Ex-arizona QB Gunnell transfers to Memphis
A day after Brady White played his final game at Memphis, the Tigers added another quarterback in the race to replace him.
Former Arizona quarterback Grant Gunnell told The Commercial Appeal on Thursday he is transferring to Memphis. Gunnell threw for 625 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions in four games this season.
Gunnell said he was drawn to the family environment, the program's history and the style of offense.
White, the Tigers' all-time leader in touchdown passes, passing yards and wins, announced after the Montgomery Bowl on Wednesday that he will prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Gunnell, who is 6-foot-6 and 228 pounds, has three years of eligibility remaining and joins a quarterback room that includes sophomore Peter Parrish, freshman Keilon Brown and sophomore Drake Day.
Of the three returners, Brown was the only quarterback who took snaps in a game. Parrish was ineligible this season following his transfer from
LSU.
The Tigers also signed three-star quarterback Seth Henigan from Denton, Texas as well as added former Austin Peay quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall as a graduate transfer.
Gunnell could also be immediately eligible pending NCAA legislation that will allow players a one-time transfer exception without sitting out. The NCAA is expected to approve the rule in January.
Originally from Houston, Gunnell started eight games in two seasons at Arizona before entering the transfer portal this month. In 2019, he threw for 1,239 yards and nine touchdowns with one interception while splitting time with Khalil Tate.
He's also the latest transfer from a Power Five school Memphis added this week. On Monday, the Tigers got a pair of Michigan State transfers in offensive lineman Devontae Dobbs and defensive back Julian Barnett.
Memphis' previous two starting quarterbacks arrived via transfer. Riley Ferguson started from 2016-17 and won 20 games as he led the Tigers to an AAC West championship and an appearance in the Autozone Liberty Bowl in 2017.
Nearly three years ago, White transferred from Arizona State to Memphis hoping to replace Ferguson. White hadn't played in almost two years due to a foot injury but led the Tigers on their best three-year run in program history.