Wolf Pack adds former four-star QB recruit

The Wolf Pack's quarterback depth chart got even more crowded Wednesday.

Austin Kafentzis, a Sandy, Utah native and one of the most prolific quarterbacks in high school football history, has transferred from Wisconsin to Nevada and already begun working out with the Wolf Pack.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Kafentzis was a four-star recruit out of high school by ESPN.com and the Gatorade player of the year in Utah in 2012 and 2014. The four-time all-state selection is No. 2 all-time among U.S. preps in total offense (20,021 yards) and touchdowns accounted for (218).

"There's no denying the production throughout his high school career," Wolf Pack coach Brian Polian said late Wednesday night. "The ability to make plays with his feet is very exciting. The thing that excites me most is his demeanor. He's a very down-to-Earth, humble and competitive guy."

Kafentzis was recruited to Wisconsin by coach Gary Andersen, the ex-Utah State coach. Andersen left for Oregon State in December before Kafentzis arrived on campus. Kafentzis followed through on his commitment and enrolled early in January for spring camp but was fifth on the Badgers' depth chart, leading to the transfer. He also had offers from BYU, Hawaii, Utah and Utah State out of high school.

After announcing his transfer, the 19-year-old Kafentzis was pursued by a number of Power 5 schools but picked Nevada in part because of the Wolf Pack's Pistol offense. He reportedly runs a 4.42-second 40-yard dash. Kafentzis set 15 Utah state records in high school, including the all-time career passing yards mark (13,079) and rushing yards mark (6,942). His dual-threat skill set suits the Wolf Pack's Pistol.

"I do believe that his skill set lends itself to the things we're looking for in a quarterback and I do think it's a good fit," Polian said. "I hope that it will be that way."

Since he spent only one semester at Wisconsin, and didn't do so during the football season, Kafentzis' eligibility at Nevada is uncertain. He could be eligible to play immediately but also could have to sit out a season under NCAA transfer rules. Either way, he would have four seasons of eligibility remaining.

"We will file a waiver on his behalf with the NCAA and we will fight as hard as we can on his behalf and I'm hopeful that we will find some relief, although that is certainly out of our hands," Polian said. "If he were to gain the waiver and be eligible immediately, we would insert him into the competition and allow the best man to win."

Kafentzis joins a Wolf Pack roster that includes four scholarship quarterbacks, including junior Tyler Stewart, sophomore Dante Mayes and freshmen Hunter Fralick and Cristian Solano. Nevada also signed quarterback Baylor Romney in its 2015 recruiting class, although he will take a Mormon mission before joining the team.

The Wolf Pack had a tight quarterback battle in spring camp and Nevada has yet to release a post-spring depth chart as the team looks to replace four-year starter Cody Fajardo, who is in Oakland Raiders' camp. Polian said the Kafentzis addition doesn't speak to his level of comfort with his quarterbacks.

"It does not have a commentary about how we felt about the quarterback job coming of the spring," Polian said. "We were going to take a high school quarterback in the class of 2016, anyway. This essentially eats up that spot. We'll add Austin and not take another one in the class of 2016. We're adding another body a year early, but I'm not too panicked about that. Frankly, he's a very good football player and when you come across guys good enough to compete to help you, you don't walk away from those situations."