Expect QB Hank Bachmeier to be a hot transfer portal commodity

If your favorite team needs a pass-first quarterback for the 2023 season, prepare to read a lot about Hank Bachmeier in the next three months.

Bachmeier, Boise State’s starting quarterback since 2019, entered the transfer portal Tuesday afternoon. While student-athletes are able to enter the portal only during specific windows pertaining to their sport’s seasons, there is an exception for those who have graduated; Bachmeier graduated earlier this year.

Because of the NCAA’s “COVID year,” Bachmeier – a four-star prospect in the 2019 class – has two seasons of eligibility remaining and is going to be a hot transfer commodity.

He started 29 games in his four-year Broncos career, including his first game as a collegian when he rallied Boise State past host Florida State 36-31 in the 2019 opener. Bachmeier threw for 407 yards in that game, but that was a career highlight of sorts. He reached the 300-yard mark just twice more at Boise, and finishes his time there with 6,605 yards and 41 TDs but also 19 interceptions. He also has battled through injuries and played behind an underperforming offensive line.

Bachmeier struggled big-time to open this season, completing just 54.3 percent of his passes for 497 yards, six TDs and three picks as Boise State opened 2-2. He was benched during last week’s 17-point loss to UTEP, and after Broncos offensive coordinator Tim Plough was fired Sunday, Bachmeier made it known he was leaving.

By not playing in more than four games this season, he can redshirt; that gives him two seasons of eligibility.

The two seasons of eligibility and the experience are reasons he will be a hot commodity out of the portal. As to who might be interested? If a school wants a true dual-threat quarterback, they won’t want Bachmeier. Obviously, though, not every program wants a dual-threat guy, and that is why Bachmeier figures to have double-figure suitors.

Bachmeier is a California guy and may prefer to finish on the West Coast. In that vein, and assuming he wants to play at a Power 5 program, he could appeal to Oregon, Arizona State and Colorado, among others, as all three figure to need new quarterbacks next season. And does BYU starting quarterback Jaren Hall move on to the NFL? He has a season of eligibility remaining, but he’s also 24; he signed as part of BYU’s 2016 recruiting class, then went on a Mormon mission.

Away from the West Coast, Kentucky would seem to be a possibility, as he has a connection to UK offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello.

Really, any team looking for a pass-first quarterback figures to at least have at least a modicum of interest in Bachmeier. And by entering the portal early, it seems likely he will have a decision made on his next stop by the time the portal officially opens December 5.