Will BYU Standouts Tyler Allgeier & Gunner Romney Declare For NFL Draft?
Dec 17, 2021, 3:12 PM | Updated: 3:13 pm
BYU football running back Tyler Allgeier addresses the media at the Independence Bowl press conference. (Jaren Wilkey/BYU Photo)
(Jaren Wilkey/BYU Photo)
SHREVEPORT, La. – Will Saturday’s Independence Bowl featuring BYU football against UAB be the last game in Cougar Blue for Tyler Allgeier and Gunner Romney?
The two offensive stars aren’t focusing on that decision at the moment.
“Right now, I am not really focused on that. All the focus has been on preparing for this bowl game, and I think what me and Tyler have both been talking about a lot has really just been to put all of our effort into this game and then we can decide afterward. We have time to do that afterward,” said Romney at Friday’s Independence Bowl press conference.
#BYU WR Gunner Romney and RB Tyler Allgeier said they aren’t focused on deciding whether to leave for the NFL or not.
“All the focus is preparing for this bowl game.”#BYUFootball #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/BpMFqp0pZ7
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 17, 2021
Allgeier followed up by saying, “Yeah, what Gunner said.”
Both players were honored during BYU’s Senior Day festivities during the final home game of the season in November. But they each could return to BYU next season due to the free year of eligibility caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, Allgeier has the chance to play two more years at BYU still if he wants.
BYU is getting All-American offensive lineman Clark Barrington back for another year, along with running back Lopini Katoa, who told reporters on Thursday that he will be back in 2022.
Tough decisions ahead for two BYU football stars
Allgeier and Romney arrived at BYU in 2018 and emerged as standouts of the explosive BYU offense. Romney told KSL Sports before the 2021 season that this would be his final year. The Chandler, Arizona native garnered NFL draft buzz in the preseason, being named to the Senior Bowl watchlist.
Romney has been in and out of the lineup throughout this season due to leg injuries. Both of which he has returned from in shockingly quick turnarounds.
Allgeier was one of the nation’s top running backs in 2020, but many prognosticators looked at he and BYU’s success as a byproduct of a weak strength of schedule. Instead, he’s silenced the doubters this year by rushing for 1,414 yards and nation-leading 20 touchdowns against a schedule that featured seven Power Five opponents.
Allgeier will have another tough test to improve his NFL draft stock as he goes up against a UAB defense that is 11th nationally in stopping the run. The Blazers are allowing only 104.2 yards per game this season. Could a great performance impact Allgeier’s decision to move on or not?
“We’ll see what happens,” said Allgeier. “Just take it day by day like I said and then just play by play, so we’ll see what happens.”
No. 13 BYU vs. UAB
2021 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Date: Saturday, December 18, 2021
Kick: 1:30 p.m. (MT)
Location: Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana)
TV: ABC
Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM — Extended pregame begins at 9 a.m.)
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.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
