Liberty QB Navi Bruzon eager to get to work at Arizona State football in spring
Navi Bruzon's father works at Arizona State. His mom is an ASU alumnus. And now, after capturing the Ed Doherty Award for the top Arizona high school football player, Peoria Liberty quarterback Navi Bruzon will join the Sun Devils.
With miniscule Division I interest and finishing his high school academics this month, it made sense for Bruzon to accept the preferred walk-on opportunity that ASU presented him. He announced his commitment on social media Monday night.
Because his father is an employee at ASU, his tuition costs to attend college will be drastically reduced.
The 5-foot-10, 190-pounder had very little if any Division I interest despite putting up incredible numbers the last two seasons, leading Liberty to the Open Division state championship this year. He made The Arizona Republic's All-Arizona team for a second straight year.
Playing the toughest competition in the state, Bruzon passed for 3,287 yards and 32 TDs with eight interceptions and ran for 972 yards and 21 TDs during a 12-1 season.
Last year, as a junior, he was the Gatorade Arizona High School Football Player of the Year. Bruzon is finishing up his high school academic requirements next week and will be enrolling at ASU in January for the spring semester.
The University of San Diego and Northern Arizona were the only Division I schools that offered Bruzon an opportunity to play football. San Diego doesn't give athletic scholarships. NAU recently made a coaching change.
"I just want to improve every day," Bruzon said.
Just getting into the quarterback room this spring at ASU is all that Bruzon wanted. Now, he'll have a chance to compete for playing time. Last season, because of injuries, ASU was reduced to playing a running back and a tight end at quarterback at times.
Liberty coach Colin Thomas believes Bruzon has that "it" factor that comes along in special quarterbacks, such as Brock Purdy when he starred at Perry High but got no Power 5 football offers until he finished his brilliant high school career. Now look at Purdy. He's in the running for NFL MVP this season with the San Francisco 49ers in his second year in the league.
"Navi is a special person," Thomas said. "His toughness, intelligence and self-belief are second to none. Ultimately, he just wanted an opportunity to prove himself at the highest level. He understands the challenge in front of him as a walk-on, but his approach is to outwork everyone and when his opportunity comes, be ready."
Ivan Bruzon, Navi's father, said it made sense that Navi is going to ASU. ASU assistant coach Jason Mohns knows Bruzon well, having had to scheme against him twice while leading Scottsdale Saguaro to the Open final in 2022.
Saguaro overcame a two-touchdown deficit in the final quarter to beat Liberty 43-42 in the Open semifinals last year.
"In my mind, and his mind, it's always been size isn't everything," Ivan said. "We just wanted him to get into the quarterback room and they can see his work ethic."
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Liberty quarterback Navi Bruzon eager to get to work at Arizona State
