Taysom Hill out for the year with ligament damage

BYU freshman quarterback Taysom Hill is out for the season with ligament damage to his left knee, Bronco Mendenhall announced after Monday practice.

Hill was injured in BYU's final non-kneel-down play from scrimmage in the win over Utah State, when he was tackled in the left leg with his foot planted. After much furor over how such a play could happen so late in the contest, it was apparently Hill who missed the call:

Taysom took his eyes away from the sideline after "clock is running" signal and missed "victory formation" signal, ran a play.

— Robbie Bullough (@RobbieBullough) October 9, 2012

Vanquish The Foe first reported medical evaluations were taking place on Hill's leg early Saturday afternoon. Later that night, BYU confirmed Hill's injury, while Riley Nelson was reportedly already telling people he would start this week.

The news comes as the Cougars prepare to host the Oregon State Beavers. Sadly, the 10th-ranked team in the AP Poll will be without its starter Sean Mannion, who is also set for knee surgery.

But it looks BYU will get a hopefully-healthy Riley Nelson back for the game:

Riley Nelson took starter reps today in practice and Mendenhall expects him to be ready for Oregon State Saturday

— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) October 9, 2012

Hopefully Nelson is ready to go and recovered enough from back injuries to be effective. As for Hill, a knee injury to a mobile quarterback can be a serious deal -- he's the man in 2013, so hopefully his recovery goes event-free.

Here are more notes from the post-game remarks:

BYU football trainer Jeff Hurst confirms QB Taysom Hill will have surgery for a torn LCL "and some structures around that". Out 4-6 months.

— Robbie Bullough (@RobbieBullough) October 9, 2012

Bronco says surgery will be performed this week or next week; Riley Nelson starts v. Oregon State, James Lark backs up.

— Greg Wrubell (@gregwrubell) October 9, 2012

Playcall was to take a knee. Coaches signaled to Hill that clock was winding down, he turned his head just as victory formation was signaled

— Total Blue Sports (@TotalBlueSports) October 9, 2012

Coaches tried to get a timeout called, but it was too late

— Total Blue Sports (@TotalBlueSports) October 9, 2012

Mendenhall says he and the coaches bear responsibility for the call and the inability to transfer the "victory formation" message in time.

— Greg Wrubell (@gregwrubell) October 9, 2012