BYU’s defense gearing up for ‘gifted’ Kansas QB Jalon Daniels, record-setting RB Devin Neal

Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels passes during game against Houston, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. Daniels and the Jayhawks will swoop into LaVell Edwards Stadium Saturday for a late-night showdown with No. 6 BYU. | Charlie Riedel, Associated Press

BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff said the other day that he is grateful that he doesn’t have to face BYU’s defense in real games, and praised coordinator Jay Hill’s crew for its ability to wreak havoc and create turnovers.

The Cougars did a little bit of that in Saturday’s 22-21 win over Utah, forcing inexperienced Utes QB Brandon Rose into throwing an interception and getting another takeaway when Utah tried to trick them with a double pass. Rose started well, throwing for two touchdowns in the first half and hurting the Cougars with a couple of lengthy runs, but BYU stopped the sophomore and Utah’s offense in the second half, holding them to 79 yards after the break.

Rose sustained a season-ending lower leg injury late in the game and will be replaced by freshman Isaac Wilson — former BYU QB Zach Wilson’s younger brother — in Utah’s lineup against Colorado on Saturday.

The Cougars (9-0, 5-0) will also be facing a familiar face — a quarterback who beat them last year in Lawrence, Kansas.

While Utah’s defense was top-notch and pushed Retzlaff and company to the brink before succumbing late, the challenge ramps up considerably as opposing offenses go on Saturday night. BYU, up to No. 6 in the College Football Playoff rankings, faces what Hill says is “one of the best quarterbacks in the country and has been for three years now” in Kansas redshirt junior Jalon Daniels. Kickoff is at 8:15 p.m. at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

“He is playing at a very high level. He can run it, he can throw it. We got our work cut out for us, obviously, and he has…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/byu-defense-gearing-gifted-kansas-231500959.html

Author : Deseret News

Publish date : 2024-11-13 23:15:00

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