BYU Football: Is the Addition of McCae Hillstead a Great Addition or Reason to be Concerned?

Utah State transfer quarterback McCae Hillstead is headed to BYU Football with three years of eligibility remaining. The news comes as a surprise to many as BYU Football has already brought in two other transfer quarterbacks this offseason. The current QB room is already crowded with Jake Retzlaff, Gerry Bohanon, Treyson Bourquet, Cade Fennegan, Ryder Burton, Noah Lugo, and Cole Hagen.

Some believed that BYU Football may have been looking for a big name quarterback in the transfer portal after the the second transfer portal window opened (that somehow doesn’t exist anymore?), however nobody saw a mid-tier rated G5 transfer as the answer for the Cougars.

Is this a reason for concern or a great addition for the Cougars? Let’s discuss.

Should BYU Football Fans Be Concerned?

The initial reaction among BYU fans is that perhaps Jake Retzlaff and Gerry Bohanon did not perform or show the growth and improvement that the coaching staff  hoped to see. Some feel that McCae will immediately be the best QB, although not because he is a phenomenal quarterback, but because he will be the best option, but not necessarily a P5 level talent.

Last year, Gerry Bohanon didn’t play, but he had fallen quite a bit from his playing days at Baylor in 2021 when he led the Bears to the Big 12 Championship Game. Jake Retzlaff showed flashes of being effective for BYU last year, but ultimately had a 0-4 record for the Cougars.

There is another reason for BYU fans to be concerned; recruiting.

BYU Football Isn’t Giving Recruits a Great Opportunity

Ryder Burton, Noah Lugo, and Cole Hagen are all BYU recruits that continually are getting buried down the depth chart by transfers coming into BYU. Last year it was Kedon Slovis and Jake Retzlaff, and this year it is Gerry Bohanon, Treyson Bourquet and now McCae Hillstead.

What message is this going to send future recruits? How is Ryder Burton supposed to move up the depth chart when he isn’t given any meaningful practice snaps? Sure, it’s easy to say “just beat someone out”, but how can a player beat someone out if they aren’t even given the same opportunity?

Reasons BYU Football Fans Shouldn’t Be Concerned

Despite a lackluster stat line (1,062 yards, 11 TD, and 8 Int 59% completion rate), McCae Hillstead was actually a highly sought after transfer. He had been contacted by every P4 conference and ultimately ended up turning down multiple teams from all over the country. Coming out of high school Hillstead was a three-star prospect and had offers from Washington State, Nevada, and Utah State.

By pure rankings and upside, BYU Football picking up Hillstead is a good get. Getting a quarterback who had offers from other P4 schools is always a positive thing, even if he isn’t the kind of QB who will get national headlines.

Finally, according to Aaron Roderick and Kalani Sitake, the two were actually quite happy with how Jake Retzlaff and Gerry Bohanon played, separating themselves from the rest of the competition. In fact, according to Roderick, Retzlaff didn’t throw a single interception all through spring football. Additionally, they both said they weren’t going to seek another QB in the portal, suggesting that Hillstead may be exception opposed to a desperate addition.

Conclusion

Should BYU Football fans be concerned? I’m gong to lean towards no. The fact that the coaching staff said they weren’t going to seek another QB in the portal suggests that Hillstead may a perfect scheme fit that the coaching staff couldn’t pass up.

Aaron Roderick and Kalani Sitake have never been the kind of coaches to lead fans and reporters astray in their message, so in my personal opinion, this is a positive, albeit a cautiously positive move for the Cougars as they continue to prepare for the 2024 season.

Let’s work! @BYUfootball #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/p8xIE9t3IT

— McCae Hillstead (@mccaehillstead) April 25, 2024