Saturday Blitz
Fansided

BYU Football: Cougars 2023 Season Preview and Predictions

By Hunter Newbold

Nov 27, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; BYU Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake celebrates in the second half against the Southern California Trojans at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; BYU Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake celebrates in the second half against the Southern California Trojans at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
EUGENE, OR – SEPTEMBER 17: The line of scrimmage between the Oregon Ducks and the Brigham Young Cougars during the first half at Autzen Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR – SEPTEMBER 17: The line of scrimmage between the Oregon Ducks and the Brigham Young Cougars during the first half at Autzen Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images) /

The BYU football defense

Jay Hill takes over as defensive coordinator after eight seasons as the head coach at Weber State University. Prior to that, he was an assistant at the University of Utah under head coaches Urban Meyer and Kyle Whittingham. Hill is a great defensive mind and was able to turn Weber State around quite nicely as they were a losing program when he arrived and had eight consecutive winning seasons during his time there. Cougar fans should be excited about his arrival.

This defense was ranked 94th in 2022 in the FBS, which certainly indicates a need for improvement. They did go into the transfer portal and come out with some nice additions including Eddie Heckard and Kamden Garrett, who started for Hill at Weber State and will add some nice experience to this defense.

The defense may be a work in progress, but the Big 12 conference has not been known for its tough defenses and have several teams ranked in the bottom half of the FBS in total defense. It will be less of a shock entering the Big 12 than some of the other power five leagues such as the SEC who are more known for elite defense.

Home/Big 12