COMMENTARY — Some really BIG BYU football news today with the Cougars all time rushing quarterback coming back to BYU for another year. I’m sure that by now many, if not all, BYU football fans have heard that Taysom Hill will be returning to BYU for another season. This was revealed via his personal twitter account Tuesday afternoon.
To most Cougars fans this will bring a rush of mixed emotions! Many BYU fans will be extremely excited and welcoming while the team solidifies competition and depth at the QB spot. To others, this may cloud their opinion of what we watched unfold with Tanner Mangum’s development from last year.
What do you do with two great college QBs on your roster? On one hand, after watching Tanner Mangum step up in for the injured Hill during the Nebraska game, it’s his job to lose in most people’s eyes. Regardless of whatever side of the fence you stand on, as a BYU fan this is great news. Really, the grass on both sides of the fence is really green.
With BYU’s 2016 schedule being arguably the toughest in school history, the Cougars will need all the depth and help they can get this year.
If your not so hot on Taysom coming back, ask yourself this: Would you rather watch someone of his athletic caliber leave BYU and go to Michigan or Virginia to play? This man can play ball anywhere and very easily could adjust to many different positions for most top Division 1 programs.
For those still negative on the idea, there’s this little thing called loyalty.
Hill showed it by deciding to return, even with a new coaching staff. So how could BYU then tell someone who has literally put his body on the line every year for the program that he does not deserve to finish and earn another chance to compete for his job. I have been a big fan of Taysom Hill since his freshman year — even more so as we’ve watched him overcome what many athletes couldn’t overcome. This guy has come back three times now off what would have been career-ending injuries for many others.
He deserves to go out on top and play his college career out as a BYU Cougar.
BYU coaches Kalani Sitaki and offensive coordinator Ty Detmer celebrated as if they had just won a 5-star recruit. Rightfully so. We celebrate these high school kids signing without knowing if they’ll ever even get on the field and be able to compete. Hill, we know, is a major stud who will have an impact on any game he plays in.
Unfortunately, he will only have one last year to prove he can stay healthy and contribute to this program that is gaining momentum daily. Looking at this from a coach’s perspective, it would have to be icing on the cake of a great off-season full of some incredible talent signing to play at BYU.
I really do believe that Mangum will have to be beat Hill to take the starting spot, but this will give the new coaching staff more depth and tools in their arsenal to keep defenses on their toes. You literally will have the best of both worlds: A top rated passing QB in Mangum and one that can run and throw in Hill.
I can’t wait to see these two QBs compete and both contribute to the Cougars rejuvenated program this season. May the best man win and the second best man still get some playing time!!
Blue Blood is a sports column written by former BYU All-American Scott Young. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of St. George News.
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