Boise State QB Cord will miss spring; Ojukwu steps into key spot; coaches switch roles
If there’s going to be a quarterback controversy this season on the Boise State football team, it won’t play out this spring.
Speaking a day ahead of the first of the Broncos’ 15 spring practices — which begins at 7 p.m. Friday at Albertsons Stadium and is open to the public — Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said quarterback Chase Cord will not be on the field this spring as he continues to recover from shoulder and knee injuries suffered last season and offseason ankle surgery.
That leaves sophomore Hank Bachmeier to take snaps as the veteran, while the rest of the reps are taken by a pair of walk-ons: Zach Matlock and former Timberline quarterback Andy Peters, who graduated early so he could join the Broncos this spring.
“(Matlock) will get more reps than he’s every gotten, so maximize the opportunity,” Harsin said Thursday. “Andy is going to get a ton of reps, too. He’s going to get thrown right in there and get a chance to go out there and operate the offense.”
After Bachmeier missed six games last season with various ailments, Harsin said the added workload this spring will prove especially beneficial for him. Bachmeier went 7-1 as the starter and completed 63 percent of his passes while throwing nine touchdowns and six interceptions.
“The one thing that hurt Hank was not playing. He missed opportunities and reps there, so we’ve got to make some of that up,” Harsin said. “Like with any position, the question at quarterback is how do we improve on fundamentals and just knowledge of the offense?”
While he won’t take part in any drills, Harsin said Cord will be active this spring. Last fall, he started the Broncos’ loss at BYU and their overtime win at home against Wyoming, but he didn’t play again after that game.
“He’s going to be out there participating, signaling and doing those things because he’s a great leader on this team, but not participating physically,” Harsin said.
The Broncos also will be without three linebackers this spring. Redshirt junior Ezekial Noa is still recovering from the torn ACL and wrist injury that kept him out of all but four games last season. Redshirt sophomore Brandon Hawkins and senior Benton Wickersham are dealing with shoulder injuries.
Reserve running back Danny Smith will sit out after having offseason ankle surgery, and senior safety Evan Tyler is out until at least July after suffering a pectoral tear while lifting weights this offseason. Tyler, who was limited by injuries last fall, was approved this offseason for a sixth year of eligibility.
Fellow sixth-year senior Sam Whitney — who missed last fall with an injury suffered in the preseason — will be on the field Friday to throw his name in the hat to replace former STUD Curtis Weaver.
Harsin also said Thursday that three potential starters will be limited early in spring practice. Defensive lineman Scale Igiehon had offseason surgery on both of his heels. Tight end Tyneil Hopper has been in a walking boot while dealing with bone spurs, and offensive lineman Dante Harrington, who missed all of last season, continues his recovery from two ACL surgeries.
Ojukwu switches sides
With four starters to replace, there are plenty of question marks along the Broncos’ offensive line this spring, but Harsin feels like they’re set at a critical position.
Redshirt junior John Ojukwu, the lone starter back from last season, will switch to left tackle after starting 11 games last fall at right tackle.
“I think he’s one of our best guys, and I think he’s ready for that,” Harsin said.
Redshirt sophomore Garrett Curran will open the spring at right tackle, but Harsin said he can also play left. Nick Crabtree, who was former left tackle Ezra Cleveland’s backup last season, and redshirt freshmen Ben Dooley and Jacob Golden will also see time at tackle. Junior college transfer Riden Leong may be added to that list when he arrives this summer.
Coaches shuffle roles
A few Boise State coaches are settling into new roles.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding will take over the inside linebackers from second-year coach Zac Alley, who will handle the outside linebackers and share special teams coordinator duties with first-year running backs coach Winston Venable.
Harsin said he likes to have his defensive coordinator coach the inside linebackers because, much like being in charge of the entirety of that side of the ball, the position requires knowledge of all three levels of the defense.
Harsin said that’s how it was before former defensive coordinator Andy Avalos left for Oregon. He also said because there are fewer outside linebackers on the roster, the new roles will give Alley more time to focus on special teams.
Offensive line coach Brad Bedell now also has the title of run game coordinator. Tight ends coach Kent Riddle, the most veteran assistant coach on staff, will assume the role of chief of staff.
“He’s really a guy that’s been here not just the longest, but he really understands what we’ve done and how we’ve done it and can really keep everything in line,” Harsin said.
Two players medically retire
Two Boise State players’ careers have ended in medical retirement.
Harsin confirmed Thursday that redshirt sophomore tight end Cole Ramseyer and redshirt senior defensive defensive tackle Jabari Watson are no longer on the roster but both remain enrolled at Boise State.
Watson was a three-star recruit in 2016. He redshirted that year and played sparingly over the past three seasons. The nature of his injury was not revealed.
Ramseyer is a Coeur d’Alene native, who 247sports ranked the No. 3 prospect in Idaho in 2018. He redshirted that year and appeared in one game last season. Harsin didn’t go into the specifics of his injury, either.
Spring practice
Boise State will open spring practice Friday with a session in Albertsons Stadium from 7 to 9 p.m., which is open to the public. Access to seating will be available through Gates A and D, and parking in the west stadium lot will be free.
Fans will also have access to the field after practice for a meet-and-greet with players and coaches.
Boise State’s Pro Day is scheduled for April 2, and the Broncos’ 2020 Spring Game will be held April 11.
This story was originally published March 5, 2020 at 4:25 PM.
