Arizona football: The 25 best quarterbacks in UA history

Ted Bland, 1933-35

The Wildcats’ first-ever All-American quarterback, Bland brought big-name appeal to the Cats’ “Blue Brigade.” Bland’s teams go 19-7-1 in his three years as starter. In 1944, Bland was killed in France while fighting in World War II. He was 29.

Accomplishments:

• Named first-team All-Border Conference, 1933-35

• Named first team Little All-America, 1935

• Inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame inductee, 1980

Fred W. Enke, 1946-47

Fred W. Enke led the Wildcats' single-wing attack under coach Miles W. Casteel. Enke was drafted by the NFL's Detroit Lions. 

Fred Schuh, 1952-54

Accomplishments:

• Represented the Border Conference in the annual Border vs. Skyline Conference All-Star Game in Phoenix.

Ralph Hunsaker, 1955-58

Accomplishments:

• Finished sixth nationally with 823 passing yards, 1956

• Finished second nationally with 1,129 passing yards, 1958

Stats:

Eddie Wilson, 1959-61

Accomplishments:

• Finished first nationally in pass efficiency (140.8) in 1960

• Set single-game record for most yards gained per attempt  (35) and completion (42.4) on Sept. 23, 1961 against Colorado State

• Finished second nationally in pass efficiency (134.2) and fifth nationally with 1,377 passing yards in 1961

• Named a third-team All-American in 1961

• Participated in North-South Game and All-American Bowl in 1961

• Participated in Senior Bowl in 1962

• Drafted by the AFL’s Kansas City Chiefs in 1962

• Spent four seasons (1962-5) with the Chiefs and Patriots

Stats:

He said it: “The key to being a good quarterback is being a good leader. I threw some balls that were dropped. I threw some balls that wouldn’t hit the broad side of a barn. Those things come and go. The key is to be a leader, and do run: If you can’t throw, you can’t play. If you can’t run, you can’t play.”

Mark Reed, 1966-67

Accomplishments:

• Set Arizona records for concecutive games with touchdown passes (11), 1966-7

• Finished second nationally in passing yardage (2,368) in 1966

Stats:

Brian Linstrom, 1969-71 

Accomplishments:

• Drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 16th round of the 1972 NFL Draft

Stats:

Bill Demory, 1970-72

Accomplishments:

• Drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 16th round of the 1972 NFL Draft

Stats:

Bruce Hill, 1973-75

Quarterback Bruce Hill led Arizona’s “1-2-3” offense to one of the best seasons in school history. Hill finished the 1975 season with 1,747 passing yards and 18 touchdowns.

Stats: 

Marc Lunsford, 1974-77

Accomplishments:

• Holds UA record for most yards gained per attempt (8.3) in a career. Also holds record for most yards per completion (18.13) in a career.

Stats:

Jim Krohn, 1978-79

Stats: 

Tom Tunnicliffe, 1980-83

A four-year starter and fan favorite, Tunnicliffe may be the best Arizona quarterback in the Pac-10 era.

Accomplishments :

• Set Arizona records for most career passing yards (7,618) touchdowns (46), and yards of total offense (7,336)

• Participated in Blue-Gray Game in 1983

• Participated in East-West Shrine Game in 1984

Stats:

Alfred Jenkins, 1983-86

Won 24 games in three seasons as a starter.

Accomplishments:

• Named All-Pac-10, honorable mention, in 1984

• Named Most Valuable Player of the Aloha Bowl in 1986

Stats:

Ronald Veal, 1987-90

Stats:

George Malauulu, 1989-92

Accomplishments:

• Named All Pac-10, honorable mention, in 1992

Stats:

Dan White, 1993-95

Penn State transfer went 3-0 against Arizona State.

Accomplishments:

• Named All-Pac-10, honorable mention, in 1994

• Named All-Pac-10, honorable mention, in 1995

Stats:

Keith Smith, 1996-99

Converted baseball player shined when splitting time with Ortege Jenkins in the late-1990s. Smith is now a high school football coach in the Los Angeles area. 

Stats: 

Ortege Jenkins, 1997-2000

One-time UA basketball player helped lead the Wildcats to a 12-1 record and Holiday Bowl win in 1998. He took over the job in 2000, and has a claim to fame: Jenkins was the first player cut on the first episode of HBO's "Hard Knocks." 

Stats: 

Jason Johnson, 1999-2002

Orchestrated John Mackovic’s passing attack to a ‘T’, and became one of Arizona’s most prolific passers.

Accomplishments:

• Set Arizona record for longest pass, 99 yards, in a Sept. 8, 2001 win over Idaho

• Named All Pac-10, honorable mention, in 2001 and 2002

• Named to Pac-10 All-Academic Team in 2001 and 2002

• Named Woody Hayes National Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2003

• Participated in the Hula Bowl in 2003

Stats:

Kris Heavner, 2003

Stats: 

Willie Tuitama, 2005-08

Stats:

Nick Foles, 2009-11

Stats: 

Matt Scott, 2012

B.J. Denker, 2013

Stats: 

Anu Solomon, 2014-present