Eric Sorenson
Daniel Bridge-Gadd is living proof you’re never too old to come home. Well, at least close to home. The former Paradise Valley High star quarterback has decided to leave the University of Washington and transfer to Northern Arizona University.
Coming home ?? pic.twitter.com/GAzpHzf6vz
— Daniel Bridge-Gadd (@Pvqb10) March 29, 2018
“My time at Washington was amazing but things didn’t necessarily go the way I wanted them to,” Bridge-Gadd said to Sports360AZ.com Thursday. “I was in need of a new home.”
The 2015 Gatorade State Football Player of the Year, as well as the Division III POY put up video game-like numbers for PV his senior season passing for 4,268 yards and 47 touchdowns, while running for 627 yards and 17 more scores. He also led the Trojans to their first state championship appearance in school history.
He will bring a unique, dual-threat option to Flagstaff for long-time head coach Jerome Souers.
“He brings a different skill set to NAU,” Sports360AZ.com recruiting expert Jason Jewell said. “While [NAU senior QB] Case Cookus is more of a drop back QB, DBG is an athletic QB. At Paradise Valley, he always impressed me with his ability to extend plays with his feet.”
Bridge-Gadd, who redshirted his freshman season and played sparingly at UW as a sophomore last fall, will have three years of eligibility at NAU.
Chris Petersen says QB Daniel Bridge-Gadd will transfer to Northern Arizona. Bridge-Gadd was the Arizona Gatorade Player is the Year before signing with the #UWHuskies
— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) March 28, 2018
“I picked NAU because I wanted to be close to home and also play for a great, young offensive mind like [offensive coordinator] Coach [Aaron] Pflugrad in a system I see myself thriving in.”
Bridge-Gadd said he considered “some bigger school options,” as well as the junior college route but ultimately felt NAU was the best fit for him both on and off the field.
The ‘Jacks open their season at UTEP on September 1st.
