Micah Harper got an unfortunate surprise during surgery. Back now, he could be what BYU’s defense needs most

I know everyone wants to talk about the quarterback situation. And we will get to that soon, I promise. But I wanted to start today with Micah Harper.

It could easily be argued that Harper was BYU’s best defensive player in 2022. He graded out inside the top three on the team in both pass coverage and run stopping. He was an underrated pass rusher too — finishing with a higher pass rush grade than both Tyler Batty and Max Tooley, according to Pro Football Focus.

Then Harper missed all of 2023 with an ACL injury. He tore his meniscus too, he told me, something doctors didn’t necessarily expect when they went in for surgery. It meant he was bedridden for six weeks.

BYU missed him last year. Defensive coordinator Jay Hill had to rotate a bevy of players on the backline like Crew Wakley, Tanner Wall, Ethan Slade, Talan Alfrey and more.

As Harper comes back, you’d think he’d be slotted right back into his strong safety role. But in speaking with Hill and Harper, they have been trying to play him more at nickel. Remember, that is where Eddie Heckard anchored Hill’s defense a year ago.

“I’m just playing everywhere right now. Strong, free, nickel,” Harper told The Salt Lake Tribune.

While that may not seem like huge news, it might allow BYU to get more playmakers on the field at once.

Right now, there is more talent in the safety room than there are snaps to go around. Hill knows it. He coaches that room personally and has taken to calling the position a “battle royal.” It’s his baby. There are six players in that room who have started games in Provo. Harper could still be a good option, but the second and third string there are still capable playmakers.

If Hill could move Harper to nickel (at least at times), that would free up two open safety positions. It means getting players like Wakley (who was productive last year) and maybe even Tommy Prassas (the standout freshman) some more snaps. Hill wants takeaways. Moving Harper to nickel might be a way to get more guys who can create turnovers on the field.

Quarterbacks

OK, enough about the defense. Let’s get to the quarterbacks.

BYU still doesn’t have a quarterback. It was never going to name a quarterback this early in fall camp.

The one clear takeaway at this point is that Gerry Bohanon looks much healthier than he did in the spring. He also looks like he has a better command over the offense. Everything we saw the first week was quick and delivered on time. He struggled at times in the spring. He looks more like the guy from Baylor in 2021 now.

All that means is there is a legitimate quarterback battle going to play out now. We talked last week about how Bohanon needed to show quickly that he could do the job. Now it is about winning the job.

BYU is splitting reps 50/50 at the moment. It went split field and allowed Jake Retzlaff and Bohanon to get reps at the same time. A scrimmage is coming on Saturday. We might know more after that.

Harrison Taggart and the linebacker void

Ben Bywater has medically retired. That opens up a starting spot at linebacker and there is going to be a race to fill it.

One name that pops up immediately is Harrison Taggart. Now in year three of the college football experience, his second at BYU, this is the time to make the leap. He needed to get better in pass coverage this offseason. He was biting on too many play action fakes. He said he feels more comfortable in space now. I would keep an eye on him to command the middle of the defense.

One other name you might not have heard of is Choe Bryant-Strother. He is a transfer from UCLA that Hill took this offseason. Start slotting him into the linebacker discussion as time goes on.

Linebackers coach Justin Ena told me that he expects to travel as many as seven or eight players in his room. Add into the mix guys like Isaiah Glasker, Jack Kelly, Ace Kaufusi and Maika Kaufusi.