Idaho offers CdA’s Amos a grayshirt QB deal

When Coeur d’Alene standout senior quarterback Gunnar Amos took his official football recruiting trip to Idaho last weekend, he was sure Vandals coach Paul Petrino would try to convince him to accept an offer to play wide receiver.

Imagine Amos’ surprise when Petrino called him into his office and offered a chance to play quarterback.

To do so, though, Amos has to grayshirt – meaning he can’t enroll at Idaho until January 2015. If he decided to play wide receiver, he could report in early June and begin working out with the team.

“If I do it right, I’ll be walking out of Idaho after 5½ years paid (education) with a master’s degree and no debt,” Amos said.

Although Amos gave Petrino an oral commitment, the coach gave Amos some extra time to decide whether to come immediately or grayshirt.

Grayshirt it will be.

Amos couldn’t go immediately as a quarterback because Petrino promised Jake Lutton, a 6-foot-6 quarterback out of Marysville-Pilchuk near Everett, that he would be the only quarterback UI signed in the 2014 class.

“He called me into his office and said he re-evaluated my senior tape,” Amos said. “It’s a great opportunity.”

His dad, CdA coach Shawn Amos, agrees. “All that he’s been through and the work he’s put in, he deserves it,” the coach said.

The 6-1 Gunnar Amos was on track to lead CdA to another state title this fall. But he suffered a concussion in the next-to-last regular-season game against Lake City and had to sit out the following week when the Vikings clinched a state playoff berth against Post Falls.

Amos returned for the state opener only to break an ankle and see his season end. Behind sophomore Austin Lee, CdA went on to win its third state title in four years.

Amos finished with 5,171 yards passing in his career and 44 touchdowns. Additionally, he rushed for 975 yards and 23 TDs.

Idaho State, Weber State and Army also offered him scholarships.

“There’s a new breed of quarterback coming out – guys who run around and make plays like Johnny Manziel,” said Amos, who fits that mold. “He (Petrino) likes my athleticism and speed.”

Amos’ family has deep roots at Idaho. His dad played at Idaho and many of his uncles and aunts attended the school.

“We’re generations deep there,” Shawn Amos said.

Amos expects to be cleared to begin running and doing more specified weight lifting next week.

He will enroll at North Idaho College in the fall and get a semester’s worth of credits out of the way and help his dad coach.

By NCAA rule, grayshirts can’t attend or participate in a school’s program until they enroll at the school.