Bessinger flipped his verbal commitment to Iowa from Boise State earlier this month, and cemented his decision to the Big Ten over five other Power 4 offers, including BYU.

Visiting campus in Iowa City, Bessinger attended Iowa’s 41-3, Week 8 win over Minnesota on Oct. 24. That trip ultimately swayed the four-star quarterback to the Hawkeyes with the Utah native changing his commitment to Iowa two weeks later.

“It’s a sigh of relief,” Bessinger said. “When I was committed to Boise, we started getting a few more offers and stuff, and my dad, he was like, ‘We have all these opportunities and stuff, we’ve got to go check some of them out.’ Went to Iowa on the visit and just fell in love with the place.”

Bessinger initially committed to Boise State last spring, and held onto those plans for much of his senior football season. Iowa’s offer came at an intriguing time, and Bessinger’s father, Chad, credits his son with handling the process with maturity.

“Tradon’s always been a pretty chill kid,” Chad Bessinger said. “I think that’s probably why he’s a pretty good quarterback because he doesn’t get too up, he doesn’t get too down. He’s pretty even-keeled. I think his mom and dad that were more uptight about everything (but) I think after he made that Iowa visit, came back home and thought a lot about it, it just became the best situation for him and ultimately, that’s why he chose it.”

Wrapping his 27th season as head coach, Kirk Ferentz (under contract through 2029) led Iowa to an 8-4 finish last Friday with a 40-16 win at Nebraska.

The second-year offense under Tim Lester is averaging 28.9 points per game with 3,782 total yards as the Hawkeyes await their bowl game assignment.

“I think it’s really impressive what he’s doing,” Bessinger said of Ferentz. “I know people are going to say they’re a run school and stuff, but their new OC, he’s got a plan and stuff and I’m excited for it.”

Bessinger set a new state-record 333 completions (previously held by Lehi’s Cammon Cooper with 331) for 4,313 yards, 53 touchdowns and four interceptions in his senior campaign.

He’d complete 40 passes for 327 yards and three touchdowns in a season-ending, 41-38 loss at home to Lone Peak in the 6A state quarterfinals. Davis finished the year 10-2 as region champs for the second time under fifth-year coach Scott Peery.

Peery joined Bessinger and his family on Wednesday morning to share the moment.

“Watching his storied career for three years and watching his dreams come true right in front of us, it’s a great feeling,” Peery said.

Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.