In a conversation that lasted about eight minutes, Grant Gunnell said “sir” eight times. He is from Texas, after all.
But don’t be fooled by Gunnell’s unfailingly polite demeanor. Don’t be misled by his clean-cut appearance or his Southern drawl.
Gunnell is a fierce competitor who isn’t assuming anything about the Arizona Wildcats’ quarterback job — even though UA coach Kevin Sumlin said the sophomore is “the leader in the clubhouse right now.”
Gunnell’s inner drive was especially evident toward the end of this first interview with the Tucson media since he arrived on campus in January 2019.
Gunnell was asked to name the highest and lowest moments from his freshman season, when he threw for 1,239 yards with nine touchdowns and one interception in eight games. The high point was obvious: Gunnell’s first career start against UCLA, whom Arizona defeated 20-17.
The low point? One might have guessed the USC game, when Gunnell came off the bench and had his first pass attempt intercepted. Arizona fell behind 34-0 en route to a 41-14 defeat.
But no, that wasn’t it. Gunnell considered his low moment to be the Oregon game. He started that mid-November contest in Eugene before being pulled in the second quarter. He didn’t come back in until the fourth, when the score was 34-6 in the Ducks’ favor.
“I thought I played good,” Gunnell said. “I like to compete. I don’t want to get pulled out. I want to be in the game. I want the ball in my hand. So that was tough.”
The platoon system that Sumlin and offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone instituted for most of the second half of the season proved challenging for Gunnell and senior Khalil Tate, whom Gunnell considers his “big brother.” With Tate prepping for the NFL draft, Gunnell entered spring practice as the favorite to succeed him as Arizona’s starter. Sumlin cited Gunnell’s experience as the main factor giving him the early edge.
“He has played in games. He has won a game. That’s where it is right now,” Sumlin said. “But it’s competition across the board.”
The other scholarship quarterbacks in camp are redshirt junior Rhett Rodriguez, who also has one career start on his résumé; redshirt sophomore Kevin Doyle, a former Michigan commit who has yet to appear in a game; and freshman Will Plummer, who just arrived from Gilbert High School.
Grant Gunnell threw for nine touchdowns and one interception as a freshman, and had 352 yards and a touchdown in a 20-17 win over UCLA in his first career start.
Gunnell received the first reps in the period of practice open to the media Monday evening. He looked comfortable and confident but pushed back at the notion that the job is his to lose.
“There’s always competition,” said Gunnell, who set Texas state records at St. Pius X High School in Houston. “That’s honestly what drives me. It’s never set in stone. If I play bad, I’m not gonna play.”
Gunnell played more than he expected to as a freshman, and that experience only can benefit him. Gunnell initially figured his appearances would be limited to mop-up duty. It also was assumed that he’d play in no more than four games, thereby preserving his redshirt.
That likely was the original plan with Tate coming off a junior season in which he threw 26 touchdown passes. But the plan changed when Tate got hurt late in the Texas Tech game and struggled against Washington and USC. Sumlin announced that Gunnell would be part of the mix, redshirt be damned.
For his part, Gunnell tried to do everything he could to be prepared for whatever opportunities came his way.
“I was doing extra work,” Gunnell said, “making sure if my name was ever called, I had all the answers on the field when I was out there.”
Gunnell took care of the ball well, throwing just that one interception in 155 attempts. He prides himself on knowing what he’s supposed to do and where the ball is supposed to go.
Gunnell has his own definition of “50/50 balls,” which usually are considered passes that the receiver and defender have an equal chance of catching. To Gunnell, 50/50 balls are actually “50/50 decisions,” rife with uncertainty and subject to second-guessing. His goal is to minimize those.
“If you don’t give the ball to the defense, you’re going to have a higher percentage of winning,” Gunnell said. “If you have all the answers, you know where you’re going with the ball.”
Gunnell knows he doesn’t have all the answers just yet, but entering his sophomore year, he is in a good position. It’s up to him to keep the lead.
Cain, Springs step away from football
Two veteran players who could have had roles this season have decided to step away from football.
Offensive lineman Bryson Cain and defensive back Samari Springs are no longer on the UA roster.
Cain, a guard, started 13 games the past two seasons. If healthy, he likely would have been part of Arizona’s top eight along the offensive line. He instead will focus on graduating in May.
Cain, who would have been a redshirt senior this season, was plagued by injuries throughout his college career. He missed the 2017 season because of a broken ankle and the end of the ’18 campaign because of a torn ACL. He was banged up this past season as well.
Springs, the son of former NFL player Shawn Springs, came to Arizona last summer as a transfer from Richmond. He appeared in 10 games, mostly on special teams, and was credited with two tackles.
Although technically a walk-on, Springs would have provided depth in Arizona’s thin secondary had he elected to keep playing football.
Extra points
- Receiver Brenden Schooler practiced after missing Monday’s session because of a class. The graduate transfer from Oregon enrolled at Arizona in January.
- Cornerback Bobby Wolfe returned to practice after being excused Monday for personal reasons.
- Redshirt freshman Eddie Siaumau-Sanitoa was among the players wearing a padded cap over his helmet, a sign that he’s working at defensive end. Siaumau-Sanitoa was thought to be a candidate to play outside linebacker in Paul Rhoads’ 3-4 scheme.
- New running backs coach AJ Steward ran his players through an unusual drill: hopping on one foot while coaches tried to strip the ball. Steward, who came to Arizona from BYU, communicated clearly and calmly while putting the backs through drills.
- Offensive lineman Edgar Burrola (shoulder) and receivers Jamarye Joiner (foot) and Thomas Reid III (undisclosed) remained out.
- The Wildcats have the day off Wednesday. They will practice in pads for the first time Thursday.
