Gunner Maldonado

Last updated

Gunner Maldonado
Arizona Wildcats–No. 9
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 Arizona Wildcats. He previously played for the Northwestern Wildcats.

Contents

Early life and high school

Maldonado attended Chandler High School located in Chandler, Arizona. Coming out of high school, Maldonado was rated as a three star recruit, where he decided to commit to play college football for the Northwestern Wildcats. [2] [3]

College career

Northwestern

In Maldonado's first career season in 2020, he played in three games where he made one tackle. [4] After just one season with Northwestern, Maldonado decided to enter his name into the NCAA transfer portal. [5] [6]

Arizona

Maldonado decided to transfer to play for the Arizona Wildcats. [7] [8] In Maldonado's first season with the Wildcats, he tallied 36 tackles, two pass deflections, an interception, and a forced fumble. [9] During the 2022 season, Maldonado totaled 48 tackles, a pass deflection, and three forced fumbles. [10] [11] In week eight of the 2023 season, Maldonado led Arizona with a team high ten tackles as he helped the Wildcats to an upset win over Oregon State. [12] 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. [13] [14] In the 2023 season, Maldonado notched 81 tackles, a pass deflection, two interceptions, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, and a touchdown. [15] [16]

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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. ↑ Vaccher, Louie (June 13, 2019). "Cats Land 3-star Arizona Safety Gunner Maldonado". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Gunner Maldonado 2020 Game Logs". Sports Reference. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  5. ↑ Lundquist, Casey (December 31, 2020). "BYU Offers Northwestern Transfer Gunner Maldonado". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ Obert, Richard (January 4, 2021). "Arizona football to land Northwestern transfer Gunner Maldonado". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  8. ↑ Pedersen, Brian (January 4, 2021). "Former Northwestern safety Gunner Maldonado to transfer to Arizona". Arizona Desert Swarm. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ Spears, Justin. "'More confident' Gunner Maldonado leads Arizona's defense after breakout season". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  11. ↑ Spears, Justin (April 11, 2023). "Gunner Maldonado, Treydan Stukes adjust to new roles in Arizona's secondary". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  12. ↑ Spears, Justin (October 31, 2023). "Gunner Maldonado is Arizona's 'quarterback' on defense". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  13. ↑ Lev, Michael (May 3, 2024). "Inside Arizona DB Maldonado's epic Alamo Bowl fumble return". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  14. ↑ Dominguez, Raul (December 29, 2023). "Alamo Bowl: Gunner Maldonado leads 38-24 Arizona comeback over Oklahoma". WOAI. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  15. ↑ 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.
  16. ↑ Lev, Michael (January 20, 2024). "Maldonado, Stukes, Johnson to return to UA football in 2024". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
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