The BYU Cougars depth chart provides plenty of questions entering their 2015 season opener with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Cougars have QB Taysom Hill back after playing flawless football last season. However, his year was short lived due to a debilitating injury in the first week of October against Utah State. Despite his injury in 2014, Hill is back in the fold as the starting quarterback role, and that’s good news for the Cougars’ faithful.
After a serviceable year in 2013 where Taysom Hill blossomed into one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks, the BYU signal caller turned the first month of the 2014 season into his own personal showcase. Leading the Cougars to a (4-0) record, Hill was connecting on 66.7 percent of his passes, while dominating opponents in the ground game. He was almost halfway to consecutive 1000 yard seasons, and probably would have gotten there by the first week of November. However, Hill’s season-ending leg injury altered the course of the entire football season. It was a defining moment that led to a four game losing streak. Still, BYU turned it around to win four straight to finish the regular season (8-4), but they had the look of a team capable of running the table.
Due to his injury, will Hill be able to carry the offense like he once did? The Huskers want to make sure he doesn’t gain confidence with his legs. Therefore, Nebraska hopes BYU is eager to display a drop back passing game. Still, the Cornhuskers must be ready for Hill to be a punishing runner from the QB position. His mobility has wreaked havoc on defenses in the past.
In addition to Hill, the Cougars have other talented skill position players, despite losing their top running back for the season. Coming into the summer, Jamaal Williams was eager to start his senior season with the Cougars. However, due to unspecified rules violations, Williams has been designated to redshirt. Instead, junior Algernon Brown replaces Williams as the No.1 running back to start the season against Nebraska. Brown averages 4.8 yards on 116 carries in his career, with his only two rushing touchdowns coming as a freshman. Adam Hine will also get carries for the Cougars’ offense.
BYU has a handful of tall receivers, but none of them are as tall or as accomplished as Mitch Matthews. The 6’6” receiver caught 73 passes for 922 yards, and nine touchdowns last season. Followed by a red shirt season in 2009, and a two-year Mormon mission, it took Matthews a couple years to get back into football form. After 23 catches and four touchdowns in 2013, he exploded onto the scene, while becoming a match up nightmare for defensive backs.
Devon Blackmon is a speedy wide receiver with the Cougars. As a junior, Blackmon caught 10 passes for 130 yards. He wasn’t a featured player in the offense, but even without Williams in school, his impact is expected to be much greater in 2015. He’s no longer listed as a punt return specialist.
As a team, BYU averaged 37.1 points per game in 2014. It was their highest scoring year since the 2006 season when the Cougars scored 36.8 points per game. More importantly, a great defensive performance by the Huskers can be a launching point for the Mike Riley era.