In a perfect AI world, if you needed to find a starting college quarterback from a decent stock of candidates, you could place them on a gurney, attach electrodes to their bodies — specifically the noggins — and program them.
But that isn't our world, yet.
At BYU , the offensive coordinator has three QBs who have potential. Two have played Division I football and the third is a freshman. All were stars in high school, throwing for a combined 16,351 yards and 177 touchdowns.
Together, they are prototypical BYU-type athletes. They are quotable and charismatic. Personality wise, they're somewhere between Wally in "Leave it to Beaver," and casting from "Top Gun: Maverick."
Today, the on-demand QB tool box is deep.
Call it QB skills: timing, accuracy, decision making, reading defenses, arm strength, delivery, quick release, a full catalog of throws.
And that's not to mention a QB's aura: ability to lead, inspire confidence, take charge in a huddle, have knowledge of the duties and roles of 10 other players in a given play, and a tangible "it" factor.
Add into that the innate ability to improvise, extend plays, pocket presence, sense pressure, be attentive to the "clock countdown" in your head, that second-ticking expiring amount of time that screams that the bell rang and you either throw or take off like a dragster.
And when a QB runs, he's got to deploy natural instincts that find pathways, envision blockers, know what angles to take, know holes that are present or will be.
It's not a perfect science, but for now, these are all traits that electrode therapy can't program.
This is the place Aaron Roderick finds himself in as he divvies out first-team reps to McCae Hillstead , Treyson Bourguet and Bear Bachmeier .
Roderick is throwing all of them into the fire with first-team personnel around them to see which one more consistently and fully has all these variables surface. The guy who achieves the greatest gross production should win.
But the two most important traits a QB can have is to (a) move the chains and score, and (b) gain the trust of teammates and coaches.
This is what Roderick's mission of discovery is all about. And he'll take his time.
"No, there is no deadline on it — but the sooner the better. I would prefer not to be naming the starter on game day," said Roderick on Friday.
Roderick is no stranger to how this works, how decisions are to be made as he keeps the candidates engaged and competitive.
"We've done it before, and we have a good process that we go through," he said. "We are going to work through it, and the whole team's going to watch it happen, and so whenever that starter is named, everybody on the team will know, like we just watched it happen on the field. And so we'll just keep working our way through it, just as we've done in the past. We've been through this before, and we'll do it again."
In other words, choosing QB1 won't be done this week or the next. But it won't go up until game day. Roderick knows that through this process, QB1 will emerge, and his teammates will witness it.
You can't rush that process.
Yet, it's a Catch-22 of sorts. The sooner QB1 is named, the quicker he can absorb the majority of reps, crucial in preparing chemistry, timing, and confidence amongst the offensive players.
From limited viewing of practices, it appears all three have arm strength. They are all mobile enough. Hillstead is shifty. Bourguet is accurate deep. Bachmeier, the most highly recruited and rated amongst the three, surprisingly knows the playbook well enough to push the other two with his athleticism.
Pass game coordinator Fesi Sitake broke the three QBs down with KBYUtv.
Western Michigan transfer QB Treyson Bourguet talks to teammates during a spring practice March 5, 2025, in Provo. | Nate Edwards, BYU Photo
"Bourguet is a natural leader," Sitake said. "He's very charismatic and not afraid to be vocal. He's got everything in his head. He's solid at everything.
"Bear is someone who I think the sky is the limit. He's No. 47 out there and looks like a linebacker. He's so physical," he continued. "It's easy to sleep on his ability to throw the ball and his athleticism; that's part of the reason he wears that (47) to be deceptive. Personally, I think he had the best day out there (Friday) but I have to look at film. He's got a lot of natural.
BYU QB Bear Bachmeier throws a pass during the opening day of fall camp Wednesday, July 30, 2025. | Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo
"McCae is the most dynamic of the three. He has a real good deep ball, which is important in our offense to be explosive."
Hillstead and Bourguet have played at this level. Bachmeier is catching up. It has helped that he's digested BYU's entire offensive play book in a matter of months.
This QB deal is always the headliner at BYU, and this battle will remain the focal point of fall camp. Roderick said he'll keep giving the same answer as it will likely be brought up again and again in coming days.
"I don't envy A-Rod for the decision he's going to have to make," said Sitake.
McCae Hillstead prepares to throw a pass during the first day of fall camp in Provo, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. | Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo
Meanwhile, Roderick confirmed that former Timpview running back Pokaiaua Haunga will not be with the team this season for personal reasons. Haunga played in five games as a freshman in 2024 and had 18 carries for 81 yards. He also caught five passes for 43 yards.
Hopefully, BYU will have positive results from an eligibility appeal to the NCAA on running back Hinckley Ropati. Ropati is seeking an additional season due to injuries and junior college participation. Roderick said as far as he knows, Ropati has a good case for an extra year, and he would love to get him on the field for 2025.
While Roderick's QB1 puzzle is being sorted out, he could really use the decision on Ropati's situation to go his way.
This is fall camp chronicles at its best.
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake huddles up the players during the second day of fall camp in Provo, Thursday, July 31, 2025. | Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo
