Wichita State football legend, former quarterback Prince McJunkins, has died at age 60; reports indicate his death was COVID-related.
The Oklahoma native was quarterback for the Shockers from 1979-1982. He was the first player in NCAA history to finish his career with at least 2,000 yards rushing and 4,000 yards passing. During his senior year, he accounted for 21 touchdowns, 10 on the ground and another 11 through the air.
He was the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year in 1979, then he was the back-to-back MVC Offensive Player of the Year in 1981 and 1982.
McJunkins engineered a 13-10 upset win for the Shockers at Kansas in 1982, with a 50-yard touchdown pass late in the game. WSU finished with a record of 8-3 that season, WSU's best record in 21 years and its final winning season before the program was dropped in 1986.
McJunkins wasn't far behind John Elway of Stanford and Dan Marino of Pittsburgh in total yards during their senior seasons in 1982, but with his smaller size McJunkins was not projected to play quarterback in the National Football League. McJunkins played two seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Ottawa Rough Riders.
McJunkins is enshrined in the Shocker Sports Hall of Fame. His #1 jersey is one of only two numbers retired in Wichita State football history, the other being the #66 worn by former running back Linwood Sexton.
McJunkins ranks #2 all-time in passing yards at Wichita State, and is #3 all-time in career rushing yards.