Annexstad is Illinois State QB just signed by the Bucs as a UDFA Mayfield talked to him on the phone in 2018.
ANDY GREDER | SEPTEMBER 12, 2018
Minnesota football: Heisman winner Baker Mayfield called freshman QB Zack Annexstad before debut
I guess Annexstad didn't work out at Minnesota and transferred to Illinois State, but when he was starting out at Minnesota Mayfield gave him a call.
The Gophers football team was preparing to do yoga on the eve of the season opener last week when a special phone call came in for starting quarterback Zack Annexstad.
Baker Mayfield was on the line.
The Heisman Trophy winner and the Cleveland Browns' No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL draft spoke to Annexstad for 15 to 20 minutes.
The pair have been distinguished as the only true freshmen walk-on quarterbacks to start a Division I game in Week 1. Mayfield did it at Texas Tech in 2013 before he transferred and became a star at Oklahoma.
Annexstad's label as a walk-on isn't a traditional one because he turned down scholarships to Illinois, Cincinnati and others. The Noresland, Minn., native wanted to play for his home-state school...
Here's the reason Annexstad transferred in 2021:
Minnesota quarterback Zack Annexstad has entered the NCAA transfer portal here on Monday afternoon, a source told GopherIllustrated. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder was a fourth-year player for the Golden Gophers' 2021 college football season. Annexstad had started seven games in his Minnesota career back in 2018 before being knocked out of the Nebraska game with an injury. Tanner Morgan took over and he's been the starter since.
Annexstad's Gopher career ends with 1,277 yards passing with nine touchdowns and seven interceptions. Annexstad had been the back-up quarterback the last few seasons. With the news that Tanner Morgan is coming back for another season, it makes sense for Annexstad to seek playing time at a different institution.
...And I have to wonder if Mayfield made another call to him to get him signed.... sure he's training camp fodder but still I find this little connection interesting.
Inside intel plus the Bucs have scouted the Gopher program for many years. Bring size at QB like Trask and a nice camp body.
