Four BYU Football Stars Receive Mini Camp Invitations
Apr 27, 2025, 1:18 PM | Updated: Apr 28, 2025, 2:41 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – Four BYU Football standouts received mini-camp invitations following the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft on Saturday.
WR Darius Lassiter, OL Brayden Keim, DT Blake Mangelson, and C Connor Pay will all have a chance to prove themselves and make it to the final 53-man roster.
FIVE COUGARS RECEIVE NFL FREE AGENT OPPORTUNITIES ON SATURDAYhttps://t.co/ALRq0ucFa5
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) April 27, 2025
Lassiter will join the Philadelphia Eagles, Keim received invites from both Kansas City and Chicago, Mangelson will join the Minnesota Vikings, and Pay will play for Las Vegas.
When it comes to camp invites, it’s truly a coin flip on whether the players will make it to week one of the regular season. In a lot of cases, it takes a perfect storm for that to happen.
With that said, the teams saw something in the players they invited, and they could end up filling a position or role of need come September.
About The BYU Mini Camp Invitees
Darius Lassiter
Lassiter was born in Chandler, Arizona, and eventually moved to Kansas, where he attended Lawrence Free State High School.
He started his college career at Butler Community College before transferring to Eastern Michigan in 2022. As a three-star transfer portal recruit, he joined the BYU Football program in 2023.
In two years with the Cougars, he pulled in 74 receptions for 1,068 yards and eight touchdowns.
In 2023, he was named an Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honoree in the program’s first year in the conference. Last year, he was a co-captain and All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.
Congrats Darius!! @darius_lassiter ➡️ @Eagles pic.twitter.com/5Q2meUgKer
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) April 27, 2025
Brayden Keim
Keim was born in Sandy, Utah, and attended Alta High School, where he was an honorable mention all-state.
He spent six years with the BYU Football program, which included two redshirt seasons. Standing at 6-foot-8 and 322 pounds, Keim became a staple of the Cougars’ front line.
In 2024, he was named to two Preseason All-Big 12 Third Teams and went on to be an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.
His senior season was cut short by injury, but he will be fully healthy and ready to go for the 2025 NFL preseason.
Congrats Brayden!!
➡️ @Chiefs
➡️ @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/hWT2o2Cwh8— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) April 27, 2025
Blake Mangelson
Mangelson was born in Nephi, Utah, and attended Juab High School, where he dominated the 3A ranks.
In four seasons with BYU, he recorded 82 total tackles (33 solo), 10.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, four pass breakups, and one interception.
He is a bit undersized for a defensive tackle, but he uses that to his advantage at times with finesse moves to get off blocks.
In 2024, he was named to the All-Big 12 Third Team (College Football Network), Big 12 All-Conference Fourth Team (Phil Steele), and All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Big 12 Coaches).
Congrats Blake!! @blake_mangelson ➡️ @Vikings pic.twitter.com/XMTwQOwvKv
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) April 27, 2025
Connor Pay
Pay was born in Highland, Utah, and attended Lone Peak High School, where he led the Knights to a 34-6 record over three seasons on varsity.
He played in 51 games with 41 starts for the Cougars over five seasons.
In 2022, Pay was named to the College Football Network All-Independent First Team. He made the Rimington Trophy preseason watch list three times and was a team captain and All-Big 12 Honorable Mention last year.
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