BYU's passing offense will observe its 40th season in 2012. To date, 45 quarterbacks have thrown passes in this era. Tribune columnist Kurt Kragthorpe's rankings:
Player Years Comment
1. Jim McMahon 1978-81 Miracle pass won 1980 Holiday Bowl
2. Ty Detmer 1988-91 Heisman Trophy winner; 15,031 yards
3. Steve Young 1980-83 Caught winning TD pass in 1983 Holiday Bowl
4. Robbie Bosco 1983-85 Led 1984 national championship team
5. Max Hall 2007-09 Nobody comes close to his 32 wins
6. Marc Wilson 1977-79 Barely missed perfect season in '79
7. Steve Sarkisian 1995-96 Only loss in '96: Washington, now his team
8. John Beck 2003-06 Final play vs. Utah in '06 lasted 13 seconds
9. Gifford Nielsen 1975-77 Senior season shortened by knee injury
10. Gary Sheide 1973-74 Sometimes forgotten; he started it all
11. Brandon Doman 1998-01 Went 14-2; won Edwards' final game
12. Kevin Feterik 1996-99 More yardage than Steve Young
13. John Walsh 1991-94 Erred by entering NFL as junior
14. Riley Nelson 2009-12 Signature wins over USU, Tulsa
15. Sean Covey 1987-88 Started ahead of freshman Detmer
16. Jake Heaps 2010-11 Redshirting at Kansas in 2012
17. Ryan Hancock 1991-92 Went full-time in baseball after injury
18. Bret Engemann 1999-02 '02 rally vs. USU kept Ben Olson on bench
19. Charlie Peterson 1999-01 Replaced by Doman in November 2000
20. Matt Berry 2002-05 Helped beat Notre Dame in '04 opener
21. Steve Lindsley 1985-86 Tough times, following Bosco
22. Bob Jensen 1986-87 Rally failed vs. Bronco Mendenhall, OSU
23. Blaine Fowler 1982-85 Justified scholarship in '84 Holiday Bowl
24. Royce Bybee 1979-80 Backed up Wilson, McMahon
25. Mark Giles 1973-75 Injury opened way for Nielsen
26. Tom Young 1992-94 Steve's brother filled in for '92 Aloha Bowl
27. Drew Miller 1997-98 Starred at Montana after transferring
28. Randy Litchfield 1973 Yielded to Sheide after loss at USU
29. Paul Shoemaker 1995-97 Sarkisian kept him from starting
30. Lance Pendleton 2001-03 Forerunner of 'Wildcat' QB
31. Steve Clements 1992-94 Texas transfer limited by injuries
32. Jason Beck 2004-06 Beat USU in only start
33. Todd Mortensen 2001-03 Played for Jim Harbaugh at San Diego
34. Terry McEwen 1976-77 Backed up Nielsen, Wilson
35. Mike Young 1986 Steve's brother threw one TD, one INT
36. Jeff Duva 1975 Starred at Hawaii after transferring
37. Joe Evans 1990-91 Came from Idaho State to back up Detmer
38. James Lark 2010-12 Listed No. 2 as senior
39. Danny Hartwig 1975-77 Starred at Cal Lutheran after transferring
40. Kurt McEuen 2008-09 One career completion
41. Jackson Brown 2003-05 Took most snaps in '03 shutout vs. Utah
42. Brenden Gaskins 2007-09 Yielded No. 2 position to Nelson
43. Eric Krzmarzick 1982 Faded after transferring to Florida
44. Chris Bisgaard 1995-96 Completed only pass attempt
45. Dave Terry 1971-73 Holdover from veer-option era