2025 NFL UDFA Recap: Where Did Local Prospects Land?
Apr 28, 2025, 5:36 PM
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 22: A detailed view of an NFL logo is seen on a football as the Tennessee Titans take on the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY- The NFL Draft wrapped up on Saturday as Kobee Minor heard his name called as the 257th and final pick of the 2025 edition. For many who did not hear their name from the podium in Green Bay, the journey to playing on Sundays began after the festivities, as teams reached out to undrafted prospects about free agency deals.
Here’s where six different players with Utah ties signed or accepted training camp invites, who will all fight for a spot on a 53-man roster.
Green Bay, you've outdone yourself.
Thank you for an incredible 2025 #NFLDraft. 💚💛 pic.twitter.com/3LM7VHxoyA
— NFL (@NFL) April 26, 2025
Locals Who Signed UDFA NFL Contracts
Tyler Batty – Former Payson and BYU DE – Minnesota Vikings
The former Cougars star will join a Minnesota team that finished with a 14-3 record in 2024. In five seasons as a Cougar off the edge, Batty racked up 224 tackles, 16.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and even two interceptions. Minnesota will likely work with Batty to improve his block-shedding and overall quickness. If he can improve in those areas, he has the potential to be a key player in the front seven.
Congrats Tyler!! @Tyler_Batty2 ➡️ @Vikings pic.twitter.com/WCWYtOu7YK
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) April 26, 2025
Jakob Robinson – Former Orem, Utah State, and BYU CB – San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers went 6-11 last season in the NFC West and missed the playoffs. In one season at Utah State and four with BYU, Robinson started 36 games and recorded 190 total tackles. He also hunted the ball well with 11 interceptions, including one pick-6, and a forced fumble. Jakob will look to bolster an already strong defense that is already top ten in the league in completions against and touchdowns allowed.
Congrats Jakob!! @jakobrobinson87 ➡️ @49ers pic.twitter.com/ca1ECUW0fo
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) April 26, 2025
Caleb Etienne – Former BYU OL – Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals went 9-8 last season and were the first team left out of the AFC playoffs. If Etienne makes the 53-man roster in Cincinnati, he will be protecting Joe Burrow, one of the game’s elite QBs, and will look to help improve one of the worst offensive lines in football. Etienne started his career at Oklahoma State, but blossomed in his two years at BYU, even earning All-Big 12 First-Team honors in 2024
Congrats Caleb!! @BIG_CALEB76 ➡️ @Bengals pic.twitter.com/tegoxt4Dam
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) April 27, 2025
Blake Mangelson – Former Juab and BYU DT – Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers went 10-7 last season and made the playoffs for the eighth straight year. 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.
Congrats Blake!! @blake_mangelson ➡️ @steelers pic.twitter.com/FPlpCmcLCY
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) April 28, 2025
Connor O’Toole – Former Utah DE – Seattle Seahawks
O’Toole will join a Seahawks team that finished with a 10-7 record in 2024. In four seasons for the Utes, O’Toole recorded 104 total tackles, 8.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. Seattle had a middle-of-the-pack rush defense but made up for it with a top-ten pass defense. If O’Toole makes the final roster, he will be able to contribute in both areas.
We got a #ProUte headed to the PNW‼️ @connor_otoole_ has signed with the @Seahawks!!🙌#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/pUs9our2Kr
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 27, 2025
Micah Bernard – Former Utah RB – Tennessee Titans
The former Utes star will join a Titans team that finished with a 3-14 record in 2024. Micah spent five seasons at Utah, where he rushed for 2,217 yards, eclipsing the 1,000-yard season mark in 2024. He scored 11 touchdowns as a Ute. Bernard has great hands and good vision as a runner. The biggest area of improvement with him will be athleticism, specifically straight-line speed and agility.
Congrats to @ctb_mb for signing with the @Titans!!🙌#ProUtes | #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/pCi02CdrQY
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 27, 2025
Zemaiah Vaughn – Former Utah CB – Minnesota Vikings
Vaughn will join a Vikings team that finished with a 14-3 record in 2024. Zemaiah has been a Ute since 2020, and in his five years with the program, he dished out 144 total tackles and pulled in three interceptions. Vaughn has the tools to be a real difference maker in both man and zone coverage. He put on a show at pro day and also has plenty of tape showing that he can outrun, outpower, and outsmart wide receivers.
