Turns out the rumors were actually half true.
Earlier in the week, several blog sites reported that a quarterback on the Stanford University roster was transferring to the University of Montana football program. Speculation ran rampant and two names were mentioned, both of which were incorrect.
On Thursday, the Missoulian learned from a source inside the Stanford program that it’s Adam Brzeczek who will become a Griz. He was listed as a 6-foot, 195-pound freshman walk-on in Stanford’s 2011 football media guide.
Although he has never thrown a pass in a college game, Brzeczek has impressive high school credentials. As a senior on the Queen Creek (Ariz.) High School team he threw for 2,238 yards and 24 touchdowns to go along with 13 rushing touchdowns.
Brzeczek has also shown himself to be a versatile athlete. He earned all-state honors as a punter in high school and lettered four years in baseball as a pitcher/outfielder. He stole 30 bases over the course of his junior and senior seasons.
A native of Winfield, Ill., Brzeczek has football bloodlines. His father, Michael, played at Augustana College and Benedictine University.
Two other Stanford quarterbacks were rumored to be leaving for UM. The Missoulian confirmed Thursday that freshman Dallas Lloyd and junior Robbie Picazo are staying put.
“I don’t know where the rumor started and he didn’t know anything about it,” Casey Lloyd said on behalf of his son, Dallas. “He’s perfectly happy at Stanford. He loves the football program and he’s enrolled in class.”
With the addition of Brzeczek, 19, Montana has three quarterbacks who have been through a season of college football. The others are Shay Smithwick-Hann of Kalispell, a 6-4 redshirt sophomore who threw three passes in a reserve role for Montana last season, and redshirt freshman Trent McKinney.
“This will be Shay’s third year with the program,” Montana coach Mick Delaney noted. “He’s an intelligent young man who understands the offense and has the insight to know exactly what we’re doing.”
The 21-year-old Smithwick-Hann will try to recapture the magic of his high school days when he threw for 1,900 yards and rushed for 722 as a senior at Glacier High.
The other quarterback on Montana’s active roster is true freshman Brady Gustafson. He is a 6-7 product of Billings West.
NCAA rules prohibit coaches from talking about transfers until practice starts and the player is enrolled. Delaney declined to comment when asked about a possible Stanford transfer on Wednesday.
The Grizzlies will report for fall camp on Sunday and a team meeting is slated for Monday night. The first official practice will be held on Tuesday at 2 p.m.

Nick Lockridge and Tom Kopacz contributed to this story. Bill Speltz can be reached at 523-5255 or bill.speltz@lee.net.