Connor Bazelak (born September 22, 2000) is an American college football quarterback for the Bowling Green Falcons. He previously played for the Missouri Tigers and the Indiana Hoosiers.
| Bowling Green Falcons – No. 7 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Quarterback |
| Class |  Senior |
| Major | Liberal studies |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | September 22, 2000 Dayton, Ohio, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| Career history | |
| College |
|
| Bowl games | |
| High school | Archbishop Alter (Kettering, Ohio) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Early life
editBazelak 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
editMissouri
editBazelak 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
editOn January 6, 2022, Bazelak announced he would be transferring to play for the Indiana Hoosiers.[12]
In week 1, Bazelak threw a game winning touchdown pass with under thirty seconds remaining in the 23–20 victory against Illinois. He became the first Indiana quarterback to pass for 300 yards in a debut since Antwaan Randle El in 1998.[13] In week 3, he threw for a season high 364 yards on 33–55 attempts and two touchdowns against Western Kentucky. On September 24, Bazelak set an Indiana record with 66 pass attempts against Cincinnati. For the Hoosiers, Bazelak appeared in 10 games with nine starts. 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
editOn January 13, 2023, Bazelak announced via his personal Twitter that he would be transferring to play for the Bowling Green 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 1,935 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]
In week two, Bazelak threw his 50th collegiate touchdown pass in a near upset against Penn State.[19] Bazelak surpassed 10,000 career passing yards when he threw for 303 yards and two touchdowns in a loss against Old Dominion.[20] In week seven against Northern Illinois Bazelak became the 41st player in FBS history with 1,000 career completions.[21] The following week against Kent State, Bazelak threw for a season high 313 yards and was 23-of-27 passing. His completion percentage of 85.2 set a single game program record for a quarterback with 20 plus attempts.[22]
Statistics
edit| 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 | 132.1 | 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 | 168 | 278 | 60.6 | 1,935 | 7.0 | 12 | 7 | 128.1 | 44 | −82 | −1.9 | 2 |
| 2024 | 10 | 10 | 6–4 | 193 | 283 | 68.2 | 2,198 | 7.8 | 13 | 4 | 145.8 | 33 | −41 | −1.2 | 2 |
| Career | 55 | 50 | 27–23 | 1,075 | 1,709 | 62.9 | 11,503 | 6.7 | 61 | 38 | 126.8 | 208 | −284 | −1.2 | 7 |
Personal life
editBazelak's father, Len Bazelak, played college basketball at Dartmouth and holds the school's record for career three-point percentage.[23]
References
edit- ^ Pendleton, Marc (February 8, 2019). "Alter QB good on pledge to play football at Missouri". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ^ "MISSOURI SIGNING PROFILE: QB Connor Bazelak". Columbia Daily Tribune. December 19, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Hartman, Marcus (June 18, 2018). "Alter's Connor Bazelak, top QB in Ohio, announces his college decision". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ Matter, Dave (December 2, 2019). "Mizzou QB Bazelak suffered torn ACL in finale". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Baugh, Peter (October 7, 2020). "'It's his opportunity': Missouri makes change, naming QB Connor Bazelak starter". The Athletic. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ "With no competition, Bazelak is embracing role of second-year starter". Columbia Missourian. February 26, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ Mullen, Tony (July 21, 2021). "Mizzou QB Bazelak named to O'Brien watch list". KRCG.com. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- ^ "Hochman: A look at Mizzou quarterback Connor Bazelak's inner fire and outer calm". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. August 7, 2021.
- ^ "Mizzou starting QB Bazelak enters transfer portal". December 23, 2021.
- ^ "Ex-Mizzou QB Bazelak joins Hoosiers out of portal". January 6, 2022.
- ^ "Alter grad shows poise on final drive in first game at Indiana". September 3, 2022.
- ^ "Indiana Quarterback Connor Bazelak Enters Transfer Portal". November 29, 2022.
- ^ "Former Indiana, Missouri QB Bazelak commits to BGSU". January 13, 2023.
- ^ "QB Bazelak BGSU football bonces back from disastrous opener". January 7, 2023.
- ^ "Bowling Green has multiple players carted off field during game at Michigan". September 16, 2023.
- ^ "Connor Bazelak Instagram post". December 6, 2023.
- ^ "Falcons Challenge No. 8 Penn State In 34-27 Final". bgsufalcons.com. Bowling Green. September 7, 2024. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ "Falcons Fall to ODU, 30-27". bgsufalcons.com. Bowling Green. September 28, 2024. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ "BGSU Falls To Northern Illinois, 17-7". October 13, 2024.
- ^ "Falcons Shut Down the Flashes, 27-6". bgsufalcons.com. Bowling Green. October 19, 2024. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ "Mizzou's new QB commit out to prove his worth". The Examiner. June 22, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2021.