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New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill (7) is tackled by Denver Broncos outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu (97) and defensive end Dre'Mont Jones during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Jack Dempsey

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Former BYU star and Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier poses for a photo with Cougar fans Michael and Sam Fredericks from Minnesota during halftime of the Big 12 game between BYU and Oklahoma at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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BYU's Whittni Orton competes in the 1500-meter semifinals at the NCAA Track Meet in Austin, Texas, on Thursday, June 6, 2019. Orton finished with the fifth-fastest time and moved on to Saturday's final.

BYU Courtesy Photo

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A Hall of Fame recommendation, a bowling discussion, and a reward for doing her best.

These three topics highlighted some interesting recent public conversations involving and regarding former BYU athletes.

Other than for golf and baseball, July is a month that is much more about talking than it is about action.

That’s particularly the case in 2024 as not only are the college and pro football seasons on the horizon but the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris are just about to get under way.

Here a few interesting tidbits that were expressed either by or about former Cougar stars.

Here’s a look at some of the highlights:

Introducing NFL Hall of Famer … Taysom Hill?

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr joined the Pardon My Take podcast on Wednesday and the conversation ended up talking about his thoughts on former BYU quarterbackTaysom Hill.

“Taysom is the best football player I’ve ever played with,” Carr said on the podcast.

Carr talked about how Ronald Curry (who he called the greatest athlete of all time) was the Saints quarterback coach last year and warned the newcomer about Hill.

“He said that when Tayson runs the football, he sees red,” Carr said on the podcast. “He said I know you are probably out there on the edge, probably wide open, but he won’t see you.”

He then described a memorable moment from the 2023 season when New Orleans was playing at Carolina.

“I think it was Monday Night Football and we were on the 5-yard line,” Carr said on the podcast. “He runs a keeper right at me. I see my corner take off, so I slip and I’m open in the end zone. I look at Taysom’s face and for the nicest person in the world, he had the most violent, angry look. He just puts his head down between three dudes and pretty much trucked them all. I was like, that is the most violent, impressive thing I’ve ever seen.”

Carr lauded how Hill can do everything on the football field and said he deserves to be recognized for it.

“He throws, runs, catches, plays fullback, quarterback, tight end, receiver, slots, blocks punts, personal protector,” Carr said on the podcast. “Because of how stats work I don’t know how it will work but that man is a Hall-of-Fame football player because he does everything.”

Keep on rolling

No one who has watched former BYU running back Tyler Allgeier play football would be surprised at how he described his running style in a promotional interview posted by the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday.

“Like a bowling ball,” Allgeier said with his trademark grin.

After showing some highlights of powerful runs Allgeier had on the field, the Falcons let him show off his actual bowling skills as well.

“There was a bowling alley five minutes from my house in Fontana, Calif., so my family and I would just go bowl,” Allgeier said. “Whenever I had some free time, if I had a day to myself, I’d go. It was just like a game or two, not too long. Or I’d just go with the guys, get away from football and have a little fun.”

He explained in the video that having the outlet is important, that having a little release makes a big difference.

Allgeier then talked about what it is like to be playing pro football for Atlanta.

“It’s crazy to think about being in the NFL,” he said in the video. “We made it to the life-long dream, but then it is just a step. Now it’s just about continuing to prove ourselves and do whatever we can to help the team. It’s about bettering ourselves, getting 1% better. I think that’s the most important thing.”

He acknowledged that it’s a big task to take on a new offense like the Falcons are doing heading into 2024.

“I’m slowly learning,” Allgeier said. “I’m learning my stuff, but now the next step is learning everyone else’s stuff. That was my step from Year 1 to Year 2, but now we have a new coaching staff. It’s starting again but I already have a grasp on how to learn. I can bring from the first two years and just put it into Year 3.”

For the complete interview, go to @AtlantaFalcons on X (formerly Twitter).

Heading to Paris

Former Cougar star runner Whittni Orton Morgan ran well in the 5,000-meter race at the US Olympic Trials, finishing fifth in a time of 15:05.53.

Initially that didn’t appear to be enough to get her to the upcoming Olympics in Paris but that changed when other US 5,000-meter runners decided to focus on other races.

It wasn’t easy to wait to learn she had made the Olympics, but Orton Morgan said in an interview on BYU Sports Nation on Thursday that she had peace of mind during that time.

“I feel like what really helped was that I had no regrets with my performance,” Orton Morgan said on the show. “I feel like I was just fulling trusting that whatever was going to happen was going to happen because I did my part. It was in God’s hands. If he wants me to go, then I will go. I had a sliver of hope and it kept growing. I ran my hardest race, ran the smartest and toughest that I could’ve raced.”

She acknowledged that she wasn’t favored to make the team, coming off of patellar tendon debridement surgery in November 2023. She didn’t even start running until February and returned to racing in April.

“I was just happy,” Orton Morgan said with a smile. “I’m a happy girl.”

The full BYU Sports Nation interview with Orton Morgan and former teammate and fellow Olympian Courtney Wayment can be found at http://BYUtv.org.