This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Cincinnati coach Tommy Tuberville said on Tuesday as the Bearcats continued preparations to face BYU on Saturday that BYU's Taysom Hill "will be the best quarterback we see all year."
That's strong praise from a coach who has already faced the likes of Houston QB Greg Ward and Temple signal-caller Phillip Walker.
It may be a bit of coach speak on Tuberville's part. But Hill is certainly one of the top scholar-athlete QBs in the country.
On Tuesday, the National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame selected Hill as a finalist for the 2016 William V. Campbell Trophy.
The Campbell Trophy recognizes the "absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation" and is sometimes called the "Academic Heisman" for college football. Hill is one of 12 finalists for the award, and probably the most recognizable name on the list. The other two QBs are Delta State's Tyler Sullivan and Western Michigan's Zach Terrell.
Hill carries a 3.45 GPA in Finance and graduated last spring.
A three-year team captain, he ranks among the top 15 active NCAA leaders in total offense. Hill holds BYU records for rushing yards (2,584) and rushing touchdowns (29) by a quarterback, with his rushing yards total ranked seventh among all positions. For his career, the Pocatello, Idaho, native has completed 544 passes for 6,213 yards and 40 touchdowns.