BYU QB Zach Wilson Discusses Relationships With Jeff Grimes And John Beck

PROVO, Utah – BYU sophomore quarterback Zach Wilson has a lot of expectations placed on him heading into the 2019 season.

After a perfect bowl performance in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Wilson has captured the minds of Cougar fans everywhere in hopes that BYU is back in the quarterback business.

With any quarterback, they need a great team of individuals to help them reach their potential.  Wilson is no different.

Wilson has always had a strong relationship with BYU head coach Kalani Sitake and passing game coordinator Aaron Roderick.  When Sitake and Roderick were coaching at Utah, Wilson, who grew up a Utah fan, was always attending Ute Shoot camps and going to Utah football events.  But when Wilson signed with BYU in December of 2017, he needed to build a relationship with offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes.

Grimes, who like Wilson, heads into his second season in Provo.  Together the two are looking to take big steps forward with the BYU offense in 2019.

“Me and Coach Grimes are super close,” Wilson said.  “He (Grimes) does a great job keeping the offense together, making sure we’re getting things done, and making sure there’s a group of leaders that are really taking control and pushing the guys to be their best.”

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Wilson, who turns 20 years old this August, is dubbed by coaches and teammates as a “football junkie” because he’s always breaking down film and looking for ways to improve.

“It’s cool, me and Coach Grimes talk all the time about schemes and how I can become a better player and a better leader,” Wilson said.

During the off-season months, it’s tough for college players to have access to their coaches as the coaches are out recruiting, conducting camps, and getting a rare vacation in as well. That’s where quarterback coaches can fill the gaps and Wilson has put his trust in a former BYU legend.

“I’ve always heard growing up that you want to choose that one trainer and that’s who you always kind of go to.  With the mental game and how I want my mechanics to be and how I want my footwork to be and my drops, that’s kind of something me and John Beck have talked about,” said Wilson.

Beck and Wilson got in touch during the summer of last year and they’ve been working together ever since.  Beck is a trainer for 3DQB, which is based in Southern California.

Due to his shoulder surgery, Wilson wasn’t able to go down to California until last week to work with Beck.

“John is someone I believe in,” Wilson said.  “He’s got a great throwing ability and knows the game in and out.  He deals with tons of NFL guys that have done so well.  He’s someone that I trust and I just want to learn the game from him.”

Listen to Wilson’s entire commentary on his relationships with Grimes and Beck along with other topics in the Cougar Tracks Podcast below.

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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.