PROVO — Since last spring, the most frequently asked question surrounding the BYU football program has been: Who will start at quarterback?
That question begged other questions.
Would the coaching staff make an announcement about it after a practice? After a scrimmage? Would there be a press release? Or would BYU wait until the weekly press conference days before the season-opener at Arizona?
As it turned out, the drama ended in a surprising, unusual and low-key manner late Friday afternoon — with a tweet from BYU’s media relations account revealing the post-fall camp depth chart.
Senior Tanner Mangum was listed as the starter, with freshman Zach Wilson listed as the backup.
BYU coaches and players were not available for comment.
Of course, the real drama is about to begin next Saturday night when the Cougars travel to Tucson to face the Wildcats.
After last Thursday’s scrimmage at LaVell Edwards Stadium, Mangum expressed confidence in his abilities after a rough 2017 performance that ended last November with a season-ending Achilles injury.
“I feel really good. I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in. I’m healthy, I’m strong,” said Mangum, who lost 22 pounds during the offseason. “I feel like I’m playing well. More than anything, I’m just having fun. I’m trying to soak it all in and make the most of it.”
After months of spring practices, player-run summer practices and fall camp, the quarterback battle had come down to Mangum and Wilson.
I feel really good. I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in. I’m healthy, I’m strong. – Tanner Mangum
“I love the quarterback group. I’ve been really pleased with Tanner and Zach and the way that they work and the offense,” Sitake said Thursday. “They’ve had a good command of the offense and they’re making great decisions."
Throughout camp, Cougar coaches said that there wasn’t much separation between Mangum and Wilson.
Mangum, who turns 25 years old on Sept. 8, has played in 26 games in his career with 21 starts, posting an 11-10 record.
Wilson, who turns 19 this month, is fresh out of Corner Canyon High but he’s been at BYU since January. He was vying to become the first true freshman in school history to open a season as the starter.
Wilson said he doesn’t feel like a typical freshman.
“Coming in, I felt a lot younger (than his teammates),” he said. “But they became like my brothers and now I feel the same age as them.”
Before Mangum was revealed as the starter, both he and Wilson were confident in their chances of helping BYU earn a victory at Arizona.
“We both can. Absolutely. We both played well this camp. We both showed that we can run the offense and lead the team and make plays,” Mangum said. “Regardless of who’s in, we’re confident we can execute and get the job done. That’s a good thing to have — depth, competition and guys that push you. That’s something that helps every team. We’re both confident players. Regardless of who’s in, we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
“As a freshman, it gives you that swagger to be able to go out and attempt things and try things. I just look at it like it’s a football game,” Wilson said. “Anyone can make plays no matter how old you are. If we can complete passes against our defense, you can complete passes against any defense.”
Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes said the offense will stay the same, regardless of which one starts.
“I think they have very similar skill sets,” he said. “I don’t see that making much of a difference, if any.”
Mangum is excited that his team can finally play a game next weekend.
“We’ve put in a lot of work. From January to now, it feels like a long time. Almost like a lifetime ago. I feel like it’s a new team, it’s a new year,” he said. “Everyone is stepping up and making plays. When I think back to how far we’ve come, it’s exciting. Seven months ago, we had no clue what we were doing on offense. We didn’t know who our coaches were going to be. Now here we are, game-ready. It’s exciting.”
When fall camp concluded Mangum said he believed he had done all he could to prove that he deserves to be the starter.
“I’ve done my best. That’s all I can say. From day one, that’s what I’ve said, that I’m going to come out and play my best and do what I can to play to the best of my ability every day and let the cards fall where they may,” he said. “I can’t control anything beyond that. At the end of the day, it’s an upstairs decision. I’m going to go out there and have fun and make the most of every rep I get and then go out there and enjoy whatever comes my way.”