When I committed to BYU, I told the coaches, ‘If I’m walking on somewhere, it’s going to be here because it’s always where I’ve wanted to play.’ – Talmage Gunther
PROVO — Lone Peak senior quarterback Talmage Gunther had several options when it came to playing football at the next level.
But BYU was always at the top of his list.
On Monday, his dream of playing for the Cougars became a reality when he committed as a preferred walk-on.
“It was awesome,” Gunther said Tuesday. “I grew up a BYU fan. I’ve always wanted to play there.”
Gunther met Monday with offensive coordinator Ty Detmer and head coach Kalani Sitake, who offered him a spot on the team.
“I had met Ty through some quarterback elite camps in the summers,” Gunther said. “To see him again as a coach and to hear him and coach Sitake talk about how they see me and how I fit in on the team and that they believe in me, it was just what I needed to hear.”
Last fall, the 6-foot, 195-pounder led the Knights to a 13-1 record, with the only loss coming at that hands of Herriman in the 5A championship game.
Gunther threw for 2,327 yards, 34 touchdowns and five interceptions as a senior. He also rushed for 908 yards and nine TDs.
During the recruiting process, Gunther received an offer from Snow Junior College and preferred walk-on status from Utah State, Weber State and Dartmouth. Southern Utah and Duke also showed interest.
“When I committed to BYU, I told the coaches, ‘If I’m walking on somewhere, it’s going to be here because it’s always where I’ve wanted to play,’” Gunther said.
Going into his senior season, Gunther earned the starting quarterback job and attracted attention from then-BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall and his staff.
“After the coaching change, I didn’t know if (playing at BYU) was necessarily a possibility,” Gunther said. “Then one day, my cousin told his friends that I was going to play at BYU someday. When he said that, even though he was joking, I knew that’s where I wanted to be.”
Gunther, who has already turned 18, is still deciding whether to leave on an LDS mission this summer or enroll in school before serving.
“The coaches said that they would support me going on a mission first if that’s what I decide to do,” he said.
Bruce Gunther, Talmage’s father, said that Sitake put missionary service in perspective.
“Coach Sitake said, ‘The mission team you will be on is the best team you could be on. God is the coach of that team,’” Bruce said. “That was pretty cool to hear that.”
Gunther said he would be willing to play a position other than quarterback, such as wide receiver.
“We discussed that. They told me that I’d play wherever I can succeed the most,” Gunther said. “Coach Detmer talked about how if I were to transition to receiver how he’d want me, and all the receivers, to play inside and outside, to be able to do both. He also talked about bringing the tight end position as a more prominent role in the offense.”
EMAIL: jeffc@deseretnews.com