Nooksack Valley High School is not exactly on the beaten path for college football recruiters.
The tiny Washington 1A high school pressed right up against the Canadian border is home to 650 students, most of who hail from Sumas or Everson. Getting attention from Division I football programs, even if you’re a 6-foot-4 quarterback with a rocket arm, is not easy.
Casey Bauman learned this first hand during his junior year. Despite throwing for 2,787 yards and 24 touchdowns last fall, the visitors from college coaches were few and far between.
“I go to a little small high school so it’s hard to get recruited and seen at the high school,” Bauman said in an interview with Skylne Sports in July. “A few little schools, I think there was one FBS school that came to the high school, but not many. They don’t know much about me and they don’t know who I am. Everyone just says, ‘Come to our camps.’”
Go to the camps is exactly what Bauman did. He and his dad loaded up the car and went on a road trip around the West, hitting the summer circuit that included stops at many Division I camps. The Baumans stopped in Boise, Idaho and Laramie, Wyoming before hitting Moscow. After performing well for Idaho’s head coaches, Bauman received his first D-I offer.
Bauman hadn’t really been talking to Montana State before that road trip. He’d been in contact with MSU recruiting liaison Cole Moore but Bauman had never met any member of MSU’s coaching staff before stepping on Montana State’s campus in June for individual camp.
“They didn’t really know who I was,” Bauman said of the Bobcat coaching staff. “There were a few other quarterbacks they’d been talking to who were there and that they really liked. I’ve always been the under-recruited guy and I love to compete. I came in and competed and I felt like I did a lot of things well. I think I have good arm strength, a pretty big arm. I also helped myself with my decision making. It just went well.”
Bauman left Bozeman with his second Division I offer in hand. Three weeks later, Bauman verbally committed to sign with the Bobcats in February of 2018.
“I wanted to get it over with before my senior season because I just wanted to focus on this fall with all my friends, trying to make this run together,” Bauman said. “It definitely takes that weight off my shoulders and I can just play ball. I don’t have to worry about anything else.
“Where I’m from, there are a lot of outdoors activities. My family loves to hike. We visited Bozeman twice and we love the town, the city and the area. From everyone I’ve heard it’s so great and there’s so much stuff to do. I really like the area, Bozeman is gorgeous and the campus is awesome. It just seemed like a perfect fit for me.”
Bauman’s courtship by Montana State has been as rapid as his rise from small-school prospect to 3-star recruit. Last week, he attended the Northwest 9 Elite QB camp and was ranked as the No. 2 overall quarterback prospect in the entire state of Washington.
The Baumans stopped in Missoula for Griz individual camp and received good feedback from coaches. But JSerra quarterback Matt Robinson and Eureka QB Garrett Graves committed shortly thereafter, so an offer from the Griz never came.
Since earning his offer from and giving his commitment to Montana State, Bauman has done his due diligence to get to know MSU head coach Jeff Choate, offensive coordinator Brian Armstrong and quarterbacks’ coach DeNarius McGhee.
After his initial visit to Bozeman, Bauman made another trip to check out the campus. McGhee gave the family a full tour and began to build a rapport with Bauman’s parents as well.
“My family is building a really good relationship with him,” Bauman said. “Him and my mom and dad text back and forth. (McGhee) gave us a tour last weekend when we were there and talked to us the weekend when they offered me at camp. He’s been pretty great. My family really likes him. We are excited to work with him.”
During his second trek to Bozeman, Bauman met several of his future teammates, including Tucker Rovig. The 6-foot-5 true freshman quarterback is a similar style of field general as Bauman, an athletic, strong-armed pro-style QB.
If Bauman is to develop into MSU’s quarterback of the future, Rovig will likely stand in his way. If not, Bauman, who also starts at outside linebacker at Nooksack Valley, is more than willing to play other positions.
“At camp, they had me play linebacker because I’m so long and big,” Bauman said. “They wanted me to give them a look. I’m definitely going in as a quarterback, that will be my position but for some reason that doesn’t pan out or something happens, I’m more than happy to transition into a different position. Whatever can make the team better.”
Bauman’s star has risen as meteorically as any prospect in the Evergreen State. His decision to commit to Montana State clears his mind as he prepares for his senior year. The fulfillment of a dream and the sense of relief in making the decision resonate with the talented gunslinger.
“I don’t really know how to put it into words,” Bauman said. “It’s been a dream forever for me. For me coming out of a tiny town, no one really does that. That’s not really a thing from my town. It’s just crazy. I’m just so thankful for everything, my opportunities and I just can’t wait.”
