It wasn’t the best team in school history in terms of wins, but what Arizona did during the 2023 season was truly historic. And, it’s turned out, quite professional.
Six members of that ’23 squad, which won 10 games including the Alamo Bowl less than two years removed from a 20-game losing streak, were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft over the weekend. That brings the tally to 12 players who suited up for the Wildcats that season who have been drafted.
In addition to defensive backs Treydan Stukes (2nd
round, Las Vegas Raiders), Genesis Smith (4th round, Los Angeles Chargers) and Dalton Johnson (5th round, Raiders), all of whom finished their careers at the UA, three ex-Wildcats were also drafted. Cornerback Tacario Davis went in the 3rd round to the Cincinnati Bengals, running back Jonah Coleman went in the 4th round to the Denver Broncos and corner Ephesians Prysock was a 4th-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers.
Davis, Coleman and Prysock each transferred to Washington after beginning at Arizona, with Coleman and Prysock following Jedd Fisch to Seattle immediately after his hire and Davis joining them after the 2024 season.
Three Wildcats from the 10-3 team in 2023 were drafted the following spring, led by offensive lineman Jordan Morgan, a 1st-round pick of the Green Bay Packers. Also taken in the 2024 NFL Draft were receiver Jacob Cowing (4th round, 49ers) and tight end Tanner McLachlan (6th round, Bengals).
The 2025 NFL Draft saw another three UA players from that ’23 lineup get picked: receiver Tetairoa McMillan went ninth overall to the Carolina Panthers, offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea went in the second round to the Miami Dolphins and kicker Tyler Loop went to the Baltimore Ravens in the 6th round.
Not bad for a program that, in the previous two drafts had zero selections. And the haul from 2023 could grow next April, when the 2027 NFL Draft is held in Washington, D.C.
Linebacker Taye Brown is the top pro prospect left in the program from that roster, and with a big senior year could end up like Stukes or Johnson in rising up draft boards. So, too, could tight end Tyler Powell if he’s able to come back from an injury suffered on the first play of the 2025 season and the same goes for a breakout 2026 from redshirt senior wide receiver Chris Hunter.
And if NFL scouts can overlook his size, quarterback Noah Fifita could sneak into the later rounds. Arizona has only had one QB drafted in the past 40 seasons, that being Nick Foles in the 3rd round in 2012.
As far as ex-Wildcats go, offensive lineman Wendell Moe Jr., is heading into his redshirt senior season at Tennessee figures to be on 2027 draft boards. Defensive lineman Isaiah Johnson (North Carolina) could also get picked a year from now.
Members of Arizona’s 2023 team to get drafted into NFL
(*-finished career at Washington)
- OL Jordan Morgan (2024)
- WR Jacob Cowing (2024)
- TE Tanner McLachlan (2024)
- WR Tetairoa McMillan (2025)
- OL Jonah Savaiinaea (2025)
- K Tyler Loop (2025)
- DB Treydan Stukes (2026)
- CB Tacario Davis (2026)*
- RB Jonah Coleman (2026)*
- S Genesis Smith (2026)
- CB Ephesians Prysock (2026)*
- S Dalton Johnson (2026)
