Aztecs (finally) get transfer quarterback Braxton Burmeister

Hardcore San Diego State football fans tracking the transfer of former Virginia Tech quarterback Braxton Burmeister the past two weeks can stop hitting refresh on their computers.

Burmeister has joined the Aztecs.

SDSU head coach Brady Hoke mentioned the quarterback’s transfer was official on a Tuesday morning television show, and the school followed later in the morning with a news release.

The Union-Tribune reported Jan. 17 that Burmeister was coming to SDSU, although at the time the 6-foot-1 quarterback said only that there was “mutual interest” between the parties.

Two days later Hoke announced five other transfers — offensive lineman Cade Bennett (from Oklahoma State), defensive lineman Deven Lamp (Tulsa), linebacker Cooper McDonald (Washington), tight end Mark Redman (Washington) and defensive lineman Justus Tavai (Hawaii) — but not Burmeister.

At the time, Hoke acknowledged SDSU still was targeting an experienced transfer quarterback, though by NCAA rules he could not say who that was until it was official.

Hoke did say that day, “We’re not going to wait around a whole lot. ... We’re going to wait maybe another day.”

Burmeister signed a grant-in-aid late last week. The document is nonbinding, however, so he needed to actually attend a class to make his enrollment official.

Hoke said during the television interview on KUSI that Burmeister joined his new teammates for a Tuesday morning workout.

Burmeister is a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility remaining. He arrives in time to join four other quarterbacks — returners Will Haskell and Jalen Mayden and incoming freshmen Liu Aumavae and Kyle Crum — competing to be SDSU’s starting quarterback. Spring practice begins Feb. 28.

Burmeister started all 12 regular season games for Virginia Tech in 2021, but missed the Hokies’ bowl game appearance when he went into the transfer portal.

Burmeister passed for 1,960 yards last season with 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. He completed 142 of 255 passes (55.7 percent), ranking 98th in the NCAA in completion percentage.

He also was the Hokies’ second-leading rusher, with 117 carries for 521 yards (4.5 ypc) and two touchdowns. Burmeister totaled more than 700 yards before removing losses for sacks. The highlight was a 71-yard run against Virginia.

Burmeister is a La Jolla Country Day graduate who set section career records for total yards (14,972), passing yards (11,512), passing touchdowns (127) and completions (853).

Burmeister committed to Arizona (twice) out of high school, but then attended Oregon (2017-18) before transferring to Virginia Tech, where he sat out the 2019 season per NCAA rule before playing the past two seasons.

He has appeared in 29 games, making 20 starts, which gives Burmeister far more experience than the others competing at the position.

Haskell, is a redshirt freshman who played briefly in three games in 2021. Mayden is a redshirt junior who played late in the 2021 Mountain West championship loss to Utah State. Mayden also appeared in three games in 2018 while at Mississippi State.

SDSU signed two high school quarterbacks — Aumavae from Provo (Utah) Timpview High and Crum from Norco High — during December’s early signing period. Both QBs enrolled early in order to participate in spring workouts.