{{Short description|American football player (born 1999)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox college football player |name=Grant Gunnell |school= |currentnumber=5 |currentposition=Quarterback |birth_date= {{birth date and age|1999|11|24}} |birth_place= |heightft=6 |heightin=5 |weight_lb=220 |highlights= * ''USA Today'' All-American (2018) |highschool=St. Pius X (Houston, Texas) |pastschools= *Arizona (2019–2020) *Memphis (2021) *North Texas (2022) *Sam Houston (2023–2024) |espn=4427351 }}
'''Grant Gunnell''' (born November 24, 1999) is an American former college football player who was a quarterback for the Arizona Wildcats, Memphis Tigers, North Texas Mean Green, and Sam Houston Bearkats.
==Early life== Gunnell first gained recognition as a 7th grader at Knox Junior High in The Woodlands, Texas, where he led his team to an undefeated season with 84–0 and 95–7 wins, and he reportedly received early recruitment interest from Arizona, Arkansas, Houston, and Texas A&M, all of whom would later offer him college scholarships.<ref>{{cite news |title=QB Grant Gunnell ready to fulfill big-time expectations as Wildcats leader |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1652301/2020/03/05/qb-grant-gunnell-ready-to-fulfill-big-time-expectations-as-wildcats-leader/ |website=The Athletic |last1=Holmes |first1=C. J. }}</ref> As an 8th grader, Gunnell was named the 7th best middle school player in the nation, the 2nd best middle school quarterback only behind DJ Uiagalelei, and the top quarterback for the class of 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Poorman |first=Jon |date=October 17, 2014 |title=FOOTBALL: Local player chosen for Youth All-American Game |url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/woodlands/sports/article/FOOTBALL-Local-player-chosen-for-Youth-9796416.php |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=Chron |language=en}}</ref> His 8th grade Knox Junior High team went undefeated and were named the top-ranked 8th grade team in the nation by Youth1 Sports.<ref>{{cite web |title=Youth1 Sports: Grant Gunnell |url=https://youth1.com/football/1130923157-elite-101-qb-grant-gunnell-named-eastbay-youth-all-american}}</ref>
After originally playing at College Park High School as a freshman, Gunnell transferred to St. Pius X High School in Houston, Texas as a sophomore, where his older brother Nelson Gunnell was the team's quarterback. During his career at St Pius, Grant actually surpassed his older brother on the depth chart and set the Texas high school records for passing touchdowns (195) and passing yards (16,108).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/highschool/article/St-Pius-X-QB-Grant-Gunnell-becomes-Texas-career-13359545.php|title=St. Pius X QB Grant Gunnell becomes Texas' career passing TD leader|date=November 3, 2018|website=HoustonChronicle.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/sports/highschool/article/St-Pius-X-QB-Grant-Gunnell-passes-all-time-13322256.php|title=St. Pius X QB Grant Gunnell sets Texas' career passing yards mark|first1=Adam|last1=Coleman|first2=Houston|last2=Chronicle|date=October 20, 2018|website=Houston Chronicle}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tucson.com/sports/arizonawildcats/football/qb-grant-gunnell-the-centerpiece-of-arizona-s-2019-recruiting-class-is-just-getting-started/collection_316ac6e8-ffe3-11e8-9413-d7dc87b2171e.html|title=QB Grant Gunnell, the centerpiece of Arizona's 2019 recruiting class, is just getting started|first=Michael|last=Lev|website=Arizona Daily Star|date=December 14, 2018 }}</ref> Grant was a USA Today All American, second team his senior year.{{cn|date=January 2026}} He was a MaxPreps Junior All American, MaxPreps Sophomore All American, MaxPreps Sophomore Co-Player of the Year, and was a MaxPreps Freshman All American.{{cn|date=January 2026}} Additionally, Grant played in the US Army All American Bowl and was a finalist for Player of the Year.{{cn|date=January 2026}} Within the state of Texas, he was a first-team all-state selection as a Sophomore, Junior, and Senior.{{cn|date=January 2026}}
A four-star recruit, Gunnell was Texas's top QB prospect and received 42 college scholarship offers, including from powerhouses like Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Oklahoma, to name a few.<ref>{{cite web |title=Grant Gunnell, 247sports Recruiting Profile |url=https://247sports.com/Recruitment/Grant-Gunnell-87810/RecruitInterests/}}</ref> Gunnell originally committed early on to Arkansas before recommitting to Texas A&M, where his brother was playing wide receiver,<ref>{{cite web |title=Will Gunnell, Texas A&M |url=https://12thman.com/sports/football/roster/will-gunnell/4905}}</ref> but recommitted again later into his senior year to the University of Arizona, to play college football under Kevin Sumlin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tucson.com/sports/arizonawildcats/football/commitment-of-4-star-qb-grant-gunnell-is-a-big-splash-for-kevin-sumlin-arizona/article_b80278ab-5d46-590e-a25d-fc5dca390823.html|title=Commitment of 4-star QB Grant Gunnell is a 'big splash' for Kevin Sumlin, Arizona Wildcats|first=Michael|last=Lev|website=Arizona Daily Star|date=June 6, 2018 }}</ref>
