Of all the linebacking groups that have come through BYU, none were better than the current trio of Jack Kelly, Harrison Taggart and Isaiah Glasker, according to former linebacker and BYUtv football analyst David Nixon.
“I think they are No. 1 honestly. I think you stack them at the top,” Nixon told the “Y’s Guys” podcast this week. “We will see how the numbers shake out and how long their careers are in the NFL, but as a collective unit, they all bring something a little different.”
As a 6-foot-5, 235-pound sophomore, Glasker led BYU in tackles (70), tackles-for-loss (14.5) and tied for the team high with three interceptions, including a pick-six against Arizona.
“What Glasker brings to the table (is) his long ranginess and ability to cover distance with quarterbacks trying to get the ball over the top of him,” Nixon said. “How difficult is that?”
Jack Kelly, a 6-2, 240-pound senior-to-be, led the Cougars in sacks (five) and quarterback hurries (14). He also had an interception and forced two fumbles.
“On the other side is Kelly. We saw his closing speed and his ability to spy a quarterback and mirror him and when that quarterback left the pocket, he was on him,” Nixon said. “It wasn’t even close.”
During Harrison Taggart’s sophomore season, the Oregon transfer was second on the team in tackles (69) with an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
“Taggart is the thumper in the middle. He just brings the wood,” Nixon said. “He lowers his helmet and just crushes people.”
Defensively, BYU finished No. 1 in the Big 12 in total defense, scoring defense, and was No. 1 in the country with 22 interceptions. Combined, the three linebackers produced 190 tackles, 27 tackles-for-loss, five interceptions and four forced fumbles.
“What I love about this coaching staff is they know each one of those backers brings something different, so they dial up packages to take advantage of each of their strengths,” Nixon said. “It’s not like they are asking Glasker to go fill the B-gap hard and become a thumper. They are not asking Taggart to go out in space and cover. They have dialed up coverages, blitzes and schemes to (play to their) strengths. That’s what has made them so special, and it’s been fun to watch.”
Nixon set the Mountain West Conference record with 43 tackles-for-loss when he played linebacker at BYU (2003, 2006-08). Bryan Kehl was his tag-team partner for two seasons before both went to the NFL.
“You get to the point where you have had so many reps together that you understand how each other (is going to play),” Nixon said. “I could see when Kehl was going to take on a blocker. I’ve played with him so much that I know he’s going to go inside, so I (would) go outside and that’s where you start to work off each other.”
Nixon sees Glasker, Taggart and Kelly doing more of that this fall.
“What’s exciting is they have this one year under their belt together. Now we go to the second year and things get even better,” he said. “Now they have even more confidence in the scheme and system, so they start playing looser and make more plays and it grows from there. For me, that’s the exciting part of them having one more year together.”
Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and is a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com and is the author of the children’s book “C is for Cougar,” available at deseretbook.com.