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There is one thing that BYU's new starting quarterback, Taysom Hill, has in common with the outgoing player at that position, Riley Nelson — confidence.
And that is pretty much the end of the comparison. While Nelson lacked arm strength, decision-making ability and was a turnover machine, he did exude leadership and confidence. That’s why coach Bronco Mendenhall installed him as the starter in the first place, which ultimately led to dividing the fan base and an overall disappointing season. That culminated in the firing of the offensive staff and a completely revamped offense under new offensive coordinator Robert Anae.
Hill has a different pedigree that should bring the fans and the program back together. While Nelson transferred from what was at the time a poor Utah State program, Hill had originally committed to Stanford of the Pac-12 before coming off his mission and deciding to go to BYU. Stanford is a perennial Top 10 program, not to mention one of the best academic institutions in the country. If the Cardinal saw fit to offer Hill a scholarship to be their future quarterback, it’s pretty clear the kid is the real deal.
BYU fans got a taste of that in the six games he played in for the injured Nelson last season before he inexplicably had his season end with a knee injury when a miscommunication from the coaches on the sideline resulted in him trying to run straight up the middle instead of taking a knee in a win over Utah State.
As for that knee, Hill told us on our radio show, Gunther and Graham on 1320 KFAN, it continues to get better.
“I can probably do 100 percent right now, but my doctor, he wants me to stay around 80 percent, and how you monitor that and how I am trying to monitor that is difficult,” said Hill. “But here in the next couple weeks I'll start to ramp it up and start to do everything, open it up and stride out and see how I feel.”
While Nelson’s decision-making was regularly questioned, including trying to run over 300-pound defensive linemen that led to a broken back, the mobile Hill knows he has to be smarter, realizing he’s not playing high school ball anymore.
“Yeah, for sure and I would say that has been the biggest difference, you know they are bigger and they are faster,” Hill said. “So I've learned and that's one of the things I have learned from my freshman season is there is no need to take the shots that I took last year. And obviously there is going to be a time and a place to go get the first and score the touchdown and do things like that, and I have the capability of doing it. I need to play 13 games rather than 6.”
Perhaps the biggest question mark on Hill going into next season is accuracy and whether he can throw the necessary routes and stand in the pocket without automatically running when his first read is covered like the past BYU quarterback.
“Yeah, I like throwing in the pocket and I think with this new offense and the new system going fast we have been able to do that more and more,” according to Hill. “And I love throwing to my outside receivers and we got some great receivers out there and we've done a great job. I would say I am probably most comfortable throwing on the run and where I have the option to either tuck it, get some yards myself or throw it up and make a play.”
On Wednesday, Mendenhall finally announced that Hill will be going into fall camp as the official starter. But well before that, Hill already believed that this is his team.
“I hope so and I think so, you know, and we have great camaraderie here with the guys and you know it will continue,” said Hill. “And I'll continue to push and work with the team this offseason, this spring and summer, and do the best I can to get us collectively as a group ready to go this fall.”
Confidence is a good thing. BYU fans just hope Hill is not a Nelson in all other aspects.
