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BYU sophomore defensive back Gabe Jeudy-Lally makes a tackle during the 38-26 Cougar win over Utah State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022.

Brooklyn Kelson, BYU Photo

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BYU sophomore defensive back Gabe Jeudy-Lally looks across the field during the 38-26 Cougar win over Utah State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022.

Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo

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BYU sophomore defensive back Gabe Jeudy-Lally makes a tackle during the 38-26 Cougar win over Utah State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022.

Nate Edwards, BYU Photo

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It was early in the fourth quarter of the game against Utah State at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Sept. 29 when BYU sophomore defensive back Gabe Jeudy-Lally appeared to have made a great play.

He had shed his blocker, then zeroed in on Aggie receiver NyNy Davis who had just caught a swing pass. Jeudy-Lally slammed into the USU player and hurled him into the ground for a three-yard loss.

The celebration over the big tackle didn’t last long, however, since the official went to the monitor and then penalized the Cougar sophomore for targeting.

“I knew it was clean from the get-go,” Jeudy-Lally said after practice on Tuesday. “Was I happy? No, not at all. I needed a second to cool off, so I went in the locker room. I wanted to handle it appropriately and let some frustration out. But after that, I was like, we’ll see what happens. I was positive from the beginning.”

His position coach, BYU cornerbacks coach Jernaro Gilford, was frustrated as well when he watched what had happened.

“It was a tough because I didn’t know what to tell him,” Gilford said. “He’s like, ‘Coach, what could I have done differently?’ I’m like, ‘maybe lower your target and go to thighs or something.’ I mean, he didn’t lower his head. If you watch it, he had his face up, he wrapped him up and drove him back. I really didn’t have a clear cut answer for him. I’m like, ‘man, I don’t know.'”

Since the Cougars played on Thursday, they had some extra time to get ready for next week. Jeudy-Lally said he never felt particularly concerned about potentially having to miss the first half of the game against Notre Dame (as a consequence of the targeting call).

“This weekend I wasn’t really stressed about it because I wasn’t going to know for sure until the weekend was over,” Jeudy-Lally said. “But I got the call on Sunday so I didn’t even get in the mindset of not knowing if I was going to play the first two quarters of the next game. I was just happy to get to know.”

There was an added benefit, since he had a chance to go be with his family for the weekend.

“I was at home so it was nice to talk to my family about it and say. ‘hey, y’all are all coming in town and I get to play the whole game,'” Jeudy-Lally said. “So it was exciting.”

He said he wasn’t involved in the appeals process, that it comes down to BYU sending the details to the NCAA and then from there the determination is made whether it is forcible contact or not.

“I guess we all knew that it really wasn’t forcible contact, but it happened and now I’m back so it’s all good,” Jeudy-Lally said.

BYU senior defensive back Kaleb Hayes said there was a feeling of vindication to get the news that the appeal had been successful.

“He’s my roommate, so I heard it and he was very excited that they overturned it,” Hayes said. “It was kind of an iffy call, something that was up to the refs. It was sad in the moment but at the same time we were expected to move forward, regardless of the situation. But now I’m glad my boy is back.”

It’s also a big deal for the Cougars as they prepare to face the Fighting Irish, since Jeudy-Lally has become more and more relied on to contribute on the field.

“He everything that we knew he would be,” Gilford said. “He’s a guy who’s physical, a guy who has a high football IQ, who understands concepts and coverages. It was just a matter of time before he stepped up and put everything together and start playing well.”

Jeudy-Lally’s perspective is that the BYU secondary has played fairly well but still can be better.

“I feel like we’ve played really well,” the Cougar sophomore said. “What we got to prove is that we can come down and tackle when it’s called upon. We need to do that as a defense and that’s what we’re going to show this weekend. We go out there and work hard. Everybody knows their assignment and does their job. I think it just kind of shows since nobody really wants to throw it on the outside.”

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