A veteran of 41⁄2 seasons of college football, Kedon Slovis is as savvy, experienced and seasoned of any player in the Football Bowl Subdivision this year.
The BYU quarterback is also a realist.
“I know the guys are obviously excited and extra fired up for every game, but there is something really cool about going to play in front of a hundred thousand people, at a blue blood school.” — BYU QB Kedon Slovis on playing at Texas
Slovis knows what is at stake for not only the Cougars, but his aspirations as a future NFL quarterback, on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. MDT when 5-2 BYU faces No. 7 Texas (6-1) at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.
“It is a really tough challenge, but I think that’s what excites everyone, too,” the fifth-year senior said Wednesday, sidestepping a question about a chance to bolster his draft possibilities and instead putting the focus on the team and its goals.
While much of the pregame talk has centered on Texas’ QB situation after starter Quinn Ewers was injured against Houston last week — coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday that redshirt freshman Maalik Murphy will get his first career start — Slovis has been forgotten in some circles as a potential key player in the Big 12 contest that will be televised nationally by ABC.
If the former USC and Pitt transfer can’t deliver his best performance to date in a Cougars uniform, BYU has almost no chance of winning as an 18-point underdog in front of nearly 100,000 burnt orange-clad fans in Austin.
“It is a really good conference. I feel like every week it is a great challenge to go play against a lot of (good) teams,” Slovis said. “Obviously Texas is such a great program. It is going to be a great atmosphere. It is always fun to go play in those games.
“I know the guys are obviously excited and extra fired up for every game, but there is something really cool about going to play in front of a hundred thousand people, at a blue blood school.”
Through seven games, Slovis has neither set the world on fire, nor been a massive disappointment. He’s been mostly mediocre, with some flashes of brilliance mixed in with some poor decisions and throws that proved extremely costly in losses to Kansas and TCU.
Given that the Cougars are 5-2, 2-2 in Big 12 play, have knocked off Power Five foes Arkansas, Cincinnati and Texas Tech, it is a stretch to say that Slovis hasn’t delivered on what he was brought in to do.
Then again, there were some in Provo who thought he could be the second-coming of Taysom Hill, Zach Wilson and Jaren Hall. That hasn’t happened, either.
“This team, when we are loose and having fun, and playing free, we play at our best. When we are uptight and worried about making mistakes and stuff, that is when we are not playing our best,” Slovis said. “… As leaders, you kinda recognize that that is who we need to be week in and week out, and especially this week. Being underdogs, that is a better mentality to have going forward.”
Slovis’ even-keeled personality doesn’t lend itself to hyperbole, excessive celebration or boasting. Nor does he dwell much on negativity. After his worst game as a Cougar, he took the blame for the 44-11 loss to TCU, saying, simply, “I gotta be better.”
Off the field, he’s been everything BYU coaches and fans wanted, emerging as the face of the program in 2023 when other high-profile transfers have faltered, either through injury or poor play.
“He’s such a good leader. He’s a smart football player. He has been 100% BYU this whole time. So, it has been cool,” said his close friend, tight end Isaac Rex. “Some guys, they transfer in and may expect one thing and get a different result and may be unhappy. Kedon is not that. … His attitude is ‘anything for the team.’ It has been cool to see Kedon just be a team leader for us.”
On the field, Slovis has completed just 56.6% of his passes, the lowest percentage in his five-year career. He’s thrown for 1,519 yards and 12 TDs, for a QBR of 56.0, which is tied for 78th in the nation — or right below the middle.
“Kedon played a really good first half against Texas Tech,” offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said. “Second half wasn’t his best, but it also wasn’t our best as a team.”
Roderick and head coach Kalani Sitake have generally praised Slovis’ play, even while acknowledging that some blunders with the ball from the QB position have cost them dearly.
“In our two losses this year, turnovers have been the story,” Roderick said.
It is often said that a running game is a quarterback’s best friend. If that’s the case, Slovis has fought alone for much of the season; BYU is No. 131 of 133 teams in rushing offense, averaging 79.29 yards per game and 2.78 yards per carry.
UNLV transfer Aidan Robbins returned to the lineup against Tech for the first time since Week 2, and provided a spark that Slovis believes can help a lot moving forward, particularly in pass protection.
“Aidan is such a big, physical back. He does a great job in pass pro,” Slovis said. “Also, it has given the other backs (a chance) to step in and do what they do best. … Now it allows everyone to play to their strengths when Aidan is back. There is a breadth of talent in the running backs room.”
Roderick agreed with Slovis’ assessment on Robbins’ return, while not discounting the contribution that true freshman RB LJ Martin has made and continues to make. Martin is averaging 4.6 yards per carry.
“I thought (Robbins) played well in the game. He gave us a spark. He did some things in that game that were sort of what we expected, what we saw him do at UNLV,” Roderick said. “It was just a taste, but we are looking forward to him having an impact on the rest of our season.”
BYU’s offense is now waiting for the return of Texan Keanu Hill, whose father played for Texas Tech and whose uncle, Roy Williams, played for Texas before a lengthy NFL career. Roderick said the receiver known as “Kebo” to his teammates is day to day with an undisclosed injury and will be a game-time decision in Austin.
