Five Former BYU Football Players To Follow During 2025 NFL Season
Sep 4, 2025, 2:08 PM | Updated: Sep 5, 2025, 11:00 am
Former BYU football great Fred Warner is one of the top linebackers in the NFL entering the 2025 season. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
BYU’s football program has produced some of the most recognized and accomplished names historically and currently in the NFL.
As we head into what many call the best time of the year, college football is in full swing, and the NFL season kicks off this Thursday. It’s the perfect time to take a look at how and where some former Cougars are making an impact at the next level.
A total of 15 former BYU football players made 53-man rosters entering the 2025 NFL season, but here are five to follow throughout the year.
Kyle Van Noy, Baltimore Ravens
Linebacker
Kyle Van Noy arrived at BYU in 2010 and quickly became a strong force on the defense. By his junior year, he ranked seventh in the nation in sacks, helping BYU rank the No. 3 total defense nationally in 2012. Over his college career, he picked up more than 25 national and Independent honors, and that same dominance has been seen in his 12-year NFL career.
Van Noy was drafted in the second round by the Detroit Lions in 2014.
Van Noy eventually landed with the New England Patriots, where he won two Super Bowls during the Tom Brady years in New England.
He’s since spent time with the Dolphins and Chargers but is now a key piece of the Baltimore Ravens defense. Coming off a 12.5 sack season in 2024 at age 34, Van Noy is one of the league’s top pass rushers.
With Baltimore being one of the AFC favorites, he’s explained that he is aware that he is closer to the finish than the start and is hunting for another Super Bowl run.
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
Wide Receiver
After transferring from Washington in 2021, Puka Nacua became BYU’s leading receiver in 2021 and 2022. The Los Angeles Rams drafted him in the fifth round in 2023, and he wasted no time becoming an instant impact performer in the NFL.
Nacua became the first rookie in NFL history to record at least 10 catches and 100 receiving yards in each of his first two games.
By the end of his rookie year, he set NFL records for most receptions and receiving yards in a single season by a rookie, along with the Rams’ franchise record for playoff receiving yards in a Wild Card game.
Entering his third year in the NFL, Nacua is ranked No. 41 in the NFL’s Top 100 players.
There will be a new look for Nacua this year, as he will be wearing his signature No. 12 uniform. In the past two years, he has worn No. 17, but with former Packers and Raiders star Davante Adams joining the Rams, Nacua gave No. 17 to Adams. Bringing Puka back to his uniform, he wore at BYU and Orem High.
Expectation for year three is that he will only continue to be among the elite pass-catchers in the league.
Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers
Linebacker
Fred Warner joined BYU in 2014 and quickly established himself in the Cougars’ defense. He led the team in tackles his junior and senior years. By the end of his time in Provo, he had seven interceptions, two being pick-sixes, and earned both the MVP and Captains Award at the team’s 2018 banquet.
The San Francisco 49ers then drafted Warner in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Warner started every game as a rookie and was the team lead as a rookie with 124 tackles. He became the first rookie since 2000 to post four straight games of 10 or more tackles. Now, he’s widely considered the best linebacker in the NFL, already playing in two Super Bowls and earning the No. 16 spot in the NFL’s Top 100 players of 2025. Warner also is currently the highest-paid off-ball linebacker in the NFL.
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
Tight End
Taysom Hill started at BYU in 2012 and quickly became known for his physicality and versatility. He left as the Cougars’ career leader in QB rushing yards and sits at fifth overall in BYU history with 2,815 rushing yards, including nine 100-yard rushing games.
After being claimed off waivers by the Saints in 2017, Hill has made for himself one of the most unique careers the NFL has ever seen. He’s played special teams, quarterback, tight end, running back, and wide receiver; in simpler terms, he is a “Swiss Army Knife.” Hill has 11 career touchdown passes, 33 rushing touchdowns, and 11 receiving scores. Which makes him the first NFL player since Frank Gifford to hit double digits in all three categories. Hill’s 5.6 yards per carry average ranks second in Saints history.
Hill is currently recovering from an ACL tear from December 2024, but his absence only shows how irreplaceable of a player he is.
Zach Wilson, Miami Dolphins
Quarterback
Zach Wilson started his career at BYU in 2018. He started for three seasons and left as one of the most efficient college quarterbacks in the nation. His 2020 season is a notable one, setting BYU’s single-season completion record at 73.5% which broke Steve Young’s record. He also earned a 95.5 passing grade from PFF and added 255 rushing yards with 10 touchdowns.
Wilson was drafted as No. 2 overall by the New York Jets in 2021, but Wilson’s NFL path has been filled with challenges. After three years with the Jets and a year with the Denver Broncos in 2024, Wilson is now backing up Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with the Miami Dolphins.
BYU football leaves its mark well across the NFL, and these players not only carry BYU’s legacy forward but also inspire future generations and current Cougar players to strive to play at the next level.
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