McCae Hillstead Brings ‘Unique’ Traits To BYU QB Room
Jul 1, 2025, 3:29 PM | Updated: 3:29 pm
BYU quarterback McCae Hillstead (3) calls out before a play during the opening day of BYU football spring camp held at the Zions Bank Practice Fields of the Student Athlete Building on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Isaac Hale, Deseret News)
(Isaac Hale, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – Quarterback upheaval in Provo could be precisely what McCae Hillstead needed to get a crack at the No. 1 QB spot heading into the 2025 BYU football season.
The redshirt sophomore is expected to make a run at the starting job during a fall camp battle with redshirt junior Treyson Bourget and a pair of highly touted high school prospects in Emerson Geilman and Bear Bachmeier.
“Not the biggest guy, but can definitely run,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said of the former Skyridge Falcon. “He has a very strong and live arm, accurate arm. He can spin it with the best, but his ability to use his feet and extend plays is something that’s unique. He’s super fast and he’s got a lot of ability.”
Sitake continued, “The fact that he’s been in our offense for some time gives him a little bit more familiarity with what A-Rod (BYU OC Aaron Roderick) wants to do and how he wants to execute the plays. I’m looking forward to him in competition, seeing what he can get done this year.”
About BYU’s McCae Hillstead
A three-year starter at nearby Skyridge High School, Hillstead amasses gaudy prep numbers while leading the Falcons to the 2022 6A state championship.
Hillstead threw for 6,898 yards and 73 touchdowns, while also running for 1,791 yards and 35 scores. He earned 6A All-State Second Team recognition as a senior.
A pair of nice throws from McCae Hillstead.
Hillstead connected with Cal transfer Marquis Taliulu in the first clip.
He finds tight end Nason Coleman for a touchdown in the second. pic.twitter.com/OCQ7l3JL9t
— Casey Lundquist (@casey_lundquist) March 8, 2025
Hillstead signed with the Utah State Aggies and played himself into a starting role in Logan as a true freshman. Injuries limited the 5’10, 195-pound QB to eight games (four starts) with the Aggies.
The Lehi, Utah native completed 94 of 158 passes for 1,062 yards and 11 TDs against eight interceptions. Hilstead set a USU freshman single-game passing record when he threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-38 loss to James Madison.
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