Center stage: BYU’s McCae Hillstead primed for the impending quarterback competition
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
BYU sophomore quarterback McCae Hillstead looks to pass during the first day of fall camp in Provo on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.McCae Hillstead doesn’t look the part he’s been tasked to take on, and he’s well aware of that fact.
The 5-foot-10, 195 pound quarterback recently attended a media event held at Meier’s Meats in Highland where hundreds of BYU fans showed up to meet Hillstead, along with Cougar receivers Parker Kingston and Chase Roberts, and linebacker Isaiah Glasker. I helped co-host the event which was carried live by ESPN The Fan radio network.
Hillstead rolled up to Meier’s several minutes before most of the fans and his three teammates arrived, unaccompanied and without a hint of fanfare. The fans that were there probably missed his arrival completely as he made his way to our table to be interviewed about the strong possibility of becoming the what could well be argued as the most notable sports figure in Utah County.
It’s the type of scene Hillstead has grown accustomed to, however.
During his remarkable prep career for Skyridge High School, Hillstead didn’t capture a lot of notice from potential collegiate suitors either, turns out. Sure, many would-be suitors readily noted the type of numbers he was producing on the field, but when setting eyes on the unassuming quarterback often opted to look elsewhere.
“I think there was a lot of schools that weren’t interested in me just because of the you know, the size variable, and I understood that,” Hillstead related about his high school recruitment. “You know that coaches don’t really want to take a chance on somebody. There was a lot of schools where I would go up and say, ‘Hey, we’re going to offer you,’ and then you get up there and then you’re maybe not as tall as you thought they were. I’ve learned to deal with it, and it’s not something that I hold on or it’s a piece of resentment for me. It is what it is and that’s how I take it.”
Indeed many top programs passed on the dual-threat quarterback who led the Falcons to a state championship among several other standout feats. His best offer, in his mind, ended up being one from Utah State, which he readily accepted over offers from Washington State and Florida International.
True to form, Hillstead kept his head down and made the most of his opportunity.
His lone season in Logan saw him capture the starting quarterback position where he finished the 2023 season with 1,062 yards and 11 touchdowns passing against eight interceptions. It was enough to open up transfer opportunities with BYU quickly arriving as his preferred suitor.
“BYU was pursuing me heavily,” Hillstead recalled. “I knew I wanted to stay within the state of Utah, and BYU was the place that I wanted to be at.”
Growing up in Utah County, Hillstead was very familiar with the Cougar football program where he watched and admired several of BYU’s best operate behind center.
“I went to a lot of BYU games, whether that be basketball or football,” he said. “I grew up watching Taysom (Hill) and all those guys like Zach (Wilson) and Jaren (Hall)…I was very occupied with playing my own sport, and focusing on what I was doing, but if there was a BU game on, I was (watching.)”
Since arriving at BYU prior to the 2024 season Hillstead has been been watching from the sidelines, awaiting his opportunity following the departure of Jake Retzlaff, who started every game for the Cougars last season as a junior. Turns out Retzlaff’s departure came much earlier than anticipated after he opted to transfer from BYU rather than face a seven-game suspension due to violating the school’s honor code.
Retzlaff’s departure unsettled many Cougar fans, and it could well be assumed by those same fans that it altered Hillstead’s process considerably. But those fans would be wrong, turns out.
“I’m always prepared,” Hillstead explained. “Even last year when Gerry (Bohanon) was our backup I was preparing every single week, watching the same amount of hours of film that I would be if I was a starter… there’s a lot more buzz and stuff that I don’t really pay attention to that all that much, to be honest with you. I think it’s a little bit of a distraction. But as far as my work ethic, it’s always stays the same.”
Should Hillstead’s work ethic and mindset follow the course it has over his still young career, then the fanfare he encounters at live events just might be a whole lot different at this time next year.
