Arizona Football: Getting to know commit Anthony Gonzales
Following his commitment to Arizona Football, we were intrigued and wanted to learn more about incoming walk-on Anthony Gonzales, so we reached out to connect.
In August of 2020, AZCentral announced that “The state’s top defensive backs” were transferring from Brophy College Preparatory High School in Phoenix, due to COVID canceling the season. One of those two top players was Anthony Gonzales, an Arizona Football commit/ preferred walk-on.
Gonzales was eager to play football in his senior year so he transferred to Scottsdale Saguaro, where he played both WR and DB. According to his dad Danny, Anthony reunited with his former Brophy teammate at Saguaro, Denzel Burke, an Ohio State-commit and it had nothing to do with Brophy Head Coach Jason Jewell who they liked.
Anthony’s nickname is AG, “Coaches and teammates call me AG which are my initials. Coach Jon Kitna gave me that nickname when he coached me my sophomore year at Brophy College Prep.” He is an Arizona Preferred Walk-On (PWO) but hopes to earn a scholarship in his first year in Tucson, if not, no worries, “I know what I need to do to earn a spot and once I get to that point everyone else will see what I can do.”
The 5-foot-11 and 180-pound high school defensive Back also runs track. We were intrigued and wanted to learn more about AG, so we reached out and he was happy to connect. It seems Arizona got a steal here, and AG could be such a wonderful surprise! He will be moving from ASU-Land to UofA territory but has family in Tucson.
Sitting down with Arizona Football preferred walk-on Anthony Gonzales to talk everything from football, life, interests and everything in between.
ZZ: Do you know who will be your position coach in college? Who recruited you?
AG: Coach walker and coach Cecil will be coaching me, and coach walker is the one who recruited me.
ZZ: How long have you been a Wildcats fan? Is this your dream school?
AG: I’ve always been an Arizona fan, And to stay home and become apart of something special down there is great. I have family down in Tucson so it’s everything I wanted since I was little.
ZZ: Tell me a little about your family and friends, who is your support system, who motivates you?
AG: I am extremely close with my family. They are my rock, my support system. They are my constant motivation and always have been. My mom and dad especially. They bring out the best in me and have taught me so many things in life and I can’t thank them enough for that. I also have a tight circle of friends that I have been close with for many years.
Even with me transferring schools my senior year, my close friends and I didn’t skip a beat. I am very blessed to have such great people around me and look forward to the same motivation going to Tucson and being a wildcat. I also have some family that lives in Tucson which I’m happy to get to know better. Go wildcats! Bear down!
ZZ: Okay tell me a little about your mentality on and off the field, how do you keep focused, and do you have any mantra or saying that you go by?
AG: I get my mentality from my parents. They have always been hard workers and have taught me to do the same. I believe that hard work will always prevail. That’s on the field and off the field. Try and be the hardest worker in the room and stay focused on what you’re trying to accomplish. I guess my mantra is simple. “Hard work, pays off”
ZZ: What are you doing to prepare for college football?
AG: I work out every day at 5 am and then I train in the evening on footwork and speed. I work out in the gym 5-6 days a week starting at 5 am and ending at 7 am. I’m trying to get as strong as possible. I also do footwork and speed drills to say fast and prepared for day 1!
ZZ: What do you want to study in college? Do you know?
AG: Undecided but most likely business. (Hear that Dave Wietecha?)
ZZ: Have you made friends with other guys in your 2021 class of football freshmen to be?
AG: I have not met a lot of them yet. I have to reach out and find some for sure.
ZZ: How do you think you will feel when Arizona takes on ASU? Revenge match?
AG: Yes ma’am. Revenge match. I’m sure everyone on the team is out to prove something.
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ZZ: What do you do for fun outside of football? Do you have any other talents? Any music preferences?
AG: I love all sports and love to watch sports. I also have three other brothers who I spend time with. One is 21 and the twins are 12 soon to be 13. Mostly like hip hop.
ZZ: What’s your go-to song to help you get pumped up before a game or practice?
AG: Meek mill- dreams and nightmares
ZZ: Tell me about your experience at the Polynesian Bowl and your heritage and how your culture has helped you in your football career and life.
AG: The Polynesian bowl was a great experience! I got to get work in with a bunch of d1 athletes and I was able to hang with them. That right there motivated me like no other. I love competition and believe that it only makes you better.
ZZ: Is there anything you want to tell wildcats fans? Did I leave anything out?
AG: Wildcat fans can expect a loyal competitor who is dedicated to bringing the best game possible in order to bring the territorial cup back to Tucson.
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As we said, in his Junior year, AG was one of the two top DB’s in the state of Arizona, might he be underrated? We hope he gets his scholarship, he’s hungry to show fans his heart on the field.