BYU Football’s Dax Milne, Matt Bushman Receive Invites To NFL Combine
Feb 1, 2021, 11:41 AM
Former BYU football players Dax Milne and Matt Bushman received invites to the 2021 NFL Combine. (Photos: BYU Photo/Jaren Wilkey)
(Photos: BYU Photo/Jaren Wilkey)
PROVO, Utah – Two more former BYU football players are headed to the 2021 NFL Combine. The latest invites are wide receiver Dax Milne and tight end Matt Bushman.
Last week, Chris Wilcox and Khyiris Tonga received their invites to the virtual Combine, which will not hold in-person workouts due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Milne and Bushman each announced their invitations on their personal social media accounts.
NFL Scouting Combine invitation ✅. So thankful for this opportunity.
— Dax Milne (@DaxMilne) February 1, 2021
The talented pass catchers took different paths to this moment. Bushman, a three-year starter at tight end for BYU, led the Cougars in receiving yards in each of his three seasons from 2017-2019. Before the start of the 2020 season, Bushman suffered an Achilles injury that sidelined him the entire year.
Before suffering the injury, Bushman was viewed as one of BYU’s top NFL Draft prospects for 2021.
Dax Milne was a known commodity to those inside the BYU program before the 2020 season, but very few, if anyone, had the former preferred walk-on and Burlsworth Trophy finalist on NFL radars before 2020. With many NFL teams taking notice of star quarterback Zach Wilson, those scouts couldn’t help but recognize Wilson’s No. 1 target in Milne, who had 70 receptions for 1,188 yards and eight touchdowns.
Former BYU football player Matt Bushman announces an invite to 2021 NFL Combine. (Courtesy: mattbushman/Instagram)
Milne showcased an ability to be a number wide receiver in a high-powered offense, and he had a knack for shedding man press coverage from opposing defenders.
The South Jordan native announced in December he was foregoing his senior year at BYU to enter the NFL Draft. Based on his invite to the Combine, it appears Milne has made the right decision to move on from his collegiate career.
Invitations to the NFL Combine are still ongoing. BYU quarterback Zach Wilson, a projected top ten pick, and offensive tackle Brady Christensen are likely candidates to receive NFL Combine invites.
BYU Football players who have received official invites to 2021 NFL Combine
As of February 1st, 2021
Matt Bushman, Tight End
Dax Milne, Wide Receiver
Khyiris Tonga, Nose Tackle
Chris Wilcox, Cornerback
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m., KSL Newsradio). Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper and the KSL Sports app.
