Boise State Football: Can Hank Bachmeier be best non-Power Five QB?

Hank Bachmeier might be one of the least talked about star quarterbacks in the country which is surprising given the fact that he plays at one of the best non-Power Five schools.

Boise State football has had some of the best quarterbacks in the country over the years and that offense under Chris Petersen and Bryan Harsin is what made the Broncos so successful. Bachmeier is just the latest in a long line of successful quarterbacks and yet he still doesn’t quite get the respect he deserves.

Andy Avalos is the new coach in town and hopes are high for the Broncos despite the staff changes and it’s because Bachmeier is back for his third season after helping lead Boise State to a 5-2 record a year ago with 1,150 yards, six touchdowns, and just two picks in five games.

Staying healthy has been an issue with Bachmeier over his first two seasons but 3,029 yards, 15 touchdowns, and eight interceptions with a 62 percent completion rate in 13 games isn’t too shabby. Actually, that’s as if he’s played one full season.

If Bachmeier plays a full season in 2021 and continues to show improvement by cutting interceptions and increasing his completion percentage and yards per attempt, he’s going to have a 3,000-plus yard junior year with 20-plus touchdowns.

Will this be enough to make him the best non-Power Five quarterback in the country?

Where the Boise State football star stands in the Group of Five

Right now, Bachmeier is not the best Group of Five quarterback in the country but he has the potential to be just that in 2021.

This isn’t a knock on Hank but rather there are some quarterbacks with more experience and proven results, but a fully healthy season from Bachmeier may change that.

Who does he need to outperform to become “the best” non-Power Five quarterback? Here are the guys who I believe are ahead of him at the moment.

• Carson Strong, Nevada
• Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
• Dillon Gabriel, UCF
• Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina
• Malik Willis, Liberty

Five guys are ahead of Bachmeier currently in terms of best non-Power Five quarterbacks and people will argue others belong on that short list, but based on talent and potential, it’s hard to say there are more than five Group of Five quarterbacks better than Hank.

Can he be the best non-Power Five quarterback in the country this season? If he stays healthy, absolutely, and as long as the rest of Boise State’s offense takes that next step with him.

But Bachmeier will undoubtedly improve with Jack Sears pushing him as the QB2.

We should see the best season from the young Boise State quarterback yet.