BYU linebacker concerns could spell more time for Corner Canyon 4-star that got away

PROVO — Harrison Taggart let them know what they wanted to hear.

As the former Corner Canyon all-time leading tackler moved from Oregon to BYU via the transfer portal, the 6-foot-1, 216-pound boomstick told the Cougars' staff that he would play wherever they wanted — or needed — him to play. As long as he got on the field — defense, offense or special teams — the freshman would be happy after appearing in just 10 total snaps in three games with the Ducks in 2022.

"I love the coaches, and I told the coaches when I came here, I will be whatever you need me to be," Taggart said. "I'll be on the sidelines cheering up the crowd, if you need it. Just put me in the position. I didn't know what to expect. I just love the coaches. I love BYU, and I'm just grateful for the opportunity."

Four games into the 2023 season and Taggart has done just that — and may need to play even more.

Taggart is the primary backup to linebacker Ben Bywater, who exited the Cougars' 38-27 loss after favoring his shoulder. The status of the Cougars' leading tackler is "day-to-day" ahead of Friday night's kickoff against Cincinnati (8:15 p.m. MDT, ESPN), defensive coordinator Jay Hill said, as BYU performs several tests and examinations from their medical staff.

If Bywater isn't available — and there's cautious optimism that his injury won't keep him out long term — then more snaps will fall on Taggart, the former Weber State head coach confirmed.

"Obviously, (Bywater) is a great player, and I would love to have Ben out there," Hill said. "And if he doesn't, then Harrison Taggart has proven he's a great player as well, and he'll step in and play great."

If Taggart is needed to step in, he insists he'll be ready, though he also adds he hasn't been told if he'll start Friday night.

"It's nothing new," Taggart said. "Every single day you're playing like you're the (number) one. And coaches teach you that you should be better than the ones, in case somebody goes down. It's just business."

In addition to Bywater's injury concerns, Hill said linebacker Isaiah Glasker, who didn't play at Kansas, should return from an injury "after the bye week." Siale Esera and Ammon Hannemann could also be in line to make their season debuts against the Bearcats.

But with respect to both high-profile local recruits, all eyes will be on Taggart — the former four-star prospect whom the Cougars whiffed in recruiting — if Bywater is sidelined.

Taggart was a consensus top-40 linebacker nationally in high school who grew up in Draper and is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But even after schools like UCLA, Utah, Virginia, Northwestern and Vanderbilt offered him a scholarship, BYU never came calling.

So the Chargers' all-time leading tackler, who finished his prep career with 237 stops, 22 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two interceptions and 7.2 tackles per game, committed to Oregon. A few weeks before he signed, then-coach Mario Cristobal took the Miami job, but Taggart opted to give new coach Dan Lanning a shot.

After playing sparingly as a freshman, he entered the transfer portal April 27 and took a visit to his hometown university. On June 2, he made his commitment to new defensive coordinator Hill and incoming linebackers coach Justin Ena — and had his younger sister Madelynne announce it when she committed to the BYU track and field team as a hurdler.

Taggart has made an immediate impact, too.

The linebacker has played in all four games for the Cougars (3-1, 0-1 Big 12) in 2023, as a reserve on defense and on punt-return team. In those four games, Taggart has totaled three tackles and a quarterback hurry, and he also blocked a punt against Southern Utah.

He's just happy to be playing.

"I'm still doing all my special-teams things, and I'm excited," Taggart said. "But really, I'm going 100% on every single rep I get, whether it's on punt return or at linebacker."

In the Bearcats (2-2, 0-1 Big 12), Taggart and the defense will be tasked with containing quarterback Emori Jones and an offense that averages 488.0 yards and 30.8 points per game. The 6-foot-3, 212-pound transfer from Florida and Arizona State is a 62.1% passer who has thrown for 970 yards and seven touchdowns with five interceptions.

But Taggart says the Cougars are more eager than ever to improve on last week's loss and win the program's first conference game since 2010.

"I think we're more hungry than we've ever been," he said. "We're getting after it in practice; things are a lot more physical, we're more dialed in, coaches are a lot more intense making sure that we're locked in when we should be."

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