Former Arkansas WR Quinta Funderburk changes college programs again
From the end of the 2011 season and through the offseason leading into the 2012 season the Arkansas Razorbacks went from an 11-win team to a program spiraling out of control. Then head coach Bobby Petrino literally had the wheels of the program come out from underneath him and the Hogs were then left with interim head coach John L. Smith, or a disaster waiting to happen.
Not only did Arkansas lose their head coach but also lost six wide receivers and one tight end for various reasons from 2011 to 2012. Wide receivers Greg Childs, Jarius Wright, and Joe Adams to graduation and were off to test the NFL but more passing options were lost for less than optimal reasons. Marquel Wade, Maudrecus Humphrey, and Andrew Peterson (tight end) got in trouble and were suspended and later dismissed from the team.
When the dust from Petrino’s motorcycle accident cleared only wide receiver Cobi Hamilton and tight end Chris Gragg remained as returning targets for the Hogs.
The one young receiver Razorback Nation was excited to see blossom, other than Wade, was Quinta Funderburk. Funderburk was a 6’4”, 200 pound, receiver from Chesapeake, Virginia that appeared to be the heir apparent to Greg Childs. The Class of 2011 recruit opted to take his talents to Syracuse sitting out the 2013 season but life with the Orange proved the grass was not necessarily greener on another campus.
In 2013 Funderburk caught three passes for 50 yards with a long of 28 then went the entire 2014 season without registering a reception. Now the graduated senior is looking for a home to close out his final year of college eligibility.
The split from Syracuse may have been one-sided. Orange head coach Scott Shafer declined to go into specifics about Funderburk’s release from his scholarship during an interview with Syracuse.com only stating “(we) decided to go in another direction.”
Shafter did add, “As I talked to his family, they’re looking at different options and different schools. Hopefully he’ll find a good opportunity somewhere.”
The same Syracuse.com article quoted redshirt senior quarterback Terrel Hunt summing up Funderburk’s dismissal adding, “a few mishaps played into Funderburk’s departure.”
Funderburk is still taking classes at Syracuse per reports and may need a summer semester to fulfill his status as a senior transfer who can play immediately. When Funderburk was coming out of Oscar Smith High School he had offers from Alabama, Florida, Clemson, North Carolina, USC, West Virginia, Penn State, Maryland, Michigan, and in-state powers Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Written by Ryan Wright
Photo credit: wholehogsports.com; Quinta Funderburk works during an Arkansas practice.