Henderson spent most of last season backing up Rypien once Cord went down, Smith is coming off a redshirt year, and Bennett and Bachmeier both enrolled early to get a head start on their collegiate careers. If the spring was any indication, Bachmeier may be Cord’s stiffest competition for the starting job.

The headliner of Boise State’s 2019 recruiting class, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Bachmeier made such a strong impression in his first spring with the Broncos that he ended up splitting first-team reps with Henderson. The four-star prospect was ranked by 247Sports as the nation’s No. 6 pro-style quarterback coming out of the California prep ranks.

There are other significant pieces Boise State has to replace, too.

The Broncos have to find another go-to running back with Alexander Mattison off to the NFL. Mattison was a workhorse for the Broncos as the MW’s leading rusher, but Robert Mahone and Andrew Van Buren, who combined for 66 carries last season, return to run behind an offensive line that returns all five starters.

They’re also losing their top two receivers in Sean Modster and A.J. Richardson, but they’re not exactly green out wide. John Hightower, CT Thomas and Akilian Butler are all back after combining for 97 catches and 11 touchdown receptions a season ago.