BYU’s Jacob Conover Puts In Offseason Work With Pair Of Cougar QB Legends

PROVO, Utah – BYU freshman Jacob Conover is one of four players vying to win the starting quarterback job this fall. It’s an important battle as the Cougars look to fill the void left behind by expected top-two NFL Draft pick Zach Wilson.

#BYU freshman QB @JacobConover17 connects with @MasenWake13. #BYUFootball #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/MVbSxqW7GL

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 2, 2021

With spring practices in the rearview mirror, players are on their own until summer conditioning begins, and Conover is getting his work in with some BYU greats.

Jacob Conover putting in work with Ty Detmer & Max Hall

Conover was down in Arizona working with former BYU signal-callers Max Hall and Ty Detmer. Detmer and Hall each work on the football staff at American Leadership Academy in Queen Creek, Arizona. Hall is the offensive coordinator, with Detmer serving as the school’s head coach.

Great training sesh last night! @HighlandHawksFB @gage17dayley and @BYUfootball @JacobConover17 competing and getting better!! https://t.co/Owm6P93fmt

— Max Hall (@mxrd15) April 13, 2021

There aren’t many quarterbacks in BYU history that are more accomplished than Detmer and Hall. Detmer won the 1990 Heisman Trophy and rewrote the NCAA record books for passing. Hall finished as the school’s winningest starting quarterback.

During his training session with Detmer and Hall, joining Conover was a 2022 QB recruit, Gage Daley, from Highland, Arizona. A prospect who could be on BYU’s radar in this recruiting cycle.

Conover looking to win the job as a freshman

Conover is from Chandler, Arizona, where he prepped at Chandler High School. In three years as the starting quarterback at Chandler, Conover posted a 39-5 record as the starter and amassed 10,000 career passing yards. His high school play garnered an invitation to the Elite 11 and scholarship offers from the likes of Alabama, Arizona State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, and others.

Conover arrived at BYU last fall after serving the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Paraguay. Conover’s mission in Paraguay was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing him to enroll at BYU.

Jacob Conover is a Cougar.

@jacob_conover17 || @BYUfootball pic.twitter.com/Wjhe3U1nLv

— Elite11 (@Elite11) December 19, 2018

With last season being a free year regarding NCAA eligibility due to the pandemic, Conover gained valuable experience as the scout team quarterback and had the opportunity to learn the offensive playbook going into this year’s quarterback competition while still maintaining his true freshman status entering 2021.

#BYU freshman QB @JacobConover17 airs it out to WR @Chris24yackson. #BYUFootball #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/yJuRw3BjLs

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 5, 2021

When asked in March how he would describe himself as a quarterback, Conover said, “I like to consider myself a smooth operator, who’s cool, calm, and collected under pressure.” He will have to stay cool, calm, and collected for a chance to win the starting job as a freshman.

Conover will continue to battle with upperclassmen Jaren Hall and Baylor Romney for a chance to be BYU’s number one quarterback when the Cougars face Arizona on September 4th in Las Vegas.

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 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.