Gunner Maldonado
| Kansas State Wildcats | |
|---|---|
| Position | Safety |
| Class | Senior |
| Personal information | |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight | 194 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.
Early life and high school
[edit]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
[edit]Northwestern
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]On December 23, 2024, Maldonado announced that he would transfer to Kansas State.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ @realBJP (December 29, 2023). "Jacob Cowing named #AlamoBowl MVP and Gunner Maldonado wins defensive MVP" (Tweet). Retrieved December 29, 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ Obert, Richard (July 13, 2019). "Chandler DB/WR Gunner Maldonado commits to Northwestern football". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Obert, Richard (January 4, 2021). "Arizona football to land Northwestern transfer Gunner Maldonado". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Spears, Justin. "'More confident' Gunner Maldonado leads Arizona's defense after breakout season". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ Spears, Justin (April 11, 2023). "Gunner Maldonado, Treydan Stukes adjust to new roles in Arizona's secondary". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ Spears, Justin (October 31, 2023). "Gunner Maldonado is Arizona's 'quarterback' on defense". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ Lev, Michael (May 3, 2024). "Inside Arizona DB Maldonado's epic Alamo Bowl fumble return". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ Dominguez, Raul (December 29, 2023). "Alamo Bowl: Gunner Maldonado leads 38-24 Arizona comeback over Oklahoma". WOAI. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Lev, Michael (January 20, 2024). "Maldonado, Stukes, Johnson to return to UA football in 2024". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ Pedersen, Brian J. (December 10, 2024). "Arizona safety Gunner Maldonado enters NCAA transfer portal". Arizona Desert Swarm. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
- ^ Galloway, Drew (December 23, 2024). "Kansas State adds Arizona safety Gunner Maldonado". on3.com. Retrieved January 1, 2025.