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PROVO — There are 18 players on BYU's roster who will be honored on Senior Day this weekend against Fresno State.
Quarterback Taysom Hill is among those who will receive one of the traditional senior blankets prior to Saturday's 1 p.m. MST kickoff at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
But don't read too much into that, head coach Bronco Mendenhall said earlier this week. An official BYU statement read that school administrators "still don't know on Taysom" and his decision to return for another year, but they are simply making plans to honor his commitment to the program, either way.
When in doubt, the Cougars (7-3) can just award another blanket if Hill decides to return for another season.
"The best-case scenario for Taysom is we might award two," Mendenhall told members of the media Monday afternoon. "When in doubt, we'll award an extra blanket. If we aren't sure what they are going to do, we'll give them (a blanket), and if they come back, we'll give them another one."
Much has been written and said about Hill's forthcoming choice to return to BYU for another year, enter the NFL draft, or even transfer to another school. But the senior has not made a public decision, despite any potential reports to the contrary.
The head coach reconfirmed that he has not spoken with Hill regarding a decision to return to BYU, enter the NFL draft, graduate and retire from football, or even transfer. Mendenhall has repeatedly said he will respect Hill's wishes for his future.
That doesn't mean the former starting quarterback and one-time Heisman hopeful who suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury Week 1 against Nebraska isn't around the team, quarterbacks coach Jason Beck said. The Pocatello, Idaho, native has been mentoring freshmen quarterbacks Tanner Mangum, Beau Hoge and Koy Detmer Jr. on the sideline at multiple games this year.
"He's there to provide feedback and help the guys on the sideline during a game," Beck said. "He can let the guys know what he is seeing, but he gives a lot of encouragement. His biggest thing is being around the guys, and enjoying those interactions; the normal leadership he brings."
A former BYU quarterback, Beck said he hasn't spoken with Hill about a potential return and he hasn't even been asked about it as often as one might think.
The world of BYU football, then, awaits the same result of Hill's decision at the same time.
"I'm just approaching it as a normal Senior Day experience, and if he comes back, great; it's kind of Christmas," Beck said of Hill. "We'll see where it goes. But we want (Saturday) to be a special day for him, and to acknowledge what he's done for the program."
One senior not listed among the honorees for Saturday is defensive lineman Logan Taele. The former BYU walk-on who tried to earn a spot at linebacker before being cut, adding weight and remaking the team was left off BYU's official list of honorees, presumably because he plans to return for another season. Officially a senior, Taele could receive another year of eligibility after not playing two seasons ago.
"He's thinking about it, because he does have a year to come back," defensive line coach Steve Kaufusi said. "They (the NCAA) thought he played one year, but he didn't. I'm in his ear all the time, trying to put in my two cents. But I hope he comes back. We could really use him. We're looking to recruit a junior college kid. But if we can get Logan back, that's a bonus."
Other senior honorees Saturday include wide receivers Mitch Mathews, Kurt Henderson and Terenn Houk, running backs Nate Carter and Adam Hine, defensive linemen Bronson Kaufusi and Graham Rowley, linebackers Teu Kautai, Manoa Pikula and Jherremya Leuta-Douyere, offensive lineman Ryker Mathews, tight end Remington Peck, defensive back Michael Wadsworth and kicker Trevor Samson.
