Quarterback Bear Bachmeier is set to make history in Provo.
BYU has named Bachmeier its starting quarterback, which would make him the first true freshman to start a season for the Cougars at the position.
“He’s had a great camp and he’s our guy,” Cougars offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said Tuesday.
Bachemier beat out veterans Treyson Bourguet and McCae Hillstead for the job.
“He throws a lot of completions…he’s really accurate. He’s done a great job in camp taking care of the football; he’s thrown the fewest interceptions of all the guys,” Roderick said. “He throws a really high completion percentage and a lot of explosive plays.”
Roderick also praised Bachmeier’s leadership.
“He has done a good job leading our team,” he said. “He’s very mature, man. Our players gravitate to him. He’s a good leader. … Rare to see a freshman who can lead the team the way he does every day.”
The coordinator said there are always concerns about seeing a quarterback start for the first time “but in practice, he’s proven he deserves it. Everyone out here has watched it happen. This is not a big surprise to anybody on our team because they’ve seen it happen in practice.”
The 19-year-old Bachmeier committed to Stanford out of high school, participated in spring practices with the Cardinal and then made his move to BYU.
“That was impressive. He’s been with us for 14 or 15 practices and playing at a really high level,” Roderick said. “It’s impressive how quickly he’s learned everything. He’s very smart. He’s done a good job.”
Roderick said BYU has not yet decided whether Hillstead or Bourguet will be Bachmeier’s primary backup.
“We’re still working our way through that,” he said. “I don’t feel like we have to have a deadline on that.”