Patrick Kinahan: BYU had better choose the right QB


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PROVO — As the competition plays out now in spring football practice and into August training camp, the BYU coaching staff had better make the correct decision.

To erase the awful memories of last season and get the program back in good standing, BYU desperately needs to improve at quarterback. Nothing else matters more than making the right call from among the several vying for the position.

Employment literally is riding on it. A repeat of last season could result in sweeping changes to the coaching staff, which went through an overhaul on offense after the program bottomed out at 4-9 mostly due to an embarrassing lack of ability to score points.

Nothing has been decided halfway through spring practice. The goal, according to passing game coordinator Aaron Roderick, is to cut down the competition to a reasonable number of three quarterbacks in addition to last season’s primary starter, Tanner Mangum, returning to full health after an injury in time for training camp.

With this much at stake, the coaching staff will play no favorites. Forget about loyalty, seniority or anything else.

May the best man win.

“I will play the best one,” said coach Kalani Sitake. “I don’t care what year (the player is), freshman or senior or whatever it is. The best one will play.”

Eventually, the guess here is the competition will become a two-man race between Beau Hoge and Zach Wilson. The fate of the offense could rest on a seldom-used junior or a freshman, whose only experience will have come in practice.

A concussion and toe injury have hindered Hoge’s college career, but his father, former NFL running back Merrill Hoge, said in an interview with 97.5-FM and 1280-AM The Zone that his son is healthy. Hoge showed enough athletic ability to believe he has a legitimate chance to win the job.

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Wilson is the wildcard, only two months removed from leaving Corner Canyon High School early to enroll at BYU and participate in spring practice. A former Boise State commit, Wilson can match talent with any quarterback in the program. As a senior, he passed for 2,986 yards and 24 touchdowns while also rushing for 752 yards.

BYU was fortunate to get Wilson, who may have committed to Utah — where his father played — had the Pac-12 school offered a scholarship. But the Utes were true to their pledge of staying with Jack Tuttle as the only quarterback the program signed for the class of 2018.

As some point, and it could be the upcoming season, Wilson will be BYU’s starting quarterback. Once he seizes the job, the competition for the starter may be closed for a while.

Even as Hoge and Wilson forge ahead, the race likely will remain open into training camp. A starter probably will be named at about the midway point between the start of practice and the first game.

“It is a close race,” Roderick said after the first spring scrimmage last week.

Two years ago, after coming off an impressive freshman season and only three months removed from a church mission, Mangum lost the competition for the starting job to senior Taysom Hill. Last year was basically a wasteful combination of injury and ineffectiveness.

At this time a year ago, Mangum and then-offensive coordinator Ty Detmer talked about the quarterback having a big season and then departing early for the NFL. The storyline has changed dramatically to being healthy enough — Magnum suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon last November — to compete in August.

Expecting to be fully cleared for training camp, Mangum is participating in throwing drills in spring practice. But despite having the most experience, he cannot be considered the favorite to start the first game against Arizona.

Out of desperation, BYU was forced to play Joe Critchlow last season. As a freshman, after committing while on his mission, Critchlow completed 54 percent of his passes and threw for 642 yards.


![Patrick Kinahan](http://img.ksl.com/slc/2634/263499/26349940\.jpg?filter=ksl/65x65)
About the Author: Patrick Kinahan ---------------------------------

Patrick is a radio host for 97.5/1280 The Zone and the Zone Sports Network. He, along with David James, are on the air Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

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