For the first time in BYU football history, a true freshman will be starting at quarterback at the beginning of the regular season.

In a move many anticipated, BYU Offensive Coordinator Aaron Roderick announced to the media on Tuesday his decision to start Bear Bachmeier over both sophomore McCae Hillstead and junior Treyson Bourguet.

“Bear has earned the job. He’s had a great camp and he’s our guy,” Roderick stated.

Bachmeier is a 6-foot-2, 220-pound true freshman who prepped at Murrieta Valley High School in Southern California before signing with Stanford upon graduation. He was a standout for his high school team, as one could well imagine, and accumulated just over 6,800 yards passing and 59 touchdowns on top of galloping for another 1,724 yards on the ground and 33 touchdowns.

He’s a true dual-threat quarterback in every sense of the word and was recruited widely by programs such as Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia and Oregon, among many others, before deciding to join his brother, Tiger Bachmeier, in signing with the Cardinal.

“(Bear) Bachmeier is an exciting dual-threat quarterback who can beat a defense with his arm or his legs,” evaluated 247 senior analyst Greg Biggins. “At 6-2, 225 pounds, he’s built like a tank and can take off and run for big yards and does a nice job escaping initial pressure and extending plays. He can also beat you from the pocket and is a very competent thrower. He has a strong arm, quick release and can throw from different arm angles. He’s comfortable throwing rolling out to either direction, is a tough kid and a fierce competitor.”

Bear Bachmeier enrolled at Stanford early to compete in spring practices, where he was battling for the starting job. Upon completion of spring camp, he entered the transfer portal in light of Stanford firing then-head coach Troy Taylor, who recruited him out of high school.

Stanford’s loss proved BYU’s gain, with Bachmeier immediately asserting himself into the quarterback competition, and then emerging as the top option in the minds of BYU coaches.

“He throws a lot of completions, he’s really accurate,” Roderick summed up rather succinctly when asked why Bachmeier won the starting nod.

Later on in the interview, Roderick added that Bachmeier has taken care of the football better than any of the quarterbacks within the program and has accounted for more than several big plays down the field while showing a level of maturity beyond his years.

His defensive teammates, who have defended against him throughout fall camp, have liked what they’ve seen from the young freshman, too.

“I’m super impressed with him,” noted senior linebacker Jack Kelly. “Being able to learn the playbook that fast and execute at the level he has has been awesome to see. He’s super decisive. He makes good reads, (and) doesn’t throw turnovers or fumble the ball. He’s had a really good camp.”

Bachmeier began BYU fall camp splitting reps equally with both Hillstead and Bourget, and on occasion outperformed both of his more veteran teammates during open practice sessions. The real breaking point came following the Cougars’  first live scrimmage, when the Stanford transfer showed well enough for Roderick to pare down the quarterback battle between Bachmeier and Hillstead, with the true freshman eventually showing enough to win the job outright.

“We feel it’s the best move,” said BYU head coach Kalani Sitake. “With what we’ve seen in camp so far and in all the practices (Bachmeier) gives us the best chance (to win) right now.”

As to who will be backing up Bachmeier, coaches did not say, indicating an ongoing competition between both Hillstead and Bourguet, and perhaps even with freshman Emerson Geilman, who has shown well during practice sessions.

“We have a lot of quarterbacks who can play,” Sitake said. “So that makes me feel good. Hopefully we don’t have to go down that route, but if we do then we have a lot of quarterbacks who can help us win games.”

BYU opens the season on Aug. 30 with a home game against Portland State.