QB Bachmeier leads Boise State in first spring practice; O-line is a work in progress
Hunched over on the sideline in Albertsons Stadium, hands on knees after running a deep route, Boise State wide receiver CT Thomas watched as coach Bryan Harsin delivered passes to wide receivers as they finished an agility drill by sprinting around a tackling dummy.
“This must be taking you back,” Thomas said.
Harsin wasn’t the only one getting his arm loose Friday as the Broncos held the first of 15 spring practices allowed by the NCAA. Sophomore quarterback Hank Bachmeier led Boise State onto the field for the first time since a lopsided loss to Washington in the Las Vegas Bowl.
“The energy was good, the effort was good and some plays were being made,” Harsin said. “I thought Hank did some good things moving around in the pocket and even just hitting those little check-downs.”
Boise State will hold its Spring Game on April 11, and the Broncos open the 2020 season at home Sept. 5 against Georgia Southern. Here are four observations from Friday’s practice.
Bachmeier looks healthy: Harsin said Thursday that Bachmeier is 100% healthy after hip and shoulder injuries cost him six games last season. On Friday, the Broncos’ young quarterback looked the part.
Bachmeier’s right shoulder didn’t seem to be bothering him as he delivered deep passes, and he looked confident rolling to his right and left and delivering throws on the run.
“Last year was a great learning experience for me and just a great honor in general to play and do well and learn and grow,” Bachmeier said. “I’m just taking it one day at a time and building camaraderie with the guys. It’s just day one, though.”
Bachmeier split snaps with walk-ons Zach Matlock and former Timberline quarterback Andy Peters. Redshirt junior Chase Cord didn’t participate as he continues to recover from shoulder, knee and ankle injuries.
Shakir looks explosive: Bachmeier got some help on a few of those deep passes from wide receiver Khalil Shakir. He got behind a defender in one-on-one drills and easily hauled in an over-the-shoulder touchdown from Bachmeier.
Shakir struck again later in seven-on-seven drills as he leaped over a defender and somehow managed to get a foot in bounds on a completion that covered at least 40 yards.
Redshirt freshman Shea Whiting looked quick and used crisp routes to create enough separation for several nice completions, and redshirt sophomore Maclaine Griffin got to show off his arm on a wide receiver option pass, but it fell incomplete.
The DBs were aggressive: Having played just once since a come-from-behind win at San Jose State on Nov. 2, 2019, Bachmeier did have some rust to knock off. Redshirt sophomore cornerback Tyric LeBeauf took advantage of a late pass over the middle to record the day’s first interception.
Peters, who Harsin praised for not seeming overwhelmed in his first college practice, also watched one of his passes go the other way after wide receiver turned cornerback Damon Cole undercut a route and returned the interception for a touchdown.
The O-line is a work in progress: Topping the Broncos’ agenda this offseason is rebuilding an offensive line that lost four starters from last season, including left tackle Ezra Cleveland, who recently turned heads at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Offensive line coach Brad Bedell experimented with plenty of combinations Friday. Redshirt freshman Ben Dooley took snaps at right tackle with the the starters, and Garrett Curran spent time at right tackle and left guard. John Ojukwu, the lone returning starter from a year ago, started at left tackle, Jake Stetz was at right guard and Kekaniokoa Holomalia-Gonzalez was at center.
Later in practice, Jacob Golden stepped in at left tackle, with Dallas Holliday beside him at guard and senior Kole Bailey at right tackle.
This story was originally published March 7, 2020 at 4:00 AM.
