Kansas State adds Arizona safety Gunner Maldonado
Kansas State has been cooking in the transfer portal recently. Arizona safety Gunner Maldonado has committed to K-State.
Maldonado’s decision for the Wildcats comes a little bit after an official visit in Manhattan. He was in The Little Apple December 17. The other known visit for Maldonado came to Indiana.
The Arizona transfer had a very good career for the other Big 12 Wildcats. His best season came in 2023 recording a career high 81 tackles which was also good for No. 16 in the PAC 12. Along with the 81 tackles, he also posted two interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
The Arizona native was named Valero Alamo Bowl Defensive MVP in 2023 after recording nine tackles, an interception, two fumble recoveries and a touchdown. He was also a team captain for Arizona to begin the 2023 season. As a sophomore in 2022, he was also productive posting 48 tackles in his 11 games with nine of those being starts. In total, Maldonado has played a lot of football in his career playing in 41 games with 31 starts dating back to his time at Arizona and Northwestern.
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This season, the safety played in four games and recorded 11 tackles and an interception. However, a season ending injury cut his season short.
Kansas State defensive coordinator and safeties coach Joe Klanderman as well as K-State head coach Chris Klieman deserve a lot of credit for landing Maldonado. The two were very active in his recruitment and made him a priority from the jump. Kansas State also has a bit of a hole at the safety position heading into 2025 and has addressed those needs with Maldonado and West Georgia safety Mar’Quavious Moss.
In total counting the players added in December, the Arizona safety is addition No. 32 for Kansas State in the 2025 recruiting class. He is the seventh transfer added and sixth since December 18. Maldonado joins Oklahoma corner Jayden Rowe, Purdue wideout Jaron Tibbs, Moss, Ohio State linebacker Gabe Powers, Boston College wideout Jerand Bradley and USC offensive lineman Amos Talalele.
Maldonado will have one season of eligibility remaining.
