Boise State adds an offensive lineman who shares a connection with Bachmeier brothers
The latest high school player to join Boise State’s 2023 recruiting class is quite familiar with Hank Bachmeier and the quarterback’s family.
Murrieta Valley offensive lineman Jason Steele announced his verbal commitment Tuesday morning on Twitter. He plays at the same high school in California that Bachmeier led as a four-year starter.
Steele didn’t get to take the field with Bachmeier in high school, but he has been teammates with the quarterback’s younger brother, Tiger, since their days in Pop Warner. He also watched Bachmeier’s youngest brother, Bear, grow up.
“He is a freak athlete with a lot of drive,” Steele said of Tiger Bachmeier, a wide receiver who has a scholarship offer from Boise State but committed to Stanford in March. “He and Hank couldn’t be more different. Tiger is more low-key and quiet, but the younger one, Bear, is more outgoing and quirky like Hank.”
Steele’s older brother, Jake, started at left tackle during Bachmeier’s final season at Murrieta Valley. He went on to become a three-year starter at the position and signed with San Jose State in December 2021.
Steele and his brother both started on the Nighthawks’ line the past two seasons — Jake on the left side and Jason at right tackle. It was a special time, Steele said, adding that he and his brother were constantly competing to see who could rack up more pancake blocks.
“Every time I saw him pile-drive someone, I wanted to pile-drive them harder,” Steele said. “I think that’s why I’m such a good finisher. My goal is to end every play by putting someone on their back.”
The 6-foot-4, 280-pounder’s high school career has come full circle. Steele played center as a freshman before moving to tackle. He said he’s moving back to center for his senior season, describing it as his natural position.
“I like reading the defense and having the responsibility that comes with being a center,” Steele said. “I have no problem praising my teammates when they do something well and getting on them when they don’t. I also think blocking at the second level of the defense comes natural to me, and I’m always going to be an aggressive finisher.”
Steele is a three-star recruit, according to 247Sports. He also has scholarship offers from Arizona State, California, Utah State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Nevada and San Jose State. He visited Boise State on March 30 and also took trips to Nevada, Fresno State, Utah State and Arizona.
He said he originally planned to wait until later in the summer to commit, but Steele said Boise State feels like the perfect fit. He also said he’ll graduate high school early and enroll at Boise State in January 2023.
“Boise State has everything I need,” he said on Tuesday. “The coaches are amazing, the program is amazing and I’m really confident in my decision.”
Steele is the third recruit in Boise State’s 2023 class, joining quarterback C.J. Tiller, who was the first, and linebacker Wyatt Milkovic, who committed last week and said he also plans to enroll early.
Boise State’s 2023 recruiting class
QB CJ Tiller, 6-3, 200, Rancho Cucamonga (California) High
LB Wyatt Milkovic, 6-1, 233, Basha (Arizona) High
OL Jason Steele, 6-4, 280, Murrieta Valley (California) High
This story was originally published April 12, 2022 at 3:23 PM.
