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Quarterbacks Wilson and Hill show they belong in the NFL: BYU Football Pro Tracker Week 18

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Quarterbacks Zach Wilson and Taysom Hill ended their first seasons as starting quarterbacks showing a lot of promise.

Wilson had four total touchdowns to nine interceptions in his first six games of the season before his PCL injury.  But he battled back and ended the season with nine total touchdowns to just two interceptions in the last seven games.  He has shown flashes of brilliance and has validated the Jets in taking him with the no. 2 pick in the draft.

Meanwhile, Taysom Hill definitely proved his doubters wrong, ending the season 7-2 as an NFL starter, averaging 206 passing yards and 57 rushing yards in his eight complete games.  The 263 total yards rank 4th most by a QB in the NFL this season.  Unfortunately, Hill season ended on a sour note with him leaving in the first half of his game with a Lisfranc injury that will require surgery.

In addition to the QBs, several other former Cougs ended the season on a high note.  Brady Christensen is a now a consistent starter at left tackle for the Jaguars and had a PFF rating of 70.2 in the final regular season game, good for fourth highest rating on the team.

Fred Warner finished the regular season ranked no. 11 in the NFL for total tackles (137).

Kyle Van Noy got his eighth start of the season and his first complete game, playing every down on defense.  He made the most of the opportunity with six tackles, a tackle for loss, and a quarterback hit.

And reserves Zayne Anderson, Dallin Leavitt, and Kai Nacua played the most snaps of any game this season for their respective teams.

Finally, practice squad player Matt Bushman was picked up by the Kansas City Chiefs after spending most of the season with the Raiders.

In total there were six former Cougs that got starts for their NFL teams (Christensen, Davis, Hill, Van Noy, Fred Warner, and Wilson), with another eight coming off the bench (Anderson, Leavitt, Milne, Nacua, Sorensen, Tonga, Jamaal Williams, and Ty’Son Williams), three out with injuries (Bernard, Langi, and Takitaki), and six on practice squads (Bushman, Hoge, Bronson Kaufusi, Corbin Kaufusi, Troy Warner, and Wilcox).  Below you get the snap counts and statistics for each active player.

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Active Roster (14)

  • Zayne Anderson (CB, Chiefs). Played 20 snaps on special teams (80%) and recorded no stats. Season totals: four games, one solo tackle
  • Brady Christensen (OL, Panthers). Started and played all 72 offensive snaps (100%) and three snaps on special teams (11%). Season totals: 16 games, six starts, one solo tackle.
  • Michael Davis (CB, Chargers). Started and played 79 defensive snaps (99%). Had five tackles (four solo) and one pass defended. Season totals: 14 games, 14 starts, 54 tackles (42 solo), 11 passes defended, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hit, two fumble recoveries for 36 yards, and an interception.
  • Taysom Hill (QB, Saints). Started at QB and played 26 offensive snaps (36%) before coming out with a Lisfranc injury. Hill was playing his best game of the season, completing 7-of-9 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown and a quarterback rating of 153.2.  He also rushed five times for 18 yards. Season totals: 12 games, nine starts, 78-for-134 passing (56.8%) for 978 yards, four touchdowns, and five interceptions, four receptions for 52 yards, 70 rushes for 374 yards and five touchdowns, one tackle.
  • Dallin Leavitt (DB, Raiders). Played 33 defensive snaps (35%) and 26 snaps on special teams (79%). He had three tackles (one solo). Season totals: 16 games, one start, 35 tackles (17 solo), two passes defended, two fumble recoveries (with 30 return yards).
  • Dax Milne (WR, Washington). Played six offensive snaps (10%) but was not targeted. Season totals: 13 games, one start, nine receptions for 83 yards, one rush for one yard
  • Kai Nacua (S, 49ers/Jets). Played 24 snaps on special teams (71%) and had two tackles (one solo). Season totals: four games, four tackles (three solo).
  • Daniel Sorensen (S, Chiefs). Played 19 defensive snaps (35%) and 15 snaps on special teams (60%). He recorded one solo tackles.  Season totals: 17 games, seven starts, 51 tackles (40 solo), three tackles for loss, one sack, three quarterback hits, eight passes defended, and two interceptions (with one returned 75 yards for a touchdown).
  • Khyiris Tonga (DT, Bears). Played 19 defensive snaps (40%) and nine snaps on special teams (36%). Tonga had three tackles. Season totals: 15 games, two starts, 24 tackles (10 solo), one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
  • Kyle Van Noy (LB, Patriots). Started and played all 68 defensive snaps (100%), recorded six tackles (three solo), with one tackle for loss, and one quarterback hit. Season totals: 16 games, eight starts, 66 tackles (42 solo), four sacks, five tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits, 10 passes defended, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one interception for a 35 yard touchdown.
  • Fred Warner (OLB, 49ers). Started and played all 65 defensive snaps (100%). Warner had eight tackles (five solo) with one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit.  Season totals: 16 games, 16 starts, 137 tackles (79 solo), seven tackles for loss, four passes defended, one forced fumble, three quarterback hits, and three fumble recoveries.  Warner is currently tied for no. 11 in the NFL in total tackles (137).
  • Jamaal Williams (RB, Lions). Played 24 offensive snaps (41%) and rushed 13 times for 43 yards and had one reception for nine yards. Season totals: 13 games, 11 starts, 153 carries for 601 yards and three touchdowns, 26 receptions for 157 yards.
  • Ty’Son Williams (RB, Ravens). Played two snaps on offense (3%) and nine snaps on special teams (28%). He had one rush for four yards. Season totals: 13 games, three starts, 35 rushes for 185 yards and one touchdown, nine receptions for 84 yards.
  • Zach Wilson (QB, Jets). Started and played all 46 snaps on offense (100%). He went 7-for-20 for 87 yards and a touchdown, and rushed twice for 24 yards. Season totals: 13 games, 13 starts 213-for-383 passing (.556), 2334 yards, nine touchdowns, 11 interceptions. 29 rushes for 185 yards and four touchdowns.  He was sacked 37 times (2.8 sacks/game avg).

