BYU legend Austin Collie knows what it’s like to play with both new quarterbacks and veterans. During his time in Provo he was a key playmaker during the BYU debuts of John Beck (2003) and Max Hall (2007). As an NFL player with the Colts and Patriots, Collie caught passes from Hall of Famers Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
The topography dotting the map from newness to greatness is no walk in the park and the process of growing a quarterback, like producing a garden tomato, can’t be rushed. However, positive development is certainly enhanced by the elements around it.
As a receiver who played for four of the best, Collie understands the impact his position can have on a newbie and also the joy that comes from playing with a veteran. He’s watching the process at BYU and he’s coaching through his own transition on the little league fields of Herriman, Utah.
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“I just got done telling my little guys, we have a new quarterback this year and I rounded up the wide receivers and told them, ‘Listen, with a new quarterback, there is a lot more (going on) for him than the receivers. You need to make the plays for the quarterback, plays that maybe you wouldn’t have made before with the old quarterback,” Collie told the “Y’s Guys” livestream show this week.
“I think the (BYU) receivers know that,” he continued. “If I’m Chase Roberts, Parker Kingston or JoJo Phillips, I’m going out and making sure I try to reel in everything I can because I know we are a little behind the eight ball in terms of developing that chemistry and I know balls aren’t going to be exactly where I anticipate them to be.
“So you have to have that mindset that you are going to go the extra mile to make that play for the quarterback so he gets completions and his confidence continues to build. There is a lot more pressure on that receivers group for sure this year.”
Collie sees 6-0, 185-pound sophomore receiver Cody Hagen giving the new quarterback an added boost.
“He is an absolute stud. The kid has gas. Chase is fast. Parker is really fast, but having an extra guy who can stretch the field is gonna be a massive benefit to this offense,” Collie said. “As a quarterback, when you have a guy that you feel can run by anybody, that gives you a ton of confidence.”
Hagen completed his church mission to San Bernardino, California, prior to last season and played mostly on special teams. With the return of his pre-mission speed that earned him four-star status and Deseret News Mr. Football honors at Corner Canyon High, Collie believes Hagen is ready to take off.
“Coming off a mission is hard. … Your mind is still in the pre-mission days where you think you can do all these things, but your body doesn’t cooperate with what your mind wants to do,” said Collie, who served a mission to Buenos Aires, Argentina. “He’s a little more confident, I expect some big things from him this year.”
Aaron Roderick isn’t looking for any of his quarterbacks to jump from newness to greatness between today and the Portland State opener on Aug. 30 (6 p.m., ESPN+), but the offensive coordinator will happily welcome a move from newness to not-so-new and eventually arrive at comfortable as soon as possible.
Collie contends the receiving corps can have a big say in how fast that happens.
The Collie quiz
As BYU’s most decorated receiver in program history, read what football accomplishments Collie is the most proud of and why.
Question 1
3,255 receiving yards30 touchdown receptions17 career 100-yard receiving games
Collie: (A) “I’ll go with the 3,255 yards. Over the course of three years without a redshirt year, it screams consistency to me and that was my main goal as a receiver — to be consistent.”
Question 2
National freshman statistical leader in receptions per game (4.8)Breaking the BYU freshman receiving records for touchdown (8)Breaking the BYU freshman record for receiving yards (771)
Collie: (A) “I led the nation. Let’s go. Of course!
Question 3
As a junior in 2008, leading the nation in receiving yards per gameTying the NCAA single-season record with 11 consecutive games with 100+ yards receiving.Catching the pass on fourth-and-18 to set up the winning touchdown to beat the Utes.
Collie: (B) “Tying a national record. Any player wants to leave his fingerprint on the game, that was probably as close as I got nationally.”
Question 4
Breaking Pete Van Valkenburg’s 35-year BYU record with 366 all-purpose yards against TulsaBeing named MVP of the 2007 Las Vegas BowlBeing named All-American by CBS, Associated Press, The Sporting News
Collie: (C) “Being named All-American. National recognition.”
Question 5
Getting drafted by the ColtsCatching a pass in Super Bowl XLIVBeing inducted into the BYU Hall of Fame (2019)
Collie: (C) “Hall of Fame. Yeah, I mean, we didn’t win the Super Bowl. It’s just another game if you don’t win it.”
Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and is a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com and is the author of the children’s book “C is for Cougar,” available at deseretbook.com.
