CHANDLER, Ariz. — Forgive
Chandler quarterback
Brett Hundley for a moment of youthful oversight.
When asked about the Arizona-grown quarterbacks who have achieved NFL stardom, Hundley said "I think I could be the first."
Hundley
must be too young to remember Westwood (Mesa) star Danny White, who
played 13 seasons for the Dallas Cowboys, leading them to three straight
NFC title games and earning a Pro Bowl bid in 1982.
Chandler High's Brett Hundley.
But in fairness to Hundley, that Arizona list of NFL greats starts and ends with White.
Washington (Phoenix) star Mike Pagel, Sahuaro (Tucson) alum Rodney Peete, Phoenix
Christian's Tim Rattay, Tempe High’s Fred Mortensen and Mountain
View (Mesa) products Joe Germaine and John Beck have all have logged
significant playing time on Sundays. The Arizona Cardinals also think Mountain View product Max Hall could turn into something special.
As of now, Hundley is aiming to join a company of one. But first things first.
After
months of speculation, research and anguish, Hundley cast his lot with
former McClintock (Tempe) quarterback Rick Neuheisel – now the coach at
UCLA – when he announced in a press conference Monday at the Chandler
Center for the Arts that he would be taking his talents to Westwood, Calif.
Hundley
will graduate from Chandler in December and enroll early at UCLA in the
winter. He is convinced that the Bruins' new pistol offense is the best
fit for his skill set because it allows the quarterback to utilize his
mobility and field vision out of the shotgun formation.
But there was another factor that tipped the scales in UCLA's favor.
"I love beaches," Hundley said "And the beaches are five minutes away from UCLA."
Hundley
has much to learn about Los Angeles traffic, but when it comes to his
on-field performances, there is no doubting the 6-foot-4 senior's
knowledge or ability.
In 5A-I No. 2 Chandler's 48-42 loss to No. 2
Centennial (Peoria) (5A-II) on Sept. 3, the dual-threat Hundley completed
19 of 36 passes (with about 10 receiver drops) for 319 yards and two
touchdowns. He also ran 15 times for 106 yards and a touchdown.
Through two games he is 32-for-52 passing for 632 yards and six touchdowns, while adding 113 yards and a score on the ground.
As
a junior in 2009, Hundley was the Gatorade State Player of the Year
when he threw for 1,517 yards and 16 touchdowns and ran the ball 145
times for 1,208 yards and 12 touchdowns. (Those stats do not include a
state semifinal loss to rival Hamilton (Chandler). The Wolves could not
provide them.)
Hundley's season helped vault him into the top 10
rankings for dual-threat quarterbacks on every significant recruiting Web site. Hundley originally listed Oregon as a favorite, and there was
some steam for him to head south to Tucson and play for Mike Stoops at
the University of Arizona, where his dad, Brett Sr., played.
But Hundley wanted to experience life outside of Arizona.
“I've been here my whole life," he said.
Eventually,
he whittled his choices to Washington and UCLA. He liked Washington and
still maintains a friendship with Huskies quarterback Jake Locker. But
Westwood's proximity to home, those southern California beaches, and a
chance to attend UCLA's medical school helped simplify the choice.
"I
took my time and did a lot of research," Hundley said. "UCLA just felt
like the right school. Both schools offered a lot, but I just had to go
with my heart."
Chandler coach Jim Ewan said he helped as best he
could with the decision, creating a list of pros and cons for each
school and fielding as many calls as he could to keep the pressure off
Hundley.
Ewan admitted the process was exhausting because no kid
he has ever coached has garnered the kind of attention Hundley has. But
Ewan wanted Hundley to focus on the Wolves' season – one in which
Chandler maintains state title aspirations.
"You're going to land on your feet wherever you go," Ewan told Hundley. "(First) I'd like you to lead us to the promised land."
