johnson goes into his senior year, Smith will be going into his junior year as one of the few returning starters from the end of last season.
He had 63 tackles along with three interceptions and two forced fumbles. His decision to stay with the Wildcats came down to one main thing. Community.
“I know I got my family back at U of A, close to home, comfortable system, and I just, ultimately, just love it here in Tucson,” said Smith. “Love the community, the outreach, and I was happy to be here.”
Treydan Stukes was also a defensive starter who entered the transfer portal but withdrew. The trio of Johnson, Smith, and Stukes is something that Gonzales looks to for role models.
“Those three pieces right there, just the experience that they bring back and then their ability to teach the young guys behind them,” Gonzales said. “They obviously love the University of Arizona, and those three kids are so fun to be around every single day.”