A week after visiting Mizzou, this class of 2019 quarterback committed to the Tigers

Connor Bazelak, a class of 2019 quarterback, took an official visit to Missouri last weekend and left Columbia with a “gut feeling” that he wanted to play for the Tigers. But he wanted to feel more certain.

So Bazelak — from Dayton, Ohio — made his second unofficial visit to another school he was considering, North Carolina. And as he left the Tar Heels and headed home on Sunday, his football future became clearer: He committed to Mizzou.

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound quarterback told The Star on Sunday evening that he ultimately picked Missouri over North Carolina and Duke, but he had a number of other Power Five scholarship offers, including ones from Georgia, Kentucky and Vanderbilt.

Bazelak is the fourth player from the class of 2019 to commit to MU, along with offensive lineman Jack Buford, athlete Anthony Watkins and defensive back Aidan Harrison. He said the pro-style scheme that first-year offensive coordinator Derek Dooley is implementing, as well as the opportunity to succeed rising senior Drew Lock, were key factors in his decision.

“They’re kind of looking for a guy coming in after Drew,” Bazelak said. “It’s pretty attractive to maybe come in, get an opportunity to play early, but obviously still compete.”

Rivals ranks Bazelak as the class of 2019’s No. 18 pro-style quarterback in the country, while 247 Sports lists him as the No. 20 player at his position. He said he spoke mostly to Dooley during the recruiting process, and the offensive coordinator was the first MU coach he called once he decided to commit.

“They throw the ball around a lot,” Bazelak said of the offensive attack Dooley pitched to him. “It should be good for my development toward the NFL.”

Bazelak has not taken an official visit to any school other than Missouri. He is not sure whether he will graduate from high school in the winter and enroll early at MU for spring practices.

“The next decision that I’ll have to make,” he said.

This story was originally published June 17, 2018 at 6:40 PM with the headline "A week after visiting Mizzou, this class of 2019 quarterback committed to the Tigers."