Predicting The Depth Chart: 2015 BYU Quarterbacks

Over the next few days Lawless Republic will be taking an in depth look at the 2015 roster and trying our best to predict what the depth chart will look like on September 5 when the Cougars travel to Lincoln. Obviously, we can’t predict new injuries or suspensions or anything like that so we’re not going to speculate or consider anything like that. Existing injuries (like Jamaal Williams’) will be taken into consideration. We start our depth chart predictions by taking an in depth look at the BYU quarterbacks.

1. The Starter- Taysom Hill

Shocker, right?

Taysom Hill will be coming off a season ending leg injury and there will be some questions about whether or not he will be as mobile as he has been in the past. Personally, I think that he’ll be just fine. Athletes are able to recover from injuries faster than ever these days so I’m not too worried about any lingering injuries with Hill’s leg.

Oct 25, 2013; Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Taysom Hill (4) looks to throw on the run during the second half against the Boise State Broncos at Lavell Edwards Stadium. Brigham Young won 37-20. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

I am, however, concerned with what his mindset will be as he heads into his senior season. Hill has played three years at BYU and two of those three have ended with season ending leg injuries. People have been calling for him to stay in the pocket and not run for a long time now but, frankly, I don’t think he should. Hill is a runner. His best weapon and tool as a quarterback are his legs. If you turn Hill into a pocket passer then he’s a pretty average quarterback. When he uses his legs, he’s elite. So, injury is a risk and with only one more season to show the NFL that he can throw the football there will certainly be the temptation to sit in the pocket. But please, Taysom, just be yourself.

For comparison’s sake, let’s look at a guy like Brett Hundley from UCLA. At the end of the 2013 season there was a lot of speculation that Hundley would throw his name into the draft. He got mixed reviews from scouts and there was concern that he wouldn’t be able to transition to a pro style offense. So he went back to UCLA for the 2014 season and Hundley is now headed into the draft with virtually nobody talking about him. He’s still going to get picked and will probably be picked in the second or third round, but that’s a far cry from the top-10 buzz that he was getting in 2013.

The point is, Hill needs to be the best Hill that he can be. The best Hill runs the football. If he’s going to sit in the pocket then BYU may as well put Tanner Mangum in.

2. The Backup- Beau Hoge

This is a little bit of a surprise, but hear me out, BYU fans. Tanner Mangum will return from his mission in June. He will have two or three months to get into game shape, pick up the offense and get back into the swing of football. The last time he played in a competitive football game was in January of 2012. Mangum has a ceiling as high as skyscrapers but I have serious doubts that he would be even close to ready if Hill were to go down in the first quarter against Nebraska.

Enter Beau Hoge. Hoge is a great athlete and his playing style is similar to Hill’s. He’s not the physical runner that Hill is but he’s shifty and can still take a hit. He can throw the ball. In fact, he’s a really underrated thrower. He’s got great arm strength and can hit a receiver on the numbers. He did not serve a mission so he’s only an offseason removed from competitive football and he doesn’t have to shake off his mission legs. For these reasons, I believe that Hoge will be the backup in Lincoln.

3. The Heir Apparent- Tanner Mangum

I think Mangum starts the year as the third string guy but I think that it’s temporary. Mangum has more quarterback talent than any quarterback, including Taysom Hill, to come through BYU for a very long time. He’s got a great arm like Max Hall and seems to read a defense like John Beck. He’s quick enough on his feet that he’ll be able to escape pressure and he’s got the work ethic that Jake Heaps never had. If Mangum can stay healthy then I think he will go down as one of the best quarterbacks in BYU history.

So, why is he not the backup? It’s simple; rust.

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If Hill were to get injured in the first quarter against Nebraska then I don’t think that you want Mangum coming in and running the offense. His skills are different than Hill’s and the play calling will need to be vastly different. In the first game of the year the players and coaches are still working out the kinks of the offense. Having a guy like Hoge come in and take over for Hill makes much more sense, especially in the opening week. But, if Hill goes down against Nebraska and is out for the next game against Boise State then Mangum is your starter week 2. Mangum and Hill have two very different games. Hoge is an excellent bridge between the two.

4. The Safety Net- McCoy Hill

Fourth string behind two freshmen certainly isn’t meant to be a slight at McCoy Hill. I don’t think that he’ll ever start a game as BYU’s quarterback but I do think he’s a talented football player. He’ll be fourth on the depth chart for depth’s purposes but I think he’ll start to see a lot of reps at tight end and could eventually see some time there. He’s too good of a football player not to see the field at some point but I don’t think it will be at quarterback.

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