Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
PROVO — BYU quarterback Joe Critchlow never saw it coming.
When he returned home from his LDS Church mission last June, it appeared he would redshirt as a freshman in 2017 and gradually get into shape while watching and learning from starter Tanner Mangum.
In fall camp, Critchlow found himself entrenched behind Mangum, Beau Hoge and Koy Detmer, Jr. on the depth chart.
As it turned out, he was pressed into duty as a starter when Mangum and Hoge went down with injuries late in the season.
Critchlow won two of his three starts — the Cougars earned a win at UNLV, suffered a humbling loss at home to UMass, then secured a season-ending victory at Hawaii.