Zach Wilson Reminds Tennessee Head Coach Of Johnny Manziel

PROVO, Utah –  This Saturday’s game between BYU and Tennessee features two teams that are looking to bounce back this week after disappointing losses a week ago.

Preparations are well underway for both teams as they look to square off in their first meeting against one another.

Second-year head coach Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt is impressed with what he sees on film from BYU quarterback Johnny Manziel.

“To me, it starts with their quarterback, a guy that kind of reminds me of Johnny Manziel,” Pruitt said. “He can run around, extend plays, and make all the throws.”

Tennessee Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt on #BYU's Zach Wilson: "To me, it starts with their quarterback, a guy that kind of reminds me of Johnny Manziel. He can run around, extend plays, and make all the throws."

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 2, 2019

This isn’t the first time Wilson has been compared to the man known as Johnny Football who won the Heisman Trophy from Texas A&M. Over the summer, a college football writer from Banner Society coined Wilson as the “Mormon Johnny Manziel.”

Wilson is looking to have a bounceback after an opening week performance that saw BYU’s second-year signal-caller throw two pick-sixes against No. 14 Utah in Provo. Wilson ended the game with 208 passing yards on 21 completions and 33 attempts. Wilson’s two interceptions played a significant impact on the outcome of BYU’s loss to the Utes.

For Tennessee, the Volunteers are looking to bounce back from what might be the worst loss in the history of their program at home in Neyland Stadium after they dropped to Georgia State in the Sun Belt, 38-30.

Volunteers quarterback Jarrett Guarantano will lead the way for Tennessee’s offense as both teams are looking to avoid 0-2 start which hasn’t happened in a long time for either team. Last time for BYU was in 1995 and Tennessee last started 0-2 in 1988.

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.