‘I was pretty star-struck.’ Super Bowl-winning QB spends time at Boise State

Boise State quarterback Hank Bachmeier has met quite of few of his sports idols during his college career.

Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, who has spoken to the team twice during Bachmeier’s career, and Bo Jackson top his list, but he said meeting Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson on Monday ranks right up there.

“It was a big honor for all of us quarterbacks to speak to him and be around a true professional,” Bachmeier told the Idaho Statesman. “I was pretty star-struck. I took a lot of his words to heart, and the biggest thing I took away was how intentional and deliberate he was in everything he did.”

Wilson — a nine-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks, who traded him to Denver in March — was in Boise for an event with Alaska Airlines. Between appearances, he took time to meet with Boise State’s quarterbacks and speak to a group of players and coaches.

“He was big on what he let himself consume in terms of social media and the external influences that can kind of affect you,” Bachmeier said, “and he talked about speaking a championship language to yourself.”

Bachmeier said one of the most impressive things about Wilson’s career is how much he’s accomplished despite those who doubted him. The 5-foot-11 All-Pro was the shortest one in a group picture he took with the quarterbacks, especially when compared to 6-foot-6 redshirt freshman Taylen Green.

Bachmeier, who is the favorite to win the Broncos’ starting job for the fourth year in a row, isn’t the biggest quarterback, either. The 6-1, 210-pound senior said he has learned a lot from Wilson about overcoming doubters.

“He has the mindset to always overcome people saying that he could never do it,” Bachmeier said. “You can see it in his mentality to show people why he’s so great.”

Bachmeier is 18-7 as a starter. He posted career highs in completions (252), passing yards (3,079) and passing touchdowns (20) last season, and ranks in the top 10 at Boise State in career passing yards (6,108, No. 7) and career touchdown passes (35, No. 10).

The native of Murrieta, California, will have a choice to make at the end of the upcoming season. Will he see if he can land in the NFL or return for the extra year of eligibility the NCAA offered players because of COVID-19?

Whatever he decides, he knows he has amazing wisdom from Wilson to file away.

“When he walked in, he kind of took the air out of the room and everybody listened,” Bachmeier said. “He’s one of the best to ever play the game and definitely someone I aspire to be like.”

Bachmeier and most of Boise State’s returning players are back on campus for voluntary workouts. Freshmen will join them in July and fall camp is scheduled to begin in the first week of August. The Broncos open the 2022 season Sept. 3 at Oregon State.