Minnesota football hasn't landed a four-star quarterback recruit since 2009. P.J. Fleck is hoping that streak ends with 2019 prospect Hank Bachmeier.
Bachmeier is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound quarterback from Murietta, Calif., a city 80 miles southeast of Los Angeles. He is the fourth-ranked pro-style passer in the 2019 class (247Sports) and one of eight four-star players at his position, four of whom have already committed. And he carries 10 known offers, including Ole Miss, UCLA and Minnesota.
Bachmeier, who has family from Minnesota, took an unofficial visit — his fourth thus far (Boise State, Cal and Colorado) — over the weekend, two weeks after Fleck visited him in California. And though the Gophers lost their Big Ten opener to Maryland, he walked away impressed, raving about Fleck and offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kirk Ciarrocca.
"[I] loved the professional hospitality," he told HERO Sports. "Really related to Coach Kirk from a scheme standpoint . . . they showed me how I fit in."
Minnesota has been dogged by poor quarterback play for years and have never had a player throw for more than 3,000 yards or 25 touchdowns in a season. While their current starter, Conor Rhoda, a former walk-on, has been an upgrade from longtime starter Mitch Leidner, the fifth-year senior threw two interceptions in Saturday's loss.
MORE: The Top 50 CFB Quarterbacks: Where Are They From?
Bachmeier cited Fleck and the entire university as reasons for an early visit, saying he likes "what's brewing here."
"The program is a sleeping giant as Coach Fleck would say. I can see it. And I believe he will be successful at Minnesota in the future."
If he does commit and sign, he would be their highest-ranked quarterback ever and just their third top-150 recruit since 2005. Bachmeier did not confirm — or rule out — an official visit next year, instead saying it's too early to make those plans, but fans will love where the program sits on his priority list.
"I am strongly considering the Gophers," he said.
