BYU Football’s Backup QB Battle Has An Early Leader In Spring
Mar 2, 2022, 5:06 PM | Updated: 5:18 pm
BYU quarterbacks Jacob Conover (#17), Nick Billoups (#15), Cade Fennegan (#11), Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters (#10) and Jaren Hall (#3) huddle up at the end of football practice in the Indoor Practice Facility at BYU in Provo on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
(Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
PROVO, Utah – An intriguing position battle entering BYU football spring practices is the backup quarterback position.
There’s no debate on the starting quarterback as that title goes to Jaren Hall, who feels more autonomy heading into his second season as QB1. But after him, some questions need to be answered. Especially after career backup, Baylor Romney moved on to a career at Adobe.
The three players vying to be listed behind Hall this fall are Jacob Conover, Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters, and Boise State transfer Cade Fennegan.
Aaron Roderick says Jacob Conover has taken the most backup reps
According to BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick, one has taken most of the backup reps through two spring practices.
“Come what may and love it.” pic.twitter.com/GaoiyZ6Rxp
— Jacob Conover (@JacobConover17) October 10, 2021
“Right now, Jacob Conover has gotten the most reps at number two,” said Roderick during an interview with Hans & Scotty G on The Zone Sports Network on Wednesday. “But he’s competing with Sol-Jay Maiava and Cade Fennegan and they’ve all had their moments.”
Conover, a third-year freshman, was one of the three quarterbacks to contend for the starting job last fall. During camp, Conover garnered comparisons to a “young Zach Wilson” from Roderick for his style of play.
At 6-foot-1, 205-pounds, Conover stepped in for a concussed Baylor Romney against Utah State last October. Conover was 5-of-9 and passed for 45 yards in the 34-20 win. He also made an appearance against Idaho State.
Confidence someone will emerge as the No. 2 QB
Both Fennegan and Maiava haven’t appeared in games since the 2020 season. Fennegan’s appearances came as a member of the Boise State program.
“I’m really confident about what they’re capable of. They’re just not ready yet. But we will get them there. That’s my job to get them ready,” Roderick said. “They’re all willing and there’s enough talent in that room that someone’s going to emerge as the clear number two.”
Roderick’s history with BYU Football QB’s
Since joining BYU’s staff in 2018, Roderick has successfully developed the BYU quarterback room. Roderick has won games with four different starting QBs (Tanner Mangum, Zach Wilson, Baylor Romney, Jaren Hall). Plus, he’s developed a stable of backup QBs ready to plug in if a starter goes down with an injury. He likes his options again in 2022.
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“Sol-Jay (Maiava-Peters) has been one of the most improved players on our team, so far,” Roderick said. “And Cade (Fennegan) is a very talented guy who has not had a lot of reps. He didn’t really get any reps last fall; he just played scout team. So the reps he’s gotten in the first two practices are the first look we’ve had at him, other than a few bowl practices. But he has a lot of talent as well.”
Roderick continued, “The group is good. It’s just now a matter of who’s going to do the most with the reps they get and we’ll have a good pecking order before that first game. But we’re going to let it play out and we’re going to let them compete and see how it goes.”
BYU’s third spring practice takes place on Thursday. The Cougars will have 15 practices, with spring camp concluding on March 31.
Listen to Hans & Scott G weekdays on The Zone Sports Network (97.5 FM & 1280 AM) Noon-3 p.m.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
