Boise State QB Henderson misses practices; Broncos lose QB recruiting target
The drama swirling around Boise State’s quarterbacks continued Friday as the program announced senior Jaylon Henderson has been ill and didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday.
There was no word Friday if Henderson will start the Las Vegas Bowl against Washington on Saturday (5:30 p.m. MT, ABC), but when asked Tuesday if true freshman Hank Bachmeier and sophomore Chase Cord would see the field against the Huskies, Broncos coach Bryan Harsin responded, “Absolutely, 100 percent.”
“Hank is a big part of why we’re where we are. Chase is a big part of why we’re where we are,” Harsin said. “All those guys deserve to play, and they’ll all be ready.”
Henderson started the past four games and led the Broncos to wins in all of them. Bachmeier started the first six games of the season and won all seven of his starts, but he hasn’t played since suffering what appeared to be a shoulder injury Nov. 2 at San Jose State. Cord last played in an overtime win Nov. 9 against Wyoming.
In the past four games, Henderson has accounted for 944 passing yards with 10 touchdowns through the air and two on the ground.
Harsin also didn’t clarify Friday who would call the plays for the Broncos on Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium. After offensive coordinator Zak Hill’s departure for Arizona State was announced Sunday, Harsin said he would be more involved in the play calling. He reiterated his experience in that role Friday.
“I’ve done it before. We’ve got guys on our staff who’ve done it before, too,” Harsin said. “So, we’re obviously working through that.”
Harsin was Petersen’s offensive coordinator at Boise State from 2006 to 2010, and in 2011-12 was a co-offensive coordinator at Texas. He was Boise State’s primary playcaller in 2016 while serving as head coach.
‘Last year was pretty miserable’
After Mother Nature robbed Boise State of a bowl game last season, the Broncos’ focus during practice at UNLV’s facilities this week in Las Vegas has been on finishing.
The Broncos accepted an invitation last season to the First Responder Bowl in Dallas, Texas, but a severe thunderstorm halted play with 5:08 left in the first quarter, and the game was eventually canceled. Boston College led 7-0 at the time.
“Last year was pretty miserable,” defensive lineman Chase Hatada said. “I remember going into the game we kind of had an idea there was going to be some weather problems, obviously not to that extreme, but when we found out we weren’t going to finish the game, it was pretty upsetting.”
“I haven’t checked the weather report. Are we good?” Harsin joked Friday.
The Broncos dealt with more weather in this year’s season opener at Florida State, which got moved from Jacksonville to Tallahassee, Florida, because of Hurricane Dorian.
“We could have played in the parking lot. We just wanted to play,” Harsin said. “For the seniors, there’s unfinished business, and I’m sure they still feel that way.”
Barring anything crazy, Boise State (12-1) will actually play a bowl game this year, and Harsin and Washington coach Chris Petersen applauded the timing of the game, which allows players and coaches to spend Christmas with their families. But an early date meant a quick turnaround for the Broncos, who beat Hawaii 31-10 in the Mountain West championship game on Dec. 7. The Huskies’ last game was a 31-13 win Nov. 29 in the Apple Cup against Washington State.
But Harsin said the Broncos have some experience dealing with the game’s shortened preparation time having dealt with it in the 2017 Las Vegas Bowl against Oregon. The Broncos won 38-28.
“I thought the players handled it tremendously, and I thought the leadership on our team was fantastic,” Harsin said of this year’s prep.
Weaver, Cleveland mum on NFL
The question on the minds of most Boise State fans is will Saturday mark STUD Curtis Weaver’s and left tackle Ezra Cleveland’s last game in a Broncos uniform. Well, the mystery continues because neither would say Thursday.
When asked, Cleveland grinned. He began the season as the top-rated offensive tackle in the Mountain West, according to Pro Football Focus, and even though injuries slowed him early in the year, his draft stock may still be high enough to justify leaving school a year early.
“We’ll see. We’re not sure yet,” he said. “I’m just focused on the bowl game.”
Weaver laughed. He leads the Mountain West and ranks No. 5 in the country this season with 13.5 sacks, and he’s No. 1 all-time in the conference and No. 2 in Boise State’s record books with 34 in his career.
“We’re just going day by day,” he said.
Broncos lose Richardson, gain local QB
Boise State’s quest to add a scholarship quarterback to its 2020 recruiting class continues as Salinas High’s Carl Richardson signed with Northwestern on Friday. He visited Boise State on Dec. 9.
The Broncos did add a local product to the quarterbacks room Friday, though, as Timberline quarterback Andy Peters announced on Twitter that he will join the program. He’ll be a walk-on, Timberline coach Ian Smart said. Peters is a three-star prospect, according to 247Sports, and the No. 5 overall recruit in the state. On Wednesday, Boise State also signed No. 3 Austin Bolt.
Peters led Timberline to the second round of the 5A state playoffs this season, where the Wolves fell to Rocky Mountain.
NO. 18 BOISE STATE VS. WASHINGTON
What: Las Vegas Bowl
When: 5:30 p.m. MT Saturday
Where: Sam Boyd Stadium (35,500), Las Vegas
TV: ABC (Bob Wischusen, Kirk Herbstreit, Molly McGrath)
Radio: KBOI 670 AM (Bob Behler, Pete Cavender)
Records: Boise State is 12-1; Washington is 7-5
Series: The series is tied 2-2 (last meeting: Boise State won 16-13 in 2015 in Albertsons Stadium)
Vegas line: Washington by 3.5
Weather: 56 degrees, mostly cloudy, 5 mph winds at kickoff.
This story was originally published December 20, 2019 at 7:25 PM.
