After long journey, Gavin Kuld lands with CU Buffs as walk-on QB – The Denver Post

For years, Gavin Kuld has tried to find a spot that would give him the best opportunity to play football.

“It was all just trying to chase a dream at the end of the day,” he said. “That’s why we ended up moving so much.”

Kuld’s chase led him to four high schools and three junior colleges. Now, he’s on his way to Boulder. Earlier this week, the 6-foot-6, 220-pound quarterback announced that he is coming to Colorado as a walk-on.

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“Some people ended up leaving (the Buffs) and I got blessed with the opportunity to come and I couldn’t pass it up,” he said. “That’s all I ever wanted. I didn’t need anybody to promise anything. I didn’t want to be promised anything because I feel like that takes away a lot of the game. When (CU offensive coordinator Sean Lewis) called me, it was shell shock. Not a lot of people get that opportunity.”

Kuld grew up in North Carolina, attending North Rowan and South Iredell high schools before transferring to High Point Christian Academy. He then played at a prep school in Florida.

In December of 2020, he began his college journey, enrolling at Monterey Peninsula (Calif.) College. In 2021, he completed 38 of 89 passes (42.7%) for 447 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions.

The high cost of living in the Bay Area caused him to move, this time to Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College in the spring of 2022. A dislocated collarbone ended his spring, though, and put him behind others in the quarterback competition. He moved again, this time to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College.

In a run-heavy Norsemen offense, Kuld rotated with other quarterbacks last fall, completing eight of 34 passes (23.5%) for 72 yards and four interceptions.

To say the journey – especially over the last year-plus – has been long and bumpy would be an understatement.

“It’s been a challenging year the past year,” he said. “Looking back at (the entire journey), the only thing I can do is thank God for all the teaching lessons that he did. I was very immature at the time and doing all those moves really taught me something that just saying in school wouldn’t.”

Now more mature, Kuld is ready to settle down with the Buffs.

“I made that commitment to myself, wherever I go I’ll be there for the rest of my career,” said Kuld, who has three years to play two seasons. “I’m not leaving again. I think it’ll aid in my mental and physical growth a lot actually.”

Of course, Kuld won’t start for the Buffs and head coach Deion Sanders. Junior Shedeur Sanders is the clear starter, while true freshmen Ryan Staub and Kasen Weisman are also on scholarship. Kuld joins the mix as the second walk-on, along with Colton Allen.

“Just to be a part of this team and play a role, even if it is backing up Shedeur, I love it,” he said. “It’s just about rebuilding a team and doing what you can to help the team. If the role is to help the team, you help the team as much as you can. That’s a nice role to play.”

To this point, Kuld has only seen the Buffs from afar, watching the numerous videos posted on social media. But, he’s impressed and can’t wait for the next stop on his journey.

“It’s a blessing,” he said. “Not many times you can play for Deion and/or coach Lewis, so that was a major factor. And the team chemistry (is great), how hard they work. They all show up ready to go every day. Nobody is there not wanting to be there and I like how competitive-natured they are.”

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