Gunner Maldonado

Last updated

Gunner Maldonado
Kansas State Wildcats
Position Safety
ClassSenior
Personal information
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight194 lb (88 kg)
Career history
College
Bowl games
High school Chandler (Chandler, Arizona)
Career highlights and awards

Gunner Maldonado is an American football safety for the Kansas State Wildcats. He previously played for the Northwestern Wildcats and the Arizona Wildcats.

Contents

Early life and high school

Maldonado attended Chandler High School in Chandler, Arizona, and was rated as a three-star recruit. He committed to play college football for the Northwestern Wildcats over offers from schools such as Arizona, Arizona State, Indiana, and Iowa State. [2]

College career

Northwestern

Maldonado saw limited playing time as a freshman at Northwestern in 2020, appearing in three games and recording one tackle before entering his name into the NCAA transfer portal after the season. [3]

Arizona

Maldonado transferred to play for the Arizona Wildcats. [4] In his first season with the Wildcats in 2021, he tallied 36 tackles, two pass deflections, an interception, and a forced fumble. [5] In 2022, Maldonado totaled 48 tackles, a pass deflection, and three forced fumbles. [6] [7] In week eight of the 2023 season, he recorded a team-high ten tackles as he helped the Wildcats to an upset win over Oregon State. [8] During the 2023 Alamo Bowl, Maldonado was named the game's defensive MVP after totaling nine tackles, an interception, two fumble recoveries, and a touchdown, as he helped the Wildcats to a win over Oklahoma. [9] [10] Maldonado finished the season with 81 tackles, a pass deflection, two interceptions, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, and a touchdown. [11] [12]

On December 10, 2024, Maldonado announced that he would enter the transfer portal for the second time. [13]

Kansas State

On December 23, 2024, Maldonado announced that he would transfer to Kansas State. [14]

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References

  1. ↑ @realBJP (December 29, 2023). "Jacob Cowing named #AlamoBowl MVP and Gunner Maldonado wins defensive MVP" (Tweet). Retrieved December 29, 2023– via Twitter.
  2. ↑ Obert, Richard (July 13, 2019). "Chandler DB/WR Gunner Maldonado commits to Northwestern football". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  3. ↑ Assimakopoulos, Lia (December 20, 2020). "Northwestern RB Isaiah Bowser, WR Malik Washington and DB Gunner Maldonado enter the transfer portal". Inside NU. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  4. ↑ Obert, Richard (January 4, 2021). "Arizona football to land Northwestern transfer Gunner Maldonado". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  5. ↑ Lev, Michael (August 9, 2022). "Welcome to the jungle: Gunner Maldonado has emerged as Arizona's new 'slash' defender". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  6. ↑ Spears, Justin. "'More confident' Gunner Maldonado leads Arizona's defense after breakout season". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  7. ↑ Spears, Justin (April 11, 2023). "Gunner Maldonado, Treydan Stukes adjust to new roles in Arizona's secondary". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  8. ↑ Spears, Justin (October 31, 2023). "Gunner Maldonado is Arizona's 'quarterback' on defense". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  9. ↑ Lev, Michael (May 3, 2024). "Inside Arizona DB Maldonado's epic Alamo Bowl fumble return". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  10. ↑ Dominguez, Raul (December 29, 2023). "Alamo Bowl: Gunner Maldonado leads 38-24 Arizona comeback over Oklahoma". WOAI. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  11. ↑ Spears, Justin (July 2024). "Arizona's Noah Fifita, Tetairoa McMillan, Jacob Manu and Gunner Maldonado to attend Big 12 Media Days". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  12. ↑ Lev, Michael (January 20, 2024). "Maldonado, Stukes, Johnson to return to UA football in 2024". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  13. ↑ Pedersen, Brian J. (December 10, 2024). "Arizona safety Gunner Maldonado enters NCAA transfer portal". Arizona Desert Swarm. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  14. ↑ Galloway, Drew (December 23, 2024). "Kansas State adds Arizona safety Gunner Maldonado". on3.com. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
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