PROVO — Cleared to play this Saturday against Idaho State after sustaining a fractured thumb injury six weeks ago, BYU’s Zach Wilson said after practice on Wednesday that he believes a starting quarterback should never lose his job due to injury.
Whether BYU’s coaching staff shares that belief remains to be seen.
“We have a pretty good idea of what we are going to do (with the quarterback situation), but there is really no advantage to us saying, just like we haven’t the past few weeks,” said offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes. “So that’s about all you will get.”
Redshirt freshman Baylor Romney, who started in two of the four games Wilson missed and played in the other two, also spoke to reporters after practice and said he believes he played well enough to merit consideration for remaining the starter, but understands coaches have a difficult decision to make.
“It is a tough job for (quarterbacks coach Aaron Roderick) right now with the talent that is in the quarterback room,” Romney said. “I feel like he’s dealt with it better than anyone else would.”
Romney said the repetitions have been divided “pretty evenly” at practices this week, while Wilson was more coy, saying “whenever A-Rod says I am going in, whenever he says Baylor is going in, that’s just kinda how it is split.”
The other QB who has started two games for the Cougars, redshirt freshman Jaren Hall, “is not there yet (after sustaining multiple concussions), but we are hopeful it will be soon,” Grimes said.
The OC said Wilson and Romney are “both taking a lot of reps” and that if Wilson does see playing time against the Bengals (1 p.m., BYUtv) he won’t be on a snap count or be limited in any way.
Wilson said he was ready before last week’s Romney-led 31-24 win over Liberty “in an emergency situation” and is “totally ready to go” this week.
Asked if there’s a legitimate quarterback competition going on in practice this week, Wilson said, “It is always a competition every week.”
Wilson started the first five games, wins over Tennessee and No. 24 USC and losses to Utah, Washington and Toledo. He sustained the thumb injury trying to make a tackle after an interception against the Rockets in the final minutes.
“I have had five or six weeks to just let my shoulder rest,” he said, referring to offseason shoulder surgery last January. “I didn’t really have an offseason. My arm strength is better now than it was the first five games of the year. It is much better now than it was, I feel.”
Does the sophomore believe he should be handed the job back, based on what he did last year and in preseason camp this year when he earned the starting spot?
“I mean, that’s not my call,” he said. “I don’t think a quarterback should ever lose his starting job, based on injury. Of course, there are always situations that go into it, based on how you were performing before. It all (goes) back to the coaches and what they decide, and so I know they are going to make the right decision for the team. … It is best person plays, is how the rule should work. You are going to play your best players because you want to win.”
Roderick, a nominee for the 2019 Broyles Award, which honors college football’s top assistant coaches, has said he will be the point man on the starting quarterback decision, then take his choice to Grimes and head coach Kalani Sitake for confirmation.
“It is hard,” Roderick said. “Sometimes you have to have tough conversations. The Utah State game, I had Jaren and Baylor available. Deciding to start Jaren, that was a tough thing to tell Baylor. And then Baylor handled it like a pro. He came in and helped us win the game. But, these guys are great and they know I am trying to be as fair as I can.”
Cougars on the air
Idaho State (3-7) at BYU (5-4)
At LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo
Saturday, 1 p.m.
TV: BYUtv/ESPN3
Radio: 1160 AM, 102.7 FM