PROVO, Utah – BYU redshirt freshman Jaren Hall has officially been named the Cougars starting quarterback for their upcoming game against South Florida. It’s a big moment for him, but also the university.

Hall steps into the starting role after sophomore quarterback Zach Wilson suffered a thumb injury on his throwing hand. Wilson had surgery on his thumb last week and is expected to return later this season.

The former Maple Mountain High School star will become the Cougars’ first Black American to start at quarterback when he takes his first snap against South Florida in Tampa.

Hall said he appreciates the significance of that role, and what it means to him personally and to the university.

BYU’s Jaren Hall shared his feelings on what it means to be the first Black American quarterback to start at QB for the Cougars. Posted by KSL Sports on Monday, October 7, 2019

“(I’m) very proud of my ancestors – very proud of my ethnicity and all the things that come with that, so it’s an honor and a privilege to be here to be playing at this wonderful university,” said Hall.

Last year, when Hall appeared in the Cougars game against Boise State, it marked the first time a Black player had taken a snap at quarterback at BYU.

“BYU is a very special school,” he said at Monday’s weekly press conference. “There are individuals from all different lifestyles and they play into why it’s so special. I think that’s just part of the history of Brigham Young University and all the special things that come with it.”

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Two weeks ago in the loss at Toledo, Hall was thrust into the game on the final drive of regulation after Wilson was sidelined with the thumb injury. In his one series, Hall was 3-for-6 and passed for 39 yards along with rushing for 10 yards.

Head coach Kalani Sitake liked what he saw from Hall in practice, knowing that he would be the starter.

“He’s extremely confident and I think he’s ready for this moment,” Sitake said. “I’m really excited for him – I know he’s excited. The players are responding to him well.”

#BYU QB Jaren Hall on why he chose the Cougars out of Maple Mountain High School. pic.twitter.com/4n6Kch4r69 — KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 7, 2019

Hall is also a centerfielder for the Cougar baseball team. He’s the first dual-sport athlete at BYU to start a game at quarterback for the football program since Ryan Hancock. Hancock, like Hall, played baseball for the Cougars. Hancock started the final eight games of the 1992 season.

Kickoff for Saturday’s game between BYU and South Florida is at 1:30 p.m. (MT) and you can listen to the game on KSL Newsradio. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.