On Roster but Inactive (3)

  • Francis Bernard (LB, Cowboys). Was on the COVID list and missed the week 18 game. Season totals: Eight games, four tackles (one solo).
  • Harvey Langi (LB, Patriots). Langi suffered a sprained MCL and was placed on injured reserve October 26. He was not activated during his 21-day activation window and will sit out the remainder of the season. Season totals: Seven games, one start, three tackles (one solo).
  • Sione Takitaki (LB, Browns). Sat out the week 18 game with a shoulder injury sustained during their previous game. The Browns season is now over.  Season totals: 15 games, eight starts, 44 tackles (21 solo), two quarterback hits, five tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Practice Squads (6)

  • Matt Bushman (TE, Raiders/Chiefs). Season totals: two games, no stats. Added to Las Vegas practice squad September 1, 2021 but activated for games in weeks seven and 13.  Added to the Chiefs practice squad on January 6, 2022.
  • Tristen Hoge (OT, Browns/Broncos). Added to Denver practice squad as a guard December 28, 2021.
  • Bronson Kaufusi (TE/DE, Packers). Added to Green Bay practice squad as tight end September 1, 2021.
  • Corbin Kaufusi (OT, 49ers). Added to San Francisco’s practice squad on November 11, 2021.
  • Troy Warner (S, Rams/Buccaneers). Waived by L.A. on August 30, 2021 and then added to the Tampa Bay practice squad September 2, 2021.
  • Chris Wilcox (DB, Buccaneers/Colts). Drafted by the Buccaneers with the 251st pick of the 2021 NFL draft. Waived by Tampa Bay August 31, 2021 and signed by Indianapolis.  Added to the practice squad on September 16, 2021.

Free Agents (10)

The follow players had an NFL contract at some point in 2021 but are not currently signed to an NFL team: Ziggy Ansah (DE, 49ers), Zac Dawe (DL, Falcons), John Denney (LS, Saints), Kavika Fonua (DB, Panthers), Chandon Herring (OT, Titans), Aleva Hifo (WR, Cardinals), Isaiah Kaufusi (LB, Colts), Dayan Lake (S, Rams), Micah Simon (WR, Panthers).

If you love our content, please support our sponsors.  We can’t produce our show and articles without our sponsors.  They are also an official sponsor of the BYU football team.  This article is brought to you by Built Bar, built.com.  Use “Criddle10” coupon code for 10% off your order.

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