Will Taysom Hill be worth the wait?


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PROVO — At a BYU football fan fest in Lehi over the summer, quarterback Taysom Hill signed autographs for BYU fans for hours.

Polite as ever, to some of these fans who waited in line for a substantial time to get his John Hancock, Hill said, "Thanks for waiting for me."

While Hill was speaking directly to these fans, he might as well have said it to all BYU fans.

The story has been well-documented about how Hill led the team to a 4-0 record and a top 20 ranking in the nation last season before going down with a severe leg injury against Utah State. The Cougars would go on to lose that contest. With Hill’s broken leg came shattered dreams of the Cougars going undefeated for coaches, players and fans of the team. BYU quickly nose-dived without its leader and lost four straight games.

Christian Stewart was the unfortunate soul who had to step in with Hill’s exit. Stewart played well in relief for Hill and guided the team to a four-game winning streak after the four-game drought. Still, BYU fans around the nation cannot wait for Hill to come back for the 2015 season. There are numerous indications that 2015 could be a special season in Provo, and much of that optimism comes from Hill's return.

BYU quarterback Taysom Hill talks with fans after the Spring football game in Provo Friday, March 27, 2015. (Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred/Deseret News)
BYU quarterback Taysom Hill talks with fans after the Spring football game in Provo Friday, March 27, 2015. (Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred/Deseret News)

Historically, since LaVell Edwards took over the program in 1972, BYU football has fared well when it has a senior quarterback with previous experience. In 1979, the Cougars went 11-1 in Marc Wilson’s senior season. In 1981, Jim McMahon led the team to an 11-2 record. In 1983, Steve Young guided the Y. to an 11-1 record. In 1991, Ty Detmer was the signal caller for a team that went 8-3-2 and finished ranked in the top 25. In 1996, Steve Sarkisian led the Cougars to a 14-1 mark. In 2006, John Beck returned for his senior season and helped BYU finish 11-2. In 2009, Max Hall led the team to perhaps the best year under Mendenhall as the Cougars went 11-2 and finished ranked 12th in the nation. Hill is returning with three seasons of experience and will look to continue this trend.

The schedule is set for Hill to make a run at postseason awards. With early games against Nebraska, Boise State, Michigan and UCLA, Hill has plenty of statement games to make similar to Detmer’s contest against the top-ranked Miami Hurricanes in his Heisman season. The tough schedule will also enable the Cougars to be in the mix for a top 25 record and even more if they can come away with wins in these matchups.

So, what are realistic expectations for Hill in 2015? If he had continued the pace he was on prior to getting hurt in 2014, Hill would have passed for 2,925 yards and 21 touchdowns while running for 1,284 yards and 24 touchdowns. If Hill garners those types of dual threat stats during the 2015 season, he will likely be up for every major postseason award for quarterbacks. However, it is yet to be seen how much the Cougars will try to protect Hill and not call as many designed runs for him.

Perhaps the best comparison between Hill and a former Cougar quarterback is Steve Young. Young was a terrific athlete who had to learn not to take off and run with the ball when his first read was not open, and he protected himself more as his career went on. In his senior season, Young threw for 3,902 yards and 33 touchdowns while running for 444 net yards with eight touchdowns. If Hill can put up similar numbers, 2015 could be a memorable year in Provo.

Can Hill guide the Cougars back to the top 25? Will he take a trip to New York City as a Heisman finalist? In just a few short weeks, Hill will begin to show BYU fans if he was worth the wait.


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About the Author: Dylan Cannon ------------------------------

Dylan Cannon is a regular KSL.com contributor and can be reached at DylanCannon86@gmail.com or via twitter @DylanCannon11. Listen to his weekly podcast, "Cougar Talk," on iTunes.

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