Bric Hudnutt, wearing No. 57, doubles as offensive lineman and quarterback for Paradise Valley

Video: Bric Hudnutt Highlights
See the Arizona player at quarterback, lineman, special teams and on defense.

There are the scowls, the double-takes and just quizzical "what on Earth" stares. Any person, especially a teen, might be a tad self-conscious at all the ganders.

But Bric Hudnutt, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound junior from Paradise Valley (Phoenix), is perfectly comfortable in his own skin, and No. 57 jersey - even though he plays quarterback.

He is believed to be the only No. 57 quarterback in the country and the only gunslinger who doubles as a left offensive tackle.



"I've had coaches make the comment that that's the weirdest thing they've ever seen in their life," Paradise Valley coach Greg Davis said.

Weirder still was the second game of the season, when Hudnutt threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns in the first half then played tackle the second half. He needed to protect promising freshman quarterback Ben Finley, whose older brother Ryan Finley is a redshirt sophomore and starter at North Carolina State. The Finleys are cousins of Hudnutt.

With a dwindling roster — the Trojans have just 19 varsity players — Davis and his staff have been forced to get creative in how they use their players. By rule, Hudnutt can't wear his usual No. 12 and play the offensive line.

"Bric is the best lineman we have," Davis said. "Big frame, great feet, real good athlete. Great kid too."

Said Hudnutt: "All I care is about winning the game and whatever that takes, I'm willing to do."

Even at the expense of looking rather odd?



"I've always liked being unique and standing out," he said with a chuckle. "I wasn't planning on it being like this. I have to admit the first time I walked by a mirror and saw 57 I did a double-take. I was like, ‘What the heck?'"

When people razz or ask him about his number, "I always give them the same answer," Hudnutt said. "You're not known by the number on your back but how you play."

He's played just fine at quarterback, throwing for 528 yards and five touchdowns in parts of the team's first three games. On Friday, he led Paradise Valley (1-3) to its first win, 16-13 over Shadow Mountain.

Hudnutt came in at quarterback late in the third quarter with the Trojans down 13-5. In his only two series, he directed a touchdown drive and 2-point conversion, followed by the game's final drive culminating with a field goal by Tristin Lee with five seconds left. Hudnutt was the holder.

On the ensuing kickoff, Shadow Mountain fumbled and guess who recovered? Hudnutt.

The kid is everywhere.



"The team absolutely has confidence when Bric is leading the huddle," Davis said. "They know he is going to give everything he's got because that's what he gives off the field as well."

He has always been a quarterback and a good one, starting on the JV team as a sophomore before being called up to last year's varsity team for a 13-1 squad that reached the state Division III championship game. He's never played offensive line before this season.

His 6-5 father Mike Hudnutt did. He was the starting left guard for the same Northern Iowa team that featured two-time NFL MVP Kurt Warner. Bric's 5-11 mom Dawn Parmley played competitive tennis, and all that combined with the Finley cousins makes for a very athletic and tall family tree.

"He's got great footwork, makes really good reads and he can throw the ball 70 to 75 yards," Davis said. "He's got a cannon and is really accurate."

Hudnutt was pressed into the odd role in part because of a hazing incident in July that rocked the school and community and made national news. The suspensions left the program with a skeleton roster.

Davis and his staff, cleared of any knowledge of the hazing, was hit by a media barrage and community outrage. During a trying two months, Hudnutt has indeed been a bright light.



When Davis informed Hudnutt he was moving to left tackle at halftime of his 289-yard performance, "there was no hesitation from the kid," Davis said. "It was ‘OK coach. Whatever we need coach.'

"Quarterback tends to be an ego-driven position, but Bric is selfless. He'll do whatever it takes for the team. Right now, anytime really, that's refreshing."