Ex-Boise State commit in ‘fascinating’ spot as BYU’s QB, ready for first road start
In a world where athletes and coaches will avoid bulletin board material at all costs, motivation can come in unique ways.
Boise State would never admit it, but there was surely a sour taste left last December when the Broncos lost their potential quarterback of the future.
Zach Wilson was committed to Boise State for six months and one day, and then he told the staff on Dec. 13, 2017, that he wanted to explore further options. That was exactly one week before the December signing period began.
Wilson signed with BYU on Dec. 21, and he will make his first-ever road start Saturday at Albertsons Stadium, a place he had initially planned to call home.
“I think Boise will be cool to go against because I know a lot of them. … This week will be fascinating to go to a place I was committed to,” Wilson told reporters Wednesday.
When the Draper, Utah, native decommitted, it sent the Boise State staff scurrying for other options amid Las Vegas Bowl preparations. The Broncos signed junior college transfer Jaylon Henderson in December, and added Florida high school quarterback Riley Smith in February.
The Broncos had offered a scholarship to Arizona high school quarterback Brock Purdy on Dec. 18, five days after Wilson decommitted, hoping to get him to sign in the early period, but he held off, eventually signing with Iowa State. He’s now the Cyclones’ starter.
“It’s not like you have a personal (vendetta), there’s none of that,” Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said to reporters Thursday. “... We have guys we played against that we recruited, other places have guys they wanted that we got. That’s just part of the nature of recruiting.”
Wilson said Wednesday that “I’m not sure what it’ll be like” in Boise, where most people will know the story. Not everyone at BYU knows, however. In a phone interview Wednesday with the Statesman, running back Squally Canada had no idea. Canada himself was committed to Boise State and former coach Chris Petersen in 2013.
“I need to talk with him about that, since I block for him and all, he should tell me those things,” Canada said with a laugh. “I doubt the fans even remember me, and I’m sure they’ll know about him, but he oozes confidence. He’ll be fine.”
Wilson took over the reins as the Cougars’ starting quarterback from Eagle High graduate Tanner Mangum last month and has completed 38-of-60 passes for 466 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s flashed some mobility with two runs of more than 20 yards in BYU’s past three games, and hurdled a defender last Saturday in a 7-6 loss to Northern Illinois.
“Everybody’s got a right place to go. We’ve got guys on our team other teams had a relationship with, it’s part of the game, part of the business, and he’s doing a good job over there,” Boise State offensive coordinator Zak Hill said of Wilson.
For Wilson, he said being close to home was a major reason for signing with BYU, and as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he has noted his post-football opportunities as another part of the decision.
It remains to be seen how losing Wilson may have affected the Broncos’ future at the position. Smith is ticketed for a redshirt year, and Wilson likely would have been, at best, the third-string quarterback this year in Boise.
“It’s not an awkward deal. ... We don’t worry about the ones we don’t get, we worry about the ones we get,” Harsin said.
BYU’s offense has struggled most of the season.
“A lot of us are kind of sick of being slow on offense, not getting things done,” Wilson said.
He spoke highly of Boise State’s program, noting its tradition of “highly explosive offense,” but he doesn’t have any regrets, especially being the youngest starting quarterback in BYU history.
“If I was to say yes, that would be bad,” Wilson said. “I can’t ask for anything more. I’m here with the opportunity to play as a freshman, one that I think a lot of people wish they had.”
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARSIN: Thursday was Harsin’s 42nd birthday. His family put together some photos and decorations for his office, and his oldest daughter, Devyn, decorated it Wednesday night so he could come into work in the morning to see it.
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BYU AT BOISE STATE
When: 8:15 p.m. Saturday
Where: Albertsons Stadium (36,387; FieldTurf)
TV: ESPN2 (Kevin Brown, Andre Ware, Alex Corddry)
Radio: KBOI 670 AM/KTIK 93.1 FM (Bob Behler, Pete Cavender)
Records: BSU 6-2 overall (won 48-38 at Air Force on Saturday); BYU 4-4 (lost 7-6 to Northern Illinois on Saturday)
Series: Boise State leads 6-2 (Broncos won 24-7 on Oct. 6, 2017, in Provo last meeting)
Vegas line: Boise State by 13
Weather: High 40s, cloudy
Tickets: Office on the west side of Albertsons Stadium, visit BroncoSports.com/tickets or call 208-426-4737. There were 33,668 tickets out as of 5 p.m. Thursday.
This story was originally published November 1, 2018 at 5:53 PM.