.@VaughnZemaiah is headed north and has signed with the @Vikings!!🙌#ProUtes | #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/tlRmlV8Cgq
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 27, 2025
Karene Reid – Former American Fork and Utah LB – Denver Broncos
The former Utes star joins a Broncos team that finished with a 10-7 record in 2024. Karene finished his college football career with an astounding 238 total tackles. He also recorded nine sacks and three interceptions. Reid’s biggest strength is his IQ and motor. The biggest question marks are his size and athleticism, which likely led to his fall out of the draft.
#ProUtes 🤝 @Broncos @k_reid41 is headed to the Mile High City‼️#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/8Qwe3BIqoF
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 27, 2025
Junior Tafuna – Former Bingham and Utah DT – Houston Texans
The former Utes star will join a Texans team that finished with a 10-7 record in 2024. From the interior of the defensive line, Tafuna tallied 180 total tackles in his four years at Utah. He also snagged two interceptions and forced a fumble. Houston was a middle-of-the-pack rush defense team last season. If Tafuna’s game can translate to the pros, he can definitely assist in that department.
.@Jmtafuna58 has signed with the @HoustonTexans and is headed to H-Town!!🙌#ProUtes | #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/kpTKTRED0R
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 27, 2025
Wyatt Bowles – Former Syracuse and Utah State OL – Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams won the NFC West in 2024-25 with a 10-7 record. In 2024, Wyatt Bowles started all 12 games in the trenches for the Aggies and played a team-high 873 snaps. He also only allowed one sack during Mountain West play. According to Pro Football Network, Los Angeles was the 13th-ranked offensive line in 2024-25.
𝒟𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓂𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓁𝒾𝓉𝓎@wyatt_bowles 🤝 @RamsNFL #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/V0vWMUPJCX
— USU Football (@USUFootball) April 27, 2025
Locals Who Received NFL Mini Camp Invitations
Darius Lassiter – Former BYU WR – Philadelphia Eagles
In two years with the Cougars, Darius pulled in 74 receptions for 1,068 yards and eight touchdowns.
Congrats Darius!! @darius_lassiter ➡️ @Eagles pic.twitter.com/5Q2meUgKer
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) April 27, 2025
Brayden Keim – Former Alta and BYU OL – Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs
Keim 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.
Congrats Brayden!!
➡️ @Chiefs
➡️ @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/hWT2o2Cwh8— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) April 27, 2025
Connor Pay – Former Lone Peak and BYU OL – Las Vegas Raiders
Connor Pay has been a staple of the BYU offensive line since 2020, playing in 51 games as a Cougar.
Congrats Connor!! @cpay70 ➡️ @Raiders pic.twitter.com/DtAh1LFNuG
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) April 27, 2025
Jacob Garcia – Former Utah State LS – Miami Dolphins
Garcia played in 52 games for the Aggies since 2021, completing three tackles on special teams.
.@_jacob_garcia__ has received a camp invite with the @MiamiDolphins !! 🤘#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/3hye3Vv5jO
— USU Football (@USUFootball) April 27, 2025
Spencer Petras – Former Utah State QB – Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers
Petras played in nine games in his one season as an Aggie. He threw for 2,315 yards and tossed 17 touchdowns in 2024.
.@spencerpetras has been invited to the @Chiefs and the @chargers mini camps!! 🤘#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/1vOPfwNMQl
— USU Football (@USUFootball) April 27, 2025
Kyrese White – Former Roy and Utah State WR – Denver Broncos
Kyrese’s production spiked in 2024. He had 534 receiving yards and three touchdowns, as well as eight kick return attempts for a total of 188 yards.
.@krowan_23 has been invited to the @Broncos mini camp!! 🤘#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/zm9CCzJper
— USU Football (@USUFootball) April 28, 2025
Lyle Santos – Former Southern Utah OL – Las Vegas Raiders
Santos started all 12 games on the line for the Thunderbirds in his senior year and was named 1st Team All-UAC.
Opportunity EARNED ✔️ #TBirdNation ⚡️ #RaiseTheHammer pic.twitter.com/OTqc43eaED
— Southern Utah Football (@SUUFB_) April 28, 2025
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