Missouri starting QB Connor Bazelak to pursue transfer

Another experienced quarterback has hit the transfer market.

Connor Bazelak, who spent the past two seasons as Missouri’s starting quarterback, announced on Thursday that he will pursue other options. Bazelak was recruited to Missouri by former head coach Barry Odom, who was let go after the 2019 season. He made one start during his redshirt year and then became the team’s starter in 2020, earning SEC co-freshman of the year honors.

This season, Bazelak threw for 2,548 yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Over his three years at Mizzou, he totaled 5,058 yards, 23 touchdowns and 17 interceptions while completing 66.3% of his throws.

The news of Bazelak’s transfer comes a day after Missouri lost to Army in the Armed Forces Bowl. Bazelak did not play in the game as Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz decided to go with redshirt freshman Brady Cook instead.

Cook threw for 238 yards and a touchdown and also added 53 yards and a score on the ground, but Army ended up winning the game 24-22 on a last-second field goal.

In a statement, Bazelak said he has been thinking about transferring for several weeks. Before entering the transfer portal, he said he wanted to be available to play in the bowl game.

There has been plenty of movement among quarterbacks already since the regular season ended. Bazelak becomes one of the most-experienced quarterbacks available. Other quarterbacks with starting experience remaining in the portal include Braxton Burmeister (Virginia Tech), Zach Calzada (Texas A&M), Casey Thompson (Texas) and Jack Plummer (Purdue).

Others like Dillon Gabriel (UCLA), Bo Nix (Oregon), Kedon Slovis (Pitt), Max Johnson (Texas A&M), Spencer Rattler (South Carolina), Quinn Ewers (Texas) and Adrian Martinez (Kansas State), among others, have already chosen their next school.