With Zach Wilson unable to throw this spring, the focus for BYU Football is on the backup competition featuring Joe Critchlow, Jaren Hall, and Baylor Romney.
At this time last year, Tanner Mangum was the front-runner to be the returning starting quarterback but was limited in practices due to recovery from his achilles tendon injury. In turn, all of the attention was turned to the backups, namely returners Joe Critchlow and Beau Hoge and newcomers Jaren Hall and Zach Wilson.
Spring football was the time for the quarterbacks to prove if they were ready to compete with Tanner Mangum for the starting job. Zach Wilson impressed from start to finish and was eventually able to start for the Cougars during the Utah State game.
Now the roles are reversed. Zach Wilson is tending to a hurt shoulder that required surgery in the winter, and the doors are open to the remaining quarterbacks to prove why they belong. But even then, Kalani Sitake has said that those guys are “going to try to take his (Wilson) spot.”
The spring football roster currently has 11 quarterbacks. However, according to reports from the Salt Lake Tribune, only 3 of those will receive reps during spring camp, those being Joe Critchlow, Jaren Hall, and Baylor Romney.
Out of these three quarterbacks competing for the backup spot, only Joe Critchlow has thrown a pass in a game and it wasn’t even last season. During the 2017 season, Critchlow saw action in six games and started in three as a result of injuries to Mangum and Beau Hoge. The results are what you would expect from a freshman thrown into that situation, as he threw for more interceptions than touchdowns with a 54.5 completion percentage.
Critchlow provides the Cougars with actual game experience, something that no other backup can provide, yet it remains to be seen if the experience will be enough to carry Critchlow to the backup position.
Jaren Hall proved last year that he is more than just an athlete; he is a quarterback capable of pushing for the starting job. The only problem is that he is currently on the baseball team, even starting 3 games so far this year. However, Hall has made it known that he plans on doing both and that he is fully committed to being with the football team during spring camp.
Hall’s athleticism is an aspect to his game that no other potential backup can rival. He has speed, strength, and a big arm. Look for his athleticism to potentially carry him above the other competitors.
Baylor Romney, brother of Gunner Romney and a former 3-star quarterback out of Texas, was utilized mostly as a scout team quarterback last year and seems to done enough to earn some reps during spring camp. Baylor was a very successful quarterback in Texas and put up very impressive numbers.
Getting reps in spring camp is a good indication that Romney is having success at the college level and can eventually push Hall and Critchlow for the backup job.
Jaren Hall will most likely be the front runner for the backup spot coming out of spring camp. His big arm plus ability to run gives him an advantage over Critchlow and Romney. Jaren Hall is not Kyler Murray, but he provides a dynamic that resembles Taysom Hill’s backup days. Look for him to take meaningful snaps this year from the quarterback position, giving BYU some run/pass options in the red zone.
It is also worth noting that since going Independent, BYU has only had one quarterback start every game of the season.
Projected depth after Spring Football:
- Zach Wilson
- Jaren Hall
- Joe Critchlow
- Baylor Romney