==College career== ===Arizona=== Gunnell entered his freshman season at Arizona in 2019 as a backup to Khalil Tate. He made his first career start in a game against UCLA, throwing for 352 yards and a touchdown.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailynews.com/arizona-holds-on-to-beat-ucla-behind-quarterback-grant-gunnell|title=Arizona holds on to beat UCLA behind quarterback Grant Gunnell|website=Los Angeles Daily News |date=September 29, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/story/2019-09-29/arizona-freshman-grant-gunnell-ucla-defense|title=Arizona freshman Grant Gunnell looks like a seasoned veteran against UCLA defense|date=September 29, 2019|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Overall he played in eight games with three starts and completed 101 of 155 passes for 1,239 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/ua/2020/03/05/grant-gunnell-wont-assume-arizona-wildcats-qb-job-his-lose/4964889002/|title=Competitive nature won't allow Grant Gunnell to assume Arizona Wildcats QB job is his to lose|website=azcentral}}</ref> However, Gunnell was also the starting quarterback during Arizona's 2020 winless season, which included their historic loss to in-state rival Arizona State 70–7.<ref>{{cite web |title=Arizona State Dominates Rival Arizona in 70–7 Win |date=December 11, 2020 |url=https://www.si.com/college/2020/12/12/arizona-state-dominates-arizona-territorial-cup}}</ref> Following the game, Arizona head coach Kevin Sumlin was fired, and Gunnell announced on social media that he would be transferring from Arizona to Memphis.{{cn|date=January 2026}}
===Memphis=== After transferring to the University of Memphis for the 2021 season, Gunnell saw no playing time after receiving surgery on his right leg.{{cn|date=January 2026}} Following the season, Gunnell reportedly played "incredibly well" in the spring scrimmage, but ultimately transferred to North Texas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Grant Gunnell Memphis |url=https://gotigersgo.com/sports/football/roster/grant-gunnell/9807}}</ref>{{fv|date=January 2026}}
===North Texas=== Gunnell transferred to North Texas University to begin play for the North Texas Mean Green in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Record-setting quarterback Grant Gunnell transfers to North Texas |url=https://www.texasfootball.com/article/2022/05/12/record-setting-quarterback-grant-gunnell-transfers-to-north-texas?ref=article_preview_title}}</ref> The backup to Austin Aune,{{cn|date=January 2026}} Gunnell only saw playing time in two games, throwing a touchdown and an interception on 75 passing yards against Texas Southern.<ref>{{cite web |title=Grant Gunnell, UNT |url=https://meangreensports.com/sports/football/roster/gunnell-grant/5681}}</ref>
===Sam Houston=== Gunnell transferred to Sam Houston State University to play for the Sam Houston Bearkats.<ref>{{cite news|last=Marrion|first=Jack|title=Sam Houston football: QB Grant Gunnell transferring from North Texas|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/college/article/grant-gunnell-transferring-sam-houston-st-pius-x-18076123.php|work=The Houston Chronicle|date=May 3, 2023|access-date=June 19, 2023}}</ref>
===Statistics=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="8"| Passing ! colspan="4"| Rushing |- ! GP !! Record !! Comp !! Att !! Pct !! Yards !! Avg !! TD !! Int !! Rate !! Att !! Yards !! Avg !! TD |- ! 2019 !! Arizona | '''8'''|| '''1–2'''|| '''101'''|| '''155'''|| 65.2 || '''1,239'''|| 8.0 || '''9'''|| 1 || '''150.2'''|| '''32'''|| 14|| 0.4|| '''1''' |- ! 2020 !! Arizona | 4 || 0–4 || 64 || 93 || '''68.8'''|| 625 || 6.7 || 6 || '''2'''|| 142.3 || 23|| '''22'''|| '''1.0'''|| 0 |- ! 2021 !! Memphis | colspan="15"| {{abbr|DNP|Did not play}} |- ! 2022 !! North Texas | 2 || — || 4 || 9 || 44.4 || 75 || '''8.3'''|| 0 || 1 || 92.2 || 1|| −5|| −5.0|| 0 |- ! 2023 !! Sam Houston | 1 || 0–1 || 14 || 22 || 63.6 || 100 || 4.5 || 0 || 1 || 92.7 || 4|| −4|| −1.0|| 0 |- ! colspan="2"|[https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/grant-gunnell-1.html Career] !! 15!! 1–7 !! 183!! 279!! 65.6!! 2,039!! 7.3!! 15!! 5!! 141.1!! 60!! 27!! 0.5!! 1 |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://arizonawildcats.com/sports/football/roster/grant-gunnell/11017 Arizona Wildcats bio] *[https://gotigersgo.com/sports/football/roster/grant-gunnell/9807 Memphis Tigers bio] *[https://meangreensports.com/sports/football/roster/grant-gunnell/5681 North Texas Mean Green bio] *[https://gobearkats.com/sports/football/roster/grant-gunnell/9030 Sam Houston Bearkats bio]
{{Arizona Wildcats quarterback navbox}} {{Sam Houston Bearkats quarterback navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gunnell, Grant}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from The Woodlands, Texas Category:American football quarterbacks Category:Arizona Wildcats football players Category:Memphis Tigers football players Category:North Texas Mean Green football players Category:Sam Houston Bearkats football players Category:Players of American football from Harris County, Texas Category:Players of American football from Montgomery County, Texas