BYU LB Payton Wilgar Hauls In Second Interception Of Season

TOLEDO, Ohio – One of the biggest surprises of 2019 for the BYU football has been the emergence of redshirt freshman Payton Wilgar.

Two weeks ago, Wilgar had an interception in the first half against the USC Trojans, the first of his career as a Cougar. Fast forward to two weeks later against the Toledo Rockets and Wilgar did it again.

Payton Wilgar with the INT #BYU

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2019

Wilgar intercepted a pass from Toledo quarterback Mitchell Guadagni on 1st and 10 from BYU’s 49-yard line with 2:42 left in the first quarter.

Coming into this season, Wilgar had missed spring practices because he was in the transfer portal. Wilgar was looking to transfer out of BYU after spending last season as a preferred walk-on. The former Dixie High standout entered the portal last spring and BYU’s Ed Lamb did not want to lose the 6-3, 235-pound linebacker from St. George. So the Cougars coaching staff awarded him a scholarship.

Second career INT for Payton Wilgar #BYUFootball

— BYU Game Notes (@BYUGameNotes) September 28, 2019

He then emerged in fall camp as one of the Cougars top interior linebackers and now he’s one of the top tacklers in the program this season, along with one of the leaders in interceptions.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.