Broncos Add Talented QB To 2026 | Tradon Bessinger
Article By Chris Van Sickle
The Commitment Story
Earlier this week, Boise State added another promising talent to its 2026 recruiting class with the commitment of quarterback Tradon Bessinger from Davis High School in Kaysville, Utah. Tradon was kind enough to sit down for a conversation and allow me to pick his brain about his commitment to Boise State and how he sees his future unfolding.
The 6-foot-5, 205-pound signal-caller (yes, he confirmed with me, he’s a legit 6’5”) announced his commitment just days after taking his official visit to Boise State’s campus and getting that all-important one-on-one time with coaches, as well as allowing the player and his family to tour Boise’s campus and facilities. Tradon, who was offered a scholarship by Boise State back in April, told me he did not plan on committing during his visit. But sometimes plans change. After his tour and meetings with the coaches, Tradon returned to his hotel with his parents, where he told them he wanted to be a Bronco. Boise was home.
Tradon, who had offers from the likes of Appalachian State, Hawaii, Penn, and UMass, told me that the family atmosphere and winning culture were what stood out about Boise State. He reports that he has a close bond with both QB coach Zak Hill and Offensive Coordinator Nate Potter.
On his visit, Tradon was able to meet with current BSU starting signal-caller and fellow Utahn, Maddux Madsen. Tradon said they hit it off, and he expressed how excited he is to learn from Maddux during his time there. Tradon expects to redshirt his first season on campus and soak in all he can from what will be an extremely experienced Maddux Madsen.
For those who follow Boise State recruiting, particularly QB recruitment, this season has been a tad different. Boise State usually signs only one quarterback. This season, for unknown reasons, they’ve decided to sign two quarterbacks in this class. Bessinger joins Bryson Beaver, another quarterback commit from Vista Murrieta High School in California. Tradon and Bryson recently met at the Elite 11 quarterback competition, and Tradon reports that Bryson texted him congratulations after he announced his commitment.
Important Note: The closest thing to “breaking news” from my conversation is that Tradon disclosed he will be graduating early and enrolling at Boise State in time for spring camp. It is my understanding that Bryson Beaver also intends to enroll for spring camp. It cannot be overstated how much getting these young men in for spring camp will help them prepare for their true freshman season and pay huge dividends in their future.
The Player
Tradon will be a three-year starter at Davis High School. His junior season showcased his potential as a top-tier quarterback. He completed 242 of 373 passes (64.9%) for 3,674 yards, throwing 46 touchdowns against just five interceptions, earning him First-Team All-State honors.
But if you’re like me, you can’t just see statistics and be sold. You need to turn on the tape and evaluate the player’s skill set for yourself.
Turn on his tape, and several aspects of Tradon’s game stand out:
· Athleticism: Tradon’s ability to improvise outside the pocket and make throws on the run is impressive. Quarterbacks as tall as Tradon can sometimes struggle with this.
· Pocket Presence/Footwork: Tradon shows great ability to step into his throws, not solely relying on arm talent to get the ball where it needs to go. He steps up in the pocket well and has what I would describe as “easy power” on his throws. He has a very smooth release.
· Vision: An underrated aspect of quarterbacking is the player’s ability to not just scramble but also keep his eyes downfield, rather than tucking his head and running. Some of Tradon’s best highlights are throws where he has open field in front of him, could run for a gain, but instead keeps his eyes downfield and completes impressive longer passes, often for touchdowns.
· Smarts/Experience: I love seeing players offered by Ivy League schools. It means they have their academics in check. Tradon boasts a 4.0 GPA (you cannot go above 4.0 in Utah). Being a three-year starter in a talented Utah high school football league will help make the jump in competition at the college level less abrupt.
Bessinger checks a lot of boxes you like to see in a future college quarterback. I appreciate that he understands he will likely redshirt as well. In this day and age of NIL and the transfer portal, players can get hung up on playing right away. The best thing that can happen for Bessinger is to come in and get a season to learn and develop under Maddux Madsen and Zak Hill.
The Boise State quarterback room has an extremely bright future with the likes of Tradon Bessinger and Bryson Beaver.