High-profile Arizona QB transferring to Memphis
Arizona quarterback Grant Gunnell (17) looks for a receiver during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Southern California on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)
The outlook of the Memphis quarterback room changed dramatically in less than 24 hours.
Less than a day after Brady White confirmed he would be turning pro after the Montgomery Bowl, the Tigers landed a high-profile transfer from a Power Five conference.
Arizona quarterback Grant Gunnell confirmed to the Daily Memphian Thursday morning that he was transferring to Memphis.
The quarterback competition just got a lot more interesting, to say the least.
A Houston native, Gunnell was one of the most prolific quarterbacks in Texas high school football history.
He threw for more than 16,000 yards and 195 touchdowns, both state records, and earned All-American honors throughout his high school career.
Gunnell was ranked the No. 10 pro-style quarterback in the 2019 class. He picked Arizona over offers from Texas A&M, Ohio State and other powerhouse programs.
In two seasons with the Wildcats, Gunnell started six games and threw for 1,864 yards and 15 touchdowns, with just three interceptions.
At 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, Gunnell has impressive size and steps right in as one of the most experienced options for Memphis next season.
Gunnell is a sophomore and will have three years of eligibility remaining due to the NCAA granting fall athletes an extra year because of the pandemic. He should be able to play immediately, as the NCAA is moving to approve a one-time transfer waiver for all athletes as well.
With Gunnell in the fold, the quarterback room looks like this:
Then there’s Austin Peay grad transfer Jeremiah Oatsvall, who committed to the Tigers in November. He set numerous records with the Governors and is undersized, but mobile as well. Oatsvall is a senior and has one year of eligibility.
There’s LSU transfer Peter Parrish, who had to sit out this season. Parrish didn’t see much time with the Tigers, but is a dynamic runner and had plenty of success on the high school level at Alabama.
True freshman quarterback Keilon Brown saw limited snaps this season, but the coaching staff believes he has a bright future.
Memphis also signed Texas quarterback Seth Henigan during the early signing period. Henigan is a three-star quarterback who is a polished thrower with underrated mobility.
Sophomore Drake Day will also hope to get in the mix, though that might be a long shot.
As Memphis begins a new chapter, there are plenty of options coach Ryan Silverfield can go to. Parrish, Gunnell and Oatsvall all came to Memphis with the intention of competing for the starting job, and Brown won’t go away without a challenge, either.
It looks like we already know the biggest storyline for the 2021 preseason.
Topics
Memphis Football Memphis Tigers Football college football college football recruiting Grant GunnellSteven Johnson
Johnson is a Memphis native who graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2016. He's traveled the country covering teams like Syracuse, the Buffalo Bills and the Memphis Grizzlies. He's excited about the opportunity to cover the Tigers and all things in the city of Memphis.
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