Zach Wilson - Football | byucougars.com

Zach Wilson

Quarterback 1

Ht/Wt

210 lbs.

Class

Junior

Hometown

Draper,

Utah

Last School

Corner Canyon High School

Roster Years

2018-2020

BYU Career Summary

A three-year starter before declaring early for the NFL Draft, Wilson was drafted No. 2 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft to the New York Jets. Wilson played in 30 career games for BYU with 28 starts. The youngest freshman quarterback to ever start for the Cougars, Wilson finished his career going 566-837 for 7,652 yards passing yards with 56 touchdowns at a 162.91 efficiency rating. The athletic quarterback added 212 rushing attempts to his career stat line for 642 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Wilson was one of the nation’s most productive quarterbacks during the 2020 season. The veteran signal-caller finished the 2020 season ranked No. 2 nationally in points responsible for (264), passing efficiency (196.4) and completion percentage (73.5); No. 3 in passing yards (3,692), passing touchdowns (33), yards per pass attempt (10.99) and points responsible for per game (22.0); No. 4 in rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (10); No. 5 in passing yards per completion (14.95); No. 8 in total offense (328.8); and No. 10 in passing yards per game (307.7).

In 2020 he earned Pro Football Focus All-America Second Team, Phil Steele All-America honorable mention, Co-Polynesian College Player of the Year and finished No. 8 in the Heisman Trophy voting. A team captain in 2020, Wilson was a Manning Award Finalist, Walter Camp Player of the Year Semifinalist, Maxwell Award Semifinalist and Davey O’Brien Semifinalist.

The 6-foot-2, 214-pounder achieved a 96.5 Clean Pocket Grade from PFF – ranking the highest in the nation and set a new PFF record with an overall passing grade of 95.5, topping Joe Burrow’s 94.9 in 2019. On his way to a hallmark season, Wilson broke the BYU record, previously held by Steve Young, for completion percentage, completing 73.5 percent of his passes in 2020 while also rushing for 255 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Personal

Parents are Lisa and Michael
Has three brothers and two sisters
Plans to major in construction management

Before BYU

Prepped at Corner Canyon High School
Passed for 2,986 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior at Corner Canyon and also ran for 752 yards on eight scores
Named 5A MVP and first-team all-state selection
Led Corner Canyon to the 5A state semifinals, region championship and an 11-1 overall record
Runner-up for Utah Mr. Football
Threw for 2,708 yards and 20 touchdowns to go along with 539 rushing yards as a junior
Also played varsity basketball
Earned a spot on the honor roll
Coached by Eric Kjar
Also recruited by Boise State, California, Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon State, Syracuse, Utah State, Hawaii, Fresno State, Nevada, Rice, Idaho, Weber State and Colorado State

BYU Hall of Fame

Freshman Year 2018

Played in nine games, starting seven
Completed 120 of 182 passes for 1,578 yards and 12 touchdowns
Fifth on the team in rushing with 221 yards on 75 attempts and two touchdowns
Youngest freshman quarterback to start for BYU (first start against Hawai'i)
Went 16 for 24 for 194 yards for the highest pass efficiency rating of a BYU true freshman quarterback in their first start at 167.5
Threw for three touchdowns in the game against Hawai'i which is the most by a true freshman QB in their first start
Totaled four combined touchdowns (passing/running) which is the most combined touchdowns in a game by a true freshman in their first start
Seventh true freshman to start a game as a quarterback for BYU
Posted season-high 73 rushing yards against No. 17 Utah
Went a perfect 18 for 18 for a season-high and team-high 317 yards with a 70 yard season-long pass against Western Michigan in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Named MVP of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Feature Story: Zach Wilson becomes youngest QB to start at BYU (Deseret News)
Feature Story: What Zach Wilson had to accomplish and sacrifice to enroll early at BYU (Deseret News)
BYUtv Interview with Kathy Aiken

Sophmore Year 2019

Started nine games
Completed 199 of 319 passes for 2,382, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions
Ran for 167 yards and three touchdowns
Passed for at least 200 yards in eight of nine starts
Had two 300-yard games (Toledo and SDSU)
Threw for four touchdowns at Umass, tying a career high
Career-best 72 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Hawai'i
2019 Maxwell Award watch list nominee
2019 CFPA National Performer of the Year watch list nominee

Junior Year 2020

PFF All-America Second Team
Phil Steele All-America honorable mention
Co-Polynesian College Player of the Year
No. 8 in Heisman Trophy voting in 2020
Team Captain,
Manning Award Finalist, Walter Camp Player of the Year Semifinalist, Maxwell Award Semifinalist and Davey O’Brien Semifinalist
Finished the 2020 season ranked No. 2 nationally in points responsible for (264), passing efficiency (196.4) and completion percentage (73.5); No. 3 in passing yards (3,692), passing touchdowns (33), yards per pass attempt (10.99) and points responsible for per game (22.0); No. 4 in rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (10); No. 5 in passing yards per completion (14.95); No. 8 in total offense (328.8); and No. 10 in passing yards per game (307.7).
Achieved a 96.5 Clean Pocket Grade from PFF — ranking the highest in the nation and set a new PFF record for an overall passing grade at 95.5 topping Joe Burrow’s 94.9 in 2019.
Broke a BYU record, previously held by Steve Young, for completion percentage, completing 73.5 percent of his passes in 2020. He also rushed for 255 yards and 10 touchdowns.