The Arizona Wildcats offered a scholarship to quarterback Grant Gunnell of Houston, an intriguing development on multiple fronts:

  • Gunnell, a four-star prospect for the class of 2019, is committed to Texas A&M. He committed to the Aggies in June 2017, when Kevin Sumlin was their coach.
  • Gunnell was recruited by Noel Mazzone then and has been offered by Mazzone now. Mazzone is expected to be named Arizona’s offensive coordinator any day now. A staff announcement could happen as soon as today.
  • Gunnell is a 6-foot-6, pro-style quarterback. The Wildcats haven’t been in the market for pro-style QBs since the Mike Stoops era.
  • If Sumlin and Mazzone plan to recruit pro-style quarterbacks, how will they cater their offense to Khalil Tate? And what does the future hold for Jamarye Joiner, another dual-threat quarterback who officially will join Arizona’s 2018 class on Feb. 7?
  • Arizona also offered Gunnell’s teammate, three-star receiver Chase Lane, who committed to Texas A&M on the same day as Gunnell.

It’s been clear from the start that Sumlin will be more proactive on the recruiting trail than predecessor Rich Rodriguez. Sumlin already has relationships built in Texas, a state Rodriguez largely ignored until late in his tenure. Additionally, the hiring of Iona Uiagalelei suggests that Sumlin understands how important it is to establish relationships with the Polynesian community.

Whether Gunnell and Lane flip to Arizona remains to be seen. But the aggression shown by Sumlin and his yet-to-be-announced staff has to be heartening for UA fans who became frustrated with the previous regime.

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