When the Las Vegas Raiders selected former Arizona Wildcats defensive backs Treydan Stukes and Dalton Johnson in the 2026 NFL Draft, they weren't just adding talent to their secondary. They were bringing in two proven team captains—leaders who can help steer the organization through its rebuild.

To get an inside look at what makes these two safeties tick, we caught up with Arizona's Director of Football Strength and Conditioning, Cullen Carroll, who worked closely with both players over the past two seasons.

On Treydan Stukes: The Walk-On Who Never Quit

"Trey is a naturally gifted athlete, but his story is what really sets him apart," Carroll said. "He came to Arizona as an unranked walk-on—under-recruited and overlooked. The fact that he worked his way into a second-round draft pick? That tells you everything you need to know about his work ethic."

Carroll emphasized that Stukes' journey wasn't just about raw talent. "A lot of players have ability, but they don't match it with the investment—what we call 'paying the price.' Trey was already an established captain and leader when I arrived in 2024. Watching him adapt to a new staff and new systems, his maturity was always on display. As a coach, it's exciting to see someone that professional, focused, and consistent."

On Dalton Johnson: The Tough Texas Football Guy

"Dalton is just a hard-nosed kid from Katy, Texas," Carroll said with a grin. "Disciplined, tough, and a true football guy. When it came to pushing himself in the weight room or conditioning drills, he was always leading from the front."

But what impressed Carroll most was Johnson's growth as a leader. "He really stepped up in that area. Dalton is the type of player who leads by example, and his teammates naturally gravitate toward that. You can't coach that kind of presence."

For Raiders fans, the message is clear: These two aren't just draft picks—they're the kind of players who build winning cultures, one rep at a time.