A new program has given Gabriel Nunez a fresh opportunity to finish his college football career on his terms. The Tennessee Tech wide receiver has brought experience, reliability and a willingness to do whatever the Golden Eagles need as he makes his final season count.
Nunez is helping lead the Golden Eagles to a four-and-one start to the season after transferring from Southern Utah University to join the program for his final year of eligibility.
Nunez said he chose to join the program after an official visit because the coaching staff made him feel welcome. Nunez said he wanted to spend his last year of college football with a team where he could compete for a championship and win games.
“I wanted to give myself an opportunity to win some games, to go compete for a championship, and everything looked like it just fit and it was the right decision for me,” Nunez said.
Nunez said Head Coach Wilder and Receivers Coach Allen have been instrumental in rebuilding the team culture and integrating new players from the transfer portal. Nunez said senior wide receivers Trey Holloway and Maurice Sullivan also played a vital role in welcoming the new arrivals to the position group.
“Coach Wilder did a really good job, Coach Allen, our receiver coach, did a really good job, and Trey Holloway and Maurice Sullivan, the two older guys in our room that were here already, they did a good job bringing everyone in, making everyone feel welcomed, and really bringing our room together,” Nunez said.
Nunez said his three years of experience at Southern Utah University prepared him for his current success at Tennessee Tech. Nunez said playing against ranked opponents and high-level competition provided him with the necessary repetitions to succeed in his new environment.
“I played a lot of snaps, got a lot of catches, a lot of yards, it’s just a lot of repetition gave me a lot of experience playing over there,” Nunez said.
Nunez said his early impact on the field, which includes 29 catches for 476 yards through five games, comes from a focus on individual responsibility. Nunez said the coaching staff emphasizes that every player must do their “one-eleventh” to ensure the team functions correctly.
“I just want to be the guy that everyone can rely on, the guy that everyone knows is going to do their job, and I just want to be the best version of myself that I can be for my team,” Nunez said.
Nunez earned the “Grab a Shovel” player of the week award for his performance on the kickoff return unit against Wofford. Nunez said the award reflects the team philosophy that no task is beneath any player, regardless of their position or status on the roster.
“Coach Wilder likes to say no job is too big, no matter what your status is or what your rank is, you should be able to do any job that the team needs you to do,” Nunez said.
