Top of his game: Hillstead’s high school coach says he’s ready for intense BYU quarterback competition
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- Utah State quarterback McCae Hillstead (10) looks downfield late in the second half of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl NCAA college football game against Georgia State, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023, in Boise, Idaho. Georgia State won 45-22.
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- Skyridge quarterback McCae Hillstead (7) celebrates with teammate Jace Doman after winning the 6A state football championship game against Corner Canyon at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, November 18, 2022.
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- Utah State quarterback McCae Hillstead (10) scrambles with the ball against Georgia State late in the second half of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023, in Boise, Idaho. Georgia State won 45-22.
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- Skyridge quarterback McCae Hillstead (7) passes the ball against Corner Canyon in the 6A state football championship game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, November 18, 2022.
Let’s get right to it: New BYU quarterback McCae Hillstead is 5-foot-10-inches tall in a game of giants.
His high school coach, Jon Lehman, doesn’t think that’s going to be a problem.
Lehman stepped down after Hillstead led Skyridge to the 2022 Class 6A Utah state title and is now the school’s athletic director.
“McCae’s height was some of the concern BYU and other schools had when he came out of high school,” Lehman said. “Everybody is long at the D1 level and in the Big 12. But height affects some quarterbacks more than others. I never worried about how McCae’s height would affect him at the next level. He can attack the middle of the field. He can make the intermediate throws in the 8-14 yard range and between the hashes. He can make those plays.”
Hillstead played in eight games during his freshman season at Utah State, sharing time with another Utah County product (former Orem star Cooper Legas) and Levi Williams. Hillstead completed 59% of his passes for 1,062 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Against James Madison, he was 25 of 47 for 399 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.
Hillstead battled through an ankle injury and a concussion during his freshman season with an offensive line that gave up 44 sacks.
“I talked to a lot of college coaches when McCae went into the transfer portal,” Lehman said. “They were concerned (about his height) when he started his college career but after watching film of him at Utah State, they weren’t as concerned. Being a shorter quarterback didn’t affect his game like it affects others. He showed he could attack the middle of the field and colleges were excited about him.”
Hillstead transferred to Skyridge as a sophomore and won the starting quarterback job.
“McCae was a mature kid and tough,” Lehman said. “He really understands the game of football and is very cerebral. He’s a high character person and a great leader. From an intangible standpoint, he has a great mindset. As far as tangible things, he throws a really nice ball with velocity and touch. He has great mechanics and can fit the ball into tight windows. He can make all the throws. He’s also a great athlete who can hurt defenses with his legs, whether it’s in the designed run game of as a scrambler. He brings a lot to the table as a quarterback. He can make a lot of plays.”
Hillstead completed 60% of his passes in his career at Skyridge, throwing for 6,897 yards with 74 touchdowns against 22 interceptions while rushing for 1,807 yards and 35 more scores. Hillstead hurt his ankle in the fifth game of his senior season against Timpview, an injury that required surgery. He missed the next six games and returned to throw four touchdown passes in a 47-22 quarterfinal win against Davis. In the state finals against Corner Canyon, Hillstead completed 19 of 28 passes for 182 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions in a 17-7 victory.
“He wasn’t fully healthy when he came back but he’s a tough kid who can make the most of things even when he’s not feeling perfect,” Lehman said.
Hillstead joins a crowded quarterbacks room at BYU, led by former junior college transfer Jake Retzlaff (who started four games last season), Gerry Bohanon (a former starter at Baylor and South Florida) and former Western Michigan standout Treyson Bourguet. Redshirt freshman Ryder Burton (Springville) entered the transfer portal this week.
Lehman thinks Hillstead has the skill set to be successful in Provo.
“Bringing in Bohanon to the QB room in the offseason, BYU puts value on a quarterback who can not only throw the ball, but on a quarterback that can move around and utilize athleticism to make plays as well,” Lehman said. “McCae is 5-10 but with the vertical passing game, being a shorter quarterback is not nearly the issue that was at one point. Your ability to see the field is not nearly as big of a factor when the routes are 20 yards and beyond, McCae has the arm strength to get the ball there. When you’re a quarterback who can move around and change platforms or shift the pocket and throw on the run, size doesn’t matter.”
Lehman said the high-level talent around Hillstead at BYU will allow his former quarterback to shine.
“McCae is a competitor in all ways,” he said. “He’s got the mindset and the talent to play in the Big 12 and he’s confident he can do that. He wants to be an elite quarterback. His goal is to produce at an elite level, whether than comes from his height or a naturally competitive makeup, he’s always going to try and prove doubters wrong, for sure.”
