BYU football: Three key players to jump-start the offense against Utah State
By Ron Jensen
No. 2 Tanner Mangum
The last time Tanner Mangum played a full game against Utah State, he threw for 284 yards and led his Cougars to a 51-28 victory in Logan. Now, this year’s Aggies are not the same team that he saw back in 2015, but still, this is a team that Mangum can torch with a good performance.
Though his numbers aren’t astounding, Mangum quietly produced an extraordinary feat against Washington last Saturday. He completed 18 of 21 passes. Granted, it was only for 160 yards, but with efficiency like that against the Aggies, those numbers will increase significantly.
Mangum has made great strides in managing the game and avoiding mistakes. Now he needs to take the next step forward and make big plays, especially with the schedule softening.
In the last few games, especially matchups against Power Five teams, the senior quarterback has faced defenses with incredibly tight pass coverages and a constant pass rush.
The Aggies are stout defensively, but nowhere near what the Cougars have already confronted. With the extra time that Tanner will have to throw, and the slight talent drop-off in the defensive backfield, he should have a nice day. Don’t be surprised if Mangum has he best game to date this season.