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Dual-threat quarterbacks are all the rage in the NFL.
Cam Newton, RGIII, Russell Wilson, and Colin Kaepernick are the young guns that are currently tearing up the league, but Utah teams have produced their share of dual-threat play-callers, with more on the way.
The best of them all is easy, Steve Young.
Steve Young, BYU and 49ers
BYU senior season: 71% comp, 3,902 yds, 33 TD, 10 INT, 623 rush, 8 rush TD As a quarterback Steve Young ranks as BYU's eight all-time leading rusher with 1601 yards. As a senior, Young put up some staggering numbers, completing 71% of his passes, 3902 yards, 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also rushed for 623 yards on 102 carries for a 6.1 yard-per-carry average. At the next level, Young's 15-year career brought him a Hall-of-Fame induction in 2005. 4239 rushing yards, 5.9 yards-per-carry average and 43 rushing touchdowns cemented Young as one of the greatest mobile quarterbacks. His passing numbers are even more impressive. For his career he completed 64.3% of his passes, 33,124 passing yards and 232 touchdown passes. That is the good, now for the bad and the ugly.
Young suffered from seven diagnosed concussions and he retired prematurely after the 1999 season. From 1992 to 1998 Young was an All-Pro quarterback and in 1998 was 2nd team All-NFL. Alex Smith, Utah, 49ers, and Chiefs
Utah junior season: 67.5% comp, 2,952 yds, 32 TD, 4 INT, 631 rush, 10 rush TDAlex Smith played just three years at the University of Utah before he left to be the number one overall pick of the NFL draft. Playing for Urban Meyer and his famed spread offense, Smith had a magical junior year. Like Young, Smith was extremely accurate completing 67.5% of his passes. His touchdown to interception ratio was a breath-taking 8 to 1 (32 to 4). 2952 passing yards and 652 rushing yards propelled Smith (drafted #1 overall) past Cal's Aaron Rodgers (drafted #24 overall) in the NFL draft.
Alex Smith suffered a concussion against the Rams this season and wisely spoke up. Kaepernick replaced him, played very well and Smith lost his starting job. Smith was then traded to the Chiefs in the off-season.
Brandon Doman, BYU and 49ers
BYU senior season: 64% comp, 3,542 yds, 33 TD, 8 INT, 456 rush, 8 rush TD BYU's Brandon Doman had a hard time making it onto the field at BYU. Head coach LaVell Edwards had his reservations about Doman, who ran the Triple-Option Wishbone at Skyline High school, whether Doman could be well-rounded enough to run the Cougar offense.
Doman started and won the final two games of his junior year, which propelled him into a Heisman candidate his senior season. The Domanator threw for 3542 yards, 33 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and completed 64% of his passes. The former option quarterback also ran for 456 yards, which was even more impressive since Doak Walker winner Luke Staley ran for 1,582 yards.
Brandon Doman was riding a 14-game win streak as a starter, until in 2001 at Hawaii, riding a perfect 12-0 record, he got hit at the goal line and broke his ribs. He stayed in the game, but Cougars lost their first game of the season.
Doman got drafted in the 5th round by the 49ers, but played just two seasons before returning to BYU to coach.
Chuckie Keeton, Utah St.
Utah St. sophomore season: 67.6% comp, 3,373 yds, 27 TD, 9 INT, 619 rush, 8 rush TD Utah State's junior quarterback Chuckie Keeton is the most NFL ready, but might need a couple more years of seasoning. Keeton has been very productive on the ground and in the air. As a sophomore, Keeton's numbers match up well with Doman, Smith and Young. 3373 passing yards, 67% completion, 27 touchdowns, 9 interceptions and 619 rushing yards.
However, Keeton has already suffered a scary injury due to his mobility. During his freshman year against Hawaii, Keeton suffered a season ending neck injury while scrambling for extra yardage.
Taysom Hill, BYU
BYU freshman season (2 starts): 59.2% comp, 425 yds, 4 TD, 2 INT, 336 rush, 4 rush TD BYU's Taysom Hill is entering his sophomore year and has shown flashes of brilliance, including a 68-yard touchdown run against Hawaii. He also carried the ball 19 times against Utah St. for 80 yards, in a 6-3 victory, but on his 19th carry, he was hit on his left knee, while it was planted, and suffered a season-ending injury.
It's the ultimate risk-reward tradeoff. A dual-threat quarterback is more dangerous than a single-threat quarterback, but only if he is on the field.
