Scouting Report: One of the only true centerfielders in the 2026 class

Get to know Arizona safety Genesis Smith, one of the only true over-the-top safeties in the 2026 NFL Draft class.

Jan 17, 2026

∙ Paid

Continuing to publish 2026 NFL Draft scouting reports with the amount of tape we have on players coming to an end, we now turn our attention to Arizona safety Genesis Smith.

A former three-star prospect out of Arizona, Smith chose to stay home with the Wildcats over offers from Arizona State, Air Force, Army, Colorado State, Iowa State, Washington, and more. He saw immediate playing time as a freshman on both defense and special teams; he has started over the past two seasons at Arizona.

Smith is a well-seasoned player with over 1,700 career snaps played.

In 2025, Smith racked up 77 tackles, three tackles for loss, one interception, and eight passes defended. Over his career, Smith accumulated five interceptions and 14 passes defended. He even forced four fumbles throughout his college career.

He was named as an All-Big 12 Third-Teamer for his efforts in 2025.

So, what does Smith bring to the table, and where does he sit among the others in this 2026 NFL Draft class?