BYU Football vs Portland State: 3 things to watch

3. Can Tanner Mangum step up?

The first game will be against the Vikings, but a school the caliber of the Cougars can’t allow themselves to sleepwalk against a team they should handle easily.  A key part of that will be quarterback play.

Last season Tayson Hill was the main signal caller, but now the weight of the program will be placed on Mangum. The good thing is he has already played in 17 games during his first two seasons the majority in his freshman season as Hill was out with an injury. Last season he didn’t get much run because Hill was back to reclaim the reigns.

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Mangum has thrown for 3,618 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions on a 60.3 completion percentage. He has shown a knack of being a playmaker in his time under center. Having a junior step in for the most important position on the field has to be a good feeling for the staff, but can he ball out against the Vikings and beyond?