Zach Wilson’s time at BYU is over.
The dynamic quarterback announced on Friday that he will skip his senior season and enter the 2021 NFL draft after an 11-1 season for the Cougars.
“For the biggest crowd in the world. Thank you for the best 3 years of my life. In our own home, or on the road, there was no doubt that the Blue Wave would be fierce. BYU is a special place. I am forever sad, ”wrote Wilson in a message, also thanking Cougar Kalani and Fesi Sitake coaches, Jeff Grimes and Aaron Roderick, as well as former BYU defender and coach John Beck, his teammates and his family.
Wilson was not on the NFL radar entering the 2020 season, but the Corner Canyon High product featured some of the best pass numbers in the country and is now widely considered one of the best QB candidates in the 2021 draft class.
In some media circles, he is designed to be the second quarterback in the April draft, behind Trevor Lawrence of Clemson. Lawrence is widely expected to be selected by Jacksonville as the first overall choice, although it is becoming more common to see Wilson projected as one of the top 5.
Wilson completed 73.5% of his passes in 2020 for 3,692 yards, 33 touchdowns and three interceptions and finished eighth in the vote for the Heisman Trophy. His passing efficiency rating of 196.44 was second in the country and he finished in the top five nationally in passing yards and TD passes, in addition to adding 254 running yards and another 10 touchdowns.
Wilson will be the first BYU defender to be taken since Beck was defeated by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft. He is the third offensive player for Cougar to declare himself for the 2021 draft on consecutive days, after left tackle Brady Christensen and wide receiver Dax Milne.