How Good Is BYU Quarterback Riley Nelson?

And the comeback is complete!

It's interesting how your night can change with one phone call. One second you are on the way to babysit for a friend and the next you are walking into Lavell Edwards Stadium with that same friend.

I hadn't been to a BYU game for a few years, so when my friend called and told me his wife wasn't feeling well and I would be joining him at the game, instead of babysitting for him, I was more than happy for the change.

I hope my friend's wife is feeling better, but thank heaven's she was sick last night, because that was one of the best game's I have ever been to! 

For those who didn't see the game, BYU won by scoring a touchdown with 11 seconds left in the game, to take a 27-24 lead.

That the drive was 99 yards after a first down sack on the 1 yard line, made it even better.

That it was against an in-state rival, made it even sweeter.

That it was conducted by the back-up quarterback, made it unbelievable.

Utah State had built a 24-13 lead and looked like a much better team. With starting quarterback Jake Heaps on the field, the BYU offense was boring and predictable. 

A star is born?

BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall then made a move that may have completely altered his team's season. Back up quarterback Riley Nelson, a Utah State transfer, entered the game towards the end of the third quarter; and everything changed.

Receivers went after every ball with much more aggression. The linemen blocked harder and longer, while the running backs ran harder and with much more confidence.

BYU scored early in the fourth quarter on a brilliant catch by receiver Cody Hoffman who attacked a ball on a 24 yard fade route into the end zone.

The teams went back and forth for a while before Riley Nelson lead the team 99 yards, in just over two minutes, to score a touchdown with 11 seconds to play.

Fans rushed the field and after joining them, I heard people saying Nelson was the next Steve Young.

Wo. Hold up. Slow your roll BYU fans.

Lets just put this all in perspective with a few observations.

1- The team was down, at home, to an inferior team, when Nelson came in with nothing to lose. What Nelson did was spectacular and fun to watch, but lets not put the kid in the first round of the NFL draft just yet. Nelson, himself, had this to say about the situation:

"You're the backup quarterback. Not much is expected of you. If you go in there and don't play too well, that's kind of what people expect. If you go in there and play great, all of the sudden you're the greatest thing since sliced bread."

Who should start for BYU, Jake Heaps or Riley Nelson?

2- As a running quarterback, Nelson brings a running element to the field that the Utah State defense would have spent no time preparing for. Starting next week, opposing defenses will have prepared for him to run and he won't be able to successfully run that same QB draw15 times.

3- Nelson was the backup for a reason. The coaches have seen him for two years and know what he is and isn't. He is a great runner, a fierce competitor and someone his teammates clearly respond to. He isn't a deep threat in the passing game or a polished pocket passer.

All in all, Nelson gives BYU the best option to win. His teammates respond to him in a way they did not to Jake Heaps. The crowd loves him and injected an energy to the stadium that helped propel BYU to victory. 

Ultimately, while Heaps is a more polished passer, he wasn't throwing the ball effectively anyway, so it doesn't matter if Nelson isn't a great passer. And if neither guy throws well,  I'll take the guy who runs well and inspires his teammates to play harder.

Riley Nelson for President!