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RENO, Nev. — Former Utah high school record-breaking quarterback Austin Kafentzis appears to be headed to his third college.
The Jordan High graduate is no longer listed on the roster at Nevada, his second school in two seasons after transferring from Wisconsin a year ago. The Deseret News reports Kafentzis will play at Arizona Western College in Yuma, Arizona, this fall while he finishes an associate’s degree before transferring to a four-year school.
Kafentzis, 20, rewrote the Utah High School Activities Association record book during an electric prep career with the Beetdiggers. The two-time Gatorade Utah Player of the Year set 15 state records, including new marks for career passing yards (13,079), career rushing yards (6,942) and total touchdowns (115).
But his college career never got off to the right start. He graduated early and enrolled at Wisconsin under then-head coach Gary Andersen, while walking on to the Badgers’ track team and placing 11th in the javelin throw at the Big Ten championships.
When Andersen moved on to Oregon State, Kafentzis transferred to Nevada, where he sat out last season per NCAA transfer rules. He initially appealed the decision, but was denied.
Nevada also recently lost offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich, who recently filled the head coaching vacancy at his alma mater Hawaii.
Kafentzis played in Nevada’s most recent spring game, where he completed one pass for 7 yards and ran the ball twice for 26 yards, which ranked fifth among quarterbacks on the team then. The Wolfpack’s roster currently includes six quarterbacks, including returning starter Tyler Stewart, a senior, and a junior, two sophomores and two redshirt freshmen.
Now his college career will be at a third stop, if anywhere. Kafentzis would be a redshirt freshman this fall, but hasn’t played competitive football (apart from the Nevada scout team) since 2014.
