He’s not your ordinary freshman.
BYU quarterback Jaren Hall is a student of the game and his preparation will come in handy this weekend in Florida.
Like Zach Wilson, the injured quarterback he replaces in his first college start on Saturday at South Florida, Hall has had extensive training for the job and loves the process of mastering the minutia of playing quarterback.
Just ask former Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer, who helped train Hall for four years while he played at Maple Mountain High and after his church missionary service to Roseville, California.
Detmer, who works with quarterbacks as part of QB Elite with Dustin Smith, can easily point out Hall’s strengths and what he’ll bring to the position now his number has been called.
“He is very confident, he is a great athlete and he has a strong arm,” said Detmer this week from his home in Arizona.
“Jaren can make all the throws. He is committed to learning and getting better and does what it takes to make that happen. He has great feet and he makes good decisions.”
Detmer was just finishing his playing career when Jaren’s father Kalin arrived at BYU from junior college. Over the years, that link has been strengthened and it was natural that Jaren would find his way to Detmer when decisions were made about summer camps and training.
“He is a legacy kid and recruited and signed by Bronco Mendenhall’s staff. It was my job when I got to BYU to retain him,” said Detmer. “He’s a great kid, loyal.”
On Saturday, Hall will face a South Florida defense that has struggled to a 2-3 record but is fresh off a season-best performance in a win over UConn. While Hall is listed as a freshman, he did redshirt last year following two years of service for his church. He’s had a year of playing collegiate baseball. He is an older, mature freshman in many ways that should make a difference.
However, South Florida’s defense is ranked higher than BYU’s in multiple NCAA statistical categories.
The Bulls rank 55th to BYU’s 100th in total defense; 43rd to BYU’s 83rd in yards per play allowed; 94th to the Cougars’ 128th in opponent pass percentage; 53rd to 97th in opponent rush yards per play; and 37th in sacks compared to BYU’s 119th rank.
But BYU’s schedule is far more difficult than South Florida’s, rated No. 7 two weeks ago and now No. 11 by Jeff Sagarin of USA Today. Overall, Sagarin ranks BYU 79th and South Florida 94th. Toledo was ranked higher by Sagarin when the Rockets defeated BYU two weeks ago and are currently ranked 61st in his computer ratings.
Still, any time a team changes quarterbacks, it is a challenge to iron out the kinks, find chemistry, get snap counts right and establish a flow. Some growing pains and consistency issues are to be expected.
Consistency has been a challenge for BYU even with Wilson in the lineup.
Detmer and Hall have exchanged text messages the past week after Wilson’s injury in the closing minutes of the loss at Toledo. While he has sent words of encouragement, he is also very confident Hall will represent himself in fine fashion come Saturday.
“He’s had all last year in the program to practice and get back from his mission and be involved. Then he took all the reps in spring practice. He has a fall camp under his belt and now he’s had last week and this week to get reps as the starter. I think he’ll be prepared come Saturday,” said Detmer.
Wilson and Hall have a lot of similarities. Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes won’t have to make as many changes as he did a year ago when Wilson replaced Tanner Mangum in midseason, but assistant head coach Ed Lamb said there are key differences.
“There are a lot more similarities between Zach and Jaren than there were last year between Zach and Tanner,” said Lamb. “But it would be a mistake for a defense to think that Zach and Jaren are the same.”
QB Elite founder Smith proclaimed a year ago that in his opinion, both Wilson and Hall were capable of starting and starring in any program in the country if given the chance.
That belief will definitely be put to the test in the coming weeks as Hall maneuvers through the first games of his career against the Bulls and Boise State.
Detmer believes Hall is up to the challenge, no question.