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PROVO - After last season's 40-21 win over the Texas Longhorns, BYU's Taysom Hill-led offense is garnering a great deal of attention heading into this Saturday's game rematch in Austin.
2013's breakout performance saw the Cougars rack up 679 total yards of offense, including a team-record 550 rushing yards, in a game offensive coordinator Robert Anae called an early turning point in the season.
"We grew as a team last year against Texas and I hope to do so this year as well," said Anae on Wednesday after the Cougars' morning practice.
Regarding what went particularly right against the Longhorns in Provo--and what it will take at Texas--Anae said it rather simply.
"Points are the biggest team emphasis we have on offense," said Anae. "The quicker we can score the better for the team; the more we can score the better for the team."
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All eyes will be on Hill after his 259-yard, three-touchdown rushing output against the Longhorns. For his part, the junior QB professes not to feel any added pressure on Texas' home turf.
When asked if he feels an extra target on his back this week Hill answered "No, it's football and every quarterback's got a target on his back."
"I'm taking it one day at a time so as we go out to practice I make sure I get the most out of it as I do there, and when we come to game time I'll take it one play at a time," Hill finished.
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Protection for Hill from the offensive line will be key this week and freshman Ului Lapuaho feels confident in his quarterback knowing Hill trusts his (Lapuaho's) abilities too.
Speaking of a pregame conversation Lapuaho had with Hill before last week's win at Connecticut, Lapuaho said "I asked Taysom before we went out, 'Taysom do you trust me,?' and he (said) I trust you."
Another one of Hill's freshman offensive linemen, center Tejan Koroma, who played at powerhouse Allen HS in Texas, shared his excitement for the opportunity to prove himself in front of his friends and family.
"I'm so excited, I can't even put it into words how excited I am to just be a part of that atmosphere," said Koroma.
When asked if he cheered for Texas growing up Koroma said he bounced back and forth between cheering for Texas and Texas A&M but was also quick to say he is now "one-hundred percent" for BYU.
