Connor Bazelak
Bowling Green Falcons – No. 7
PositionQuarterback
Class
Redshirt
Redshirt
Senior
MajorLiberal studies
Personal information
Born: (2000-09-22) September 22, 2000 (age 23)
Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career history
College
Bowl games
High schoolArchbishop Alter
(Kettering, Ohio)
Career highlights and awards

Connor Bazelak (born September 22, 2000) is an American football quarterback for the Bowling Green Falcons. He previously played for the Missouri Tigers and the Indiana Hoosiers.

Early life and high school career

Bazelak grew up in Dayton, Ohio and attended Archbishop Alter High School, where he played basketball and football.[1] As a senior, he passed for over 1,500 yards with 13 touchdowns and two interceptions in a triple option offense out of the wishbone formation.[2][3] Bazelak committed to play college football at Missouri over offers from Georgia, Purdue, North Carolina State, Kentucky and Vanderbilt.[4]

College career

Missouri

Bazelak played in three games as a true freshman, allowing him to use a redshirt and maintain an extra season of NCAA eligibility. He started the final game of the season against Arkansas, but tore his ACL midway through the game.[5] Bazelak completed 15 of 21 passes for 144 yards in his true freshman season.[6]

Bazelak took over at quarterback in each of the Tigers' first two games of his redshirt freshman season before being named the team's starter.[7] Bazelak completed 218 of 324 passes for 2,366 yards and seven touchdowns with six interceptions and was named the SEC co-Freshman of the Year.[8] Bazelak was named to the watchlist for the Davey O'Brien Award going into his redshirt sophomore season.[9][10] He ended his 2021 season appearing in 11 games with 2,548 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.[11]

Indiana

On January 6, 2022, Bazelak announced he would be transferring to play for the Indiana Hoosiers.[12] For the Hoosiers, Bazelak appeared in 10 games with nine starts. He was the first Indiana quarterback to pass for 300 yards in a debut since Antwaan Randle El in 1998.[13] On the season, he completed 235-of-426 passes for 2,312 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

On November 29. 2022, Bazelak announced his decision to enter the transfer portal again.[14]

Bowling Green

On January 13, 2023, Bazelak announced via his personal Twitter that he would be transferring to play for the Bowling Green State University Falcons. [15]

In his first start with the Falcons, he threw three interceptions in a loss against Liberty. The Following week against Eastern Illinois he started the game 12-of-12 passing for 163 yards and one touchdown before his first incompletion, helping lead the Falcons to victory.[16] He missed the following game against Michigan with a leg injury.[17] On September 30, Bazelek led the Falcons to a 38–27 upset victory against Georgia Tech where he threw his 40th career touchdown pass. Against Minnesota in the Quick Lane Bowl, Bazelak completed 21 passes on 36 attempts for 221 yards and a score while also rushing for a touchdown. Bazelak finished the 2023 season throwing for 2,312 yards and recording 14 total touchdowns.

On December 6, Bazelak announced on his personal Instagram page that he would use his final year of eligibility to return to Bowling Green with hopes of winning a MAC Championship.[18]

Statistics

Season Games Passing Rushing
GP GS Record Cmp Att Pct Yds Avg TD INT Rtg Att Yds Avg TD
Missouri Tigers
2019 3 1 1–0 15 21 71.4 144 6.9 0 0 129.0 7 2 0.3 0
2020 10 8 5–3 218 324 67.3 2,366 7.3 7 6 132.0 44 20 0.5 2
2021 11 11 6–5 246 377 65.3 2,548 6.8 16 11 130.2 33 −23 −0.7 0
Indiana Hoosiers
2022 10 9 3–6 235 426 55.2 2,312 5.4 13 10 106.1 47 −160 −3.4 1
Bowling Green Falcons
2023 11 11 6–5 169 279 60.6 1,930 6.9 12 7 128.6 44 −82 −1.9 2
Career 45 40 21–19 883 1,427 61.9 9,300 6.5 48 34 123.0 175 -243 -1.4 5

Personal life

Bazelak's father, Len Bazelak, played college basketball at Dartmouth and holds the school's record for career three-point percentage.[19]

References

  1. ^ Pendleton, Marc (February 8, 2019). "Alter QB good on pledge to play football at Missouri". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  2. ^ "MISSOURI SIGNING PROFILE: QB Connor Bazelak". Columbia Daily Tribune. December 19, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  3. ^ Durando, Bennett (December 17, 2020). "Memories of Mizzou's Bazelak in the wishbone offense that shaped him". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  4. ^ Hartman, Marcus (June 18, 2018). "Alter's Connor Bazelak, top QB in Ohio, announces his college decision". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  5. ^ Matter, Dave (December 2, 2019). "Mizzou QB Bazelak suffered torn ACL in finale". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  6. ^ "What we know about Mizzou's tightly guarded quarterback battle: not much, but something". The Kansas City Star. September 8, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  7. ^ Baugh, Peter (October 7, 2020). "'It's his opportunity': Missouri makes change, naming QB Connor Bazelak starter". The Athletic. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  8. ^ "With no competition, Bazelak is embracing role of second-year starter". Columbia Missourian. February 26, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  9. ^ Mullen, Tony (July 21, 2021). "Mizzou QB Bazelak named to O'Brien watch list". KRCG.com. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  10. ^ "Hochman: A look at Mizzou quarterback Connor Bazelak's inner fire and outer calm". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. August 7, 2021.
  11. ^ "Mizzou starting QB Bazelak enters transfer portal". December 23, 2021.
  12. ^ "Ex-Mizzou QB Bazelak joins Hoosiers out of portal". January 6, 2022.
  13. ^ "Alter grad shows poise on final drive in first game at Indiana". September 3, 2022.
  14. ^ "Indiana Quarterback Connor Bazelak Enters Transfer Portal". November 29, 2022.
  15. ^ "Former Indiana, Missouri QB Bazelak commits to BGSU". January 13, 2023.
  16. ^ "QB Bazelak BGSU football bonces back from disastrous opener". January 7, 2023.
  17. ^ "Bowling Green has multiple players carted off field during game at Michigan". September 16, 2023.
  18. ^ "Connor Bazelak Instagram post". December 6, 2023.
  19. ^ "Mizzou's new QB commit out to prove his worth". The Examiner. June 22, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2021.

External links

Missouri Tigers starting quarterbacks
Indiana Hoosiers starting quarterbacks
Bowling Green Falcons starting quarterbacks
Categories