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Is Matt Bushman the most valuable non-QB BYU Football player?

By Caleb Leming

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 24: Matt Bushman #89 of the Brigham Young Cougars catches a pass over Cody Barton #30 of the Utah Utes in the second half of a game at Rice-Eccles Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 24: Matt Bushman #89 of the Brigham Young Cougars catches a pass over Cody Barton #30 of the Utah Utes in the second half of a game at Rice-Eccles Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – NOVEMBER 24: Matt Bushman #89 of the Brigham Young Cougars celebrates his touchdown against the Utah Utes in the first half of a game at Rice-Eccles Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – NOVEMBER 24: Matt Bushman #89 of the Brigham Young Cougars celebrates his touchdown against the Utah Utes in the first half of a game at Rice-Eccles Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /

We all know that the offense is going to run through the quarterback next year for BYU football, but who is the next most valuable player?

Junior tight end Matt Bushman is one of the best playmakers BYU has to offer this upcoming season. In his two seasons at BYU, Bushman has caught 78 balls for 1,031 yards and five touchdowns. He led the Cougars in both receptions and reception yards in both his Freshman and Sophomore campaigns. BYU has not had a “dominant” wide receiver since the likes of Cody Hoffman (maybe Mitch Matthews could be thrown in there), and now with six seasons without a receiver having 100+ receptions or 1,000+ yards, the question must be asked: Is Matt Bushman the most valuable non-Zach Wilson BYU Football player?

We all know that Zach Wilson turned around a BYU offense that struggled at times last year. His ability to be a mobile quarterback along with his cannon of an arm helps the Cougars have a dual threat quarterback again. But with no true dominant receiver, BYU could be looking to Matt Bushman from the tight end position to step up and make plays again.

In terms of the Utah game to kickoff the season, Bushman has been the leading receiver against the Utes on both the 2017 and 2018 games. He caught 6 catches in both games, 50 & 92 yards and one touchdown. If BYU wants to break the streak against the Utes, Bushman’s former success against the team up north could be one of the keys to the game.

His consecutive seasons of leading the team in both receptions and yards are the first since Mitch Matthews, and if he does it again he would be the first player to lead the team in three straight seasons since Cody Hoffman. We know that with Zach Wilson’s ability to throw the ball, and the lack of a true number one receiver, Bushman will be getting the ball in his hands. The Wide Receiver position for BYU has some good depth, but if the Cougars need a solid drive late to win the game, Matt Bushman could be the guy who helps lead the team downfield on the receiving end.

Some may worry that a tight end may be leading the receiving core which is a valid concern, however when you consider that Jonny Harline led the Cougars back in  2006 when the Cougars went 11-2 overall, there isn’t as much to worry about as you may think.

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