BYU's Quarterback Battle Could be the Most Open Competition in Over a Decade
BYU's quarterback competition will be the storyline of the offseason leading up to the 2024 season opener. There are a lot of guys in the room competing for one starting spot. The 2024 quarterback battle could extend well into Fall camp and it could be the most open quarterback battle at BYU in over a decade.
You have to go back many years to find a quarterback battle as wide open as this one.
2023 - Kedon Slovis
In 2023, Kedon Slovis was named the starter after Spring camp. There was never a doubt that Slovis would be the starter after he committed to BYU for his final season.
2022 - Jaren Hall
Jaren Hall was the undisputed starter going into 2022 after a great 2021 season.
2021 - Jaren Hall
Jaren Hall beat out Baylor Romney for the starting job in 2021. That wasn't surprising at the time, Hall had already beat out Baylor Romney for the backup job in previous years.
2020 - Zach Wilson
It's hard to believe that Zach Wilson wasn't named the starter until the week before the Navy game. Even though there was technically a competition between Wilson, Hall, and Romney, there was little doubt that Wilson would win the job. Wilson had taken most of the first-team reps in Spring camp and he looked very, very good.
2019 - Zach Wilson
After Zach Wilson's breakout season as a true freshman, injury was the only thing preventing him from starting in 2019. Even with a partially-healed shoulder, Wilson started in week one against Utah.
2018 - Tanner Mangum
Senior Tanner Mangum was expected to be the starter going into 2018 Fall camp. Zach Wilson gave Mangum a run for his money (and eventually took over the starting job), but Mangum was always expected to be the guy in the season opener.
2017 - Tanner Mangum
Tanner Mangum was named the starting quarterback back in Spring camp in 2017.
2016 - Taysom Hill
After Taysom Hill announced that he was returning for his senior season, he was the favorite to win the starting job and he did.
2015 - Taysom Hill
Taysom Hill was the undisputed starter going into 2015.
2014 - Taysom Hill
Taysom Hill was the undisputed starter going into 2014.
2013 - Taysom Hill
After Riley Nelson graduated, Taysom Hill was viewed as the quarterback of the future for BYU. Unsurprisingly, Hill won the starting job in 2013.
2012 - Riley Nelson
Riley Nelson, a senior, was the undisputed starter going into 2012. Heaps had transferred out of the program at that point.
2011 - Jake Heaps
After a breakout performance in the New Mexico Bowl in 2010, sophomore Jake Heaps was the favorite to start in 2011 over Riley Nelson. Heaps started the first four games of the season before losing the job to Nelson.
2010 - Jake Heaps/Riley Nelson
You have to go clear back to 2010 to find a quarterback competition as wide open as the competition will be in 2024. In 2010, the battle between Jake Heaps and Riley Nelson extended into the season. In the season opener against Washington, Heaps and Nelson alternated at quarterback.
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