Jaren Hall Named BYU’s Starting Quarterback

PROVO, Utah – BYU football officially has its starting quarterback for the 2021 season.

Redshirt sophomore Jaren Hall is tasked with filling the shoes left behind by No. 2 overall NFL draft pick Zach Wilson. BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick announced the decision on Wednesday during a Camp Kalani wrapup session with the media on Zoom.

QB1. pic.twitter.com/dAid9lzdof

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) August 25, 2021

This will be Hall’s fourth season with the BYU football program, but he’s only appeared in nine games. Two of those appearances were as BYU’s starting QB in 2019. That was the last time Hall appeared in a game for BYU.

Last season, Hall missed the entire 2020 campaign due to a hip injury. Before that, Hall’s two starts at quarterbacks were cut short due to concussion protocols.

This past off-season, Hall put in the work to become BYU’s next starting quarterback. He put on hold his baseball career and signed up to train with former BYU great John Beck at 3DQB, along with his longstanding work with QB Elite’s Dustin Smith.

Jaren Hall is QB1 for BYU Football

At 6-foot-1, 205-pounds, Hall is a dual-threat quarterback with a big arm. The type of quarterback Aaron Roderick is looking for to maintain the aggressive passing attack BYU had with Zach Wilson last season.

Hall made history at BYU when he started the USF game in 2019. He became the first Black American to start at quarterback for the Cougars.

out here droppin' dimes 🎯 pic.twitter.com/GjryY7Ijos

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) August 22, 2021

During his start against Utah State in 2019 –his last appearance in a game– Hall passed for 214 yards and rushed for 54 yards in one half of play. Unfortunately for Hall, he left the game early due to a concussion, but had he replicated those numbers in the second half; he was on pace for 400 yards passing and 100 yards rushing. Something only 12 other quarterbacks in college football have pulled off. One of which is former BYU great Taysom Hill.

Hall steps into a BYU offense that features talent around him. Running back Tyler Allgeier returns as one of the nation’s top ball carriers this season. At wide receiver, offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick believes this is the deepest receiver room he’s had since he arrived at BYU in 2018.

Then at tight end, BYU brings back Isaac Rex, who burst onto the scene last year with 12 touchdown grabs. Returned missionary Dallin Holker teams up Rex to give BYU the option of playing 12 personnel this fall.

Jaren Hall is the sixth opening week starter at quarterback for BYU since the Cougars became an Independent in 2011.

BYU football opens the 2021 season against Arizona on September 4th in Las Vegas. Kick-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. (MT) at Allegiant Stadium on ESPN and KSL NewsRadio.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.