BYU football notebook: Jacobson could return for TCU game

PROVO — BYU wide receiver McKay Jacobson has been working hard to get back onto the field since injuring his hamstring a few weeks ago prior to the Utah State game.

Coach Bronco Mendenhall said that Jacobson, who participated in the first part of Wednesday's practice, is listed as "possible" for Saturday's game against TCU.

"I'd say 'possible.' No more than that, no less than that," Mendenhall said... "I haven't seen enough to upgrade his status."

Jacobson, who is BYU's best deep threat, wants to play badly. But he's proceeding with caution.

"Ultimately, I am the only one who knows how I feel. It will be up to me," Jacobson said. "At the same time, you can tell if somebody's running and they're not looking like they're ready, obviously they're going to say that. If I'm not ready, I'm not going to go. If I'm ready, I'm going to go. It's hard to say. Talking with the trainers, (head trainer) Kevin (Morris) and some of those doctors, I'm going to do whatever's best ... I'm doing all I can to be ready for the game. If I'm not ready, then I won't be out there. We'll see how it goes the next couple of days. It might be a game-day thing."

BYU quarterback Max Hall said he is hoping Jacobson will be available on Saturday.

"Every time I see McKay, he's working out. He's doing everything he needs to do to get back, whether it's riding the bike or running sprints or doing whatever he can to get his leg feeling good again. It's not my decision. If it was up to McKay, I think he would play. I know he's shown improvement. We're hoping he gets the okay to play."

STATISTICAL COMPARISON: When BYU and TCU meet it will be a battle between one of the best offenses in the country and one of the nation's top defenses...

The NCAA stats clearly back that up.

The Cougars are No. 7 in total offense (469.4 yards per game); the Horned Frogs are No. 4 in total defense (238). BYU is No. 1 in third-down conversions (64 percent); TCU is No. 5 in third-down conversions allowed (27 percent). The Cougars are No. 6 in scoring offense (38.6 points per game); the Frogs are No. 10 in scoring defense (13.7 ppg).

BYU is No. 11 in passing yards (306 ypg); TCU is No. 9 in passing yards allowed (156.8 ypg).

The Cougars are No. 2 in pass efficiency (166.5); the Frogs are No. 21 in pass efficiency defense (100.7). BYU is No. 8 in first downs (24 per game); TCU is No. 1 (12 per game). The Cougars are No. 33 in sacks allowed (1.29 pg); the Frog defense is No. 6 in sacks (3.33 pg).

INJURY UPDATE: Only two players —offensive lineman Fono Vakalahi and linebacker Jameson Frazier — missed Wednesday's practice due to illness, Mendenhall said.

Wide receiver O'Neill Chambers and linebacker Coleby Clawson returned to practice after missing Tuesday's session due to illness.