BYU Is Producing Better Athletes For NFL, But Draft Picks Aren’t Going Up, What Gives?

PROVO, Utah – When LaVell Edwards was roaming the sidelines of the BYU Football program, the Cougars had an icon that everyone in the football world respected. That respect led to many NFL teams having trust in drafting players coached by Edwards.

In Edwards’ 29 seasons as BYU’s head coach, the Cougars produced 85 NFL Draft picks, good for nearly three guys per year.

Which of these #BYU players do you think will be drafted or signed undrafted free agent deals this weekend?#NFLDraft #BYUFootball @kslsports pic.twitter.com/5OL7gJdHJA

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) April 22, 2020

The picks continued when the NFL Draft condensed to seven rounds in 1994. Edwards had 18 players selected in the seven-round draft era from 1994-2001. Which is amazing when you think about it because BYU was never known for producing freak athletes during Edwards’ tenure. They were guys that primarily fit into a system and left BYU exceeding the expectations placed on them when they arrived in Provo.

As the NFL Draft gets ready to start this weekend, the players from BYU in the 2020 class are primarily expected to be high-priority undrafted free agents. If BYU gets shut out with no picks, it would be the fourth time that has happened since 2011, and first since 2015.

A potentially frustrating stat for BYU as they have seen four players drafted in the last four years, headlined by Fred Warner who is one of the NFL’s best young linebackers. The talent out of BYU to the NFL is clearly improving, but the overall number of draft picks isn’t growing.

So what is BYU doing to change the narrative to get more players drafted into the NFL, like the success they experienced less than 20 years ago with Edwards?

The narrative around BYU and the NFL is changing

10-year NFL agent and BYU alum Evan Brennan of United Athlete Sports believes the perception around BYU football players is changing for the better.

“I represent Coach [Robert] Anae and I think when Bronco [Mendenhall] was here I think he really favored cerebral, smart, super high character players that maybe weren’t elite athletes as much,” said Brennan to KSL Sports. “I think that both helped and hurt the NFL perception. The NFL is very much into great athletes with great size and length and age can kind of be a detriment from time to time [for BYU].

“I think with this new Kalani Sitake staff, there [have] been some better athletes that have come along. I think the character still remains high. But I think it actually helped BYU’s NFL presence by really focusing on young, long, super-fast players, much more than they have in the past. So I think it’s changing, to be honest with you.”

That’s a positive for BYU and you’re seeing that in the past few years. With guys such as Taysom Hill and Michael Davis, both recruited by Bronco Mendenhall’s staff, making an impact as undrafted free agents. It shows there are incredible athletes to be found at BYU.

Former 12-year NFL veteran quarterback Scott Mitchell and current host on KSL’s UnRivaled (KSL NewsRadio, 8-9 p.m.) sees the Cougars trending up in regards to getting more NFL picks in the future as well.

“This (NFL Draft success) was part of how LaVell built his program. Those players that projected into the future. But I think Kalani is starting to recruit kids that fit that projection model. So I do think more of these BYU kids will be drafted in the future,” said Mitchell.

BYU’s recruiting efforts under Sitake have relied heavily on under-the-radar athletes with measurables that could translate to a future in the NFL. Case in point, Austin Lee, a Utah transfer who posted a 40-inch vertical during his Pro Day and is in a position to sign a high-priority undrafted free agent contract or hear his name called in the later rounds of this weekend’s Draft. Or lightly used wide receiver/defensive back Beau Tanner who reportedly ran a 4.3 40-yard dash according to agent Leigh Steinberg.

There is talent at BYU, but now it’s a matter of getting players drafted. There’s a reason for optimism on that front in the coming years.

“I think that you’re going to see more and more defensive backs, more and more wide receivers, the offensive line is tremendously upgraded,” Brennan said. “So there’s going to be more interest because I think the coaching staff is valuing some of the NFL traits more than they were in the past. I think Bronco did a great job of getting great teams and I think that Kalani is doing a great job of getting great athletes.”

"Guys like Austin Lee are really hard to replace. Not just by what he did on the field, but what he did off the field … he was really in a way another coach out there. Whatever [NFL] team decides to go with him, I think they're really gonna get a good player." @CoachPHadley

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) April 18, 2020

The last time BYU had multiple players selected in a single NFL Draft was in 2009. That’s not expected to change this weekend. But there’s hope with the young, promising athletes in the program right now, that it could lead to more picks in the future.

Players to watch from BYU in the 2020 NFL Draft

Aleva Hifo | Wide Receiver/Kick Returner

Austin Kafentzis | Linebacker/Defensive Back

Dayan Ghanwoloku | Safety

Moroni Laulu-Pututau | Tight End

Austin Lee | Safety

JJ Nwigwe | Defensive End

Micah Simon | Wide Receiver

Beau Tanner | Defensive Back/Wide Receiver

Ty’Son Williams | Running Back

The NFL Draft begins this Thursday and concludes on Saturday. For all the details on how to watch the Draft check here.

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 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.