After the 2025 NFL draft was a big-time disappointment for the BYU Cougars, who had been shut out within the seven-round choice course of final 12 months, this system bounced again properly final week with linebacker Jack Kelly and tight finish Carsen Ryan getting picked by the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns, respectively.
Moreover, eight different former BYU gamers from this system that has gone 23-4 the previous two seasons obtained NFL alternatives. Most notably, receiver Chase Roberts, security Tanner Wall and offensive lineman Isaiah Jatta signed free-agent offers with the Las Vegas Raiders, whereas cornerback Mory Bamba, kicker Will Ferrin and lengthy snapper Garrison Grimes inked with the New York Jets.
Commercial
Defensive lineman John Taumoepeau (Kansas Metropolis Chiefs) and offensive lineman Austin Leausa (Raiders) will go to rookie minicamps and are even larger lengthy photographs to make an NFL roster.
That BYU has had solely two gamers drafted regardless of being one of many winningest applications within the nation the previous two years is a testomony to what head coach Kalani Sitake and his workers have carried out since becoming a member of the Massive 12. Remarkably, they did it this previous 12 months with a real freshman quarterback, Bear Bachmeier, after projected beginning QB Jake Retzlaff left this system final July within the face of a seven-game suspension for violating the college’s honor code.
Getting two gamers drafted among the many 257 faculty soccer gamers who heard their names known as is nothing to scoff at; no fewer than 10 Energy 4 applications didn’t have a single participant drafted, together with Colorado, Oklahoma State and West Virginia of the Massive 12.
North Carolina, Purdue, Syracuse, Virginia, UCLA, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin had been additionally shut out.
Commercial
In 2025, BYU was one in all six Energy 5 (the Pac-12 was P5 in 2024) applications that didn’t have a participant drafted, together with Duke, Wake Forest, Baylor, Houston and Mississippi State. The Cougars went 11-2 in 2024 and completed ranked No. 13 within the nation.
So the draft is a crapshoot, at finest, within the later rounds.
All that brings us to the 2026 season, and the 2027 draft, which will likely be held in Washington, D.C., on the Nationwide Mall close to the U.S. Capitol Constructing. Right here’s the Deseret Information’ annual look forward at which BYU gamers could possibly be taken in future drafts:
Which BYU gamers could possibly be drafted in 2027?
Clearly, Sitake has put an emphasis on placing BYU gamers into the NFL, which is without doubt one of the explanation why the Cougars placed on top-of-the-line professional days within the nation, if not the very best. Visiting scouts and NFL representatives once more marveled on the setup and group in March, after the Massive 12 put by itself mix in 2025 and 2024.
Commercial
“I need to put as a lot of our guys into the league as potential,” Sitake stated in March. “That’s the dream of virtually each soccer participant who fits up. … We speak to a bunch of groups about all of our guys, the entire time.”
Since Sitake took over for Bronco Mendenhall in 2016, BYU has had 16 gamers taken within the draft.
Right here’s a better take a look at BYU’s finest prospects in 2026, in no specific order:
LJ Martin, working again
In our opinion, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound Martin is BYU’s finest wager to have a working again drafted since Tyler Allgeier — now with the Arizona Cardinals — was picked within the fifth spherical by the Atlanta Falcons in 2022. A 3-year starter, when he’s been wholesome, Martin is coming off shoulder surgical procedure that stored him out of the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Commercial
Nevertheless, the Massive 12 Offensive Participant of the Yr in 2025 ought to decide up the place he left off final 12 months. The El Paso, Texas, product stated after spring camp led to late March that he’s near 100% recovered and ought to be cleared to return to contact by the top of April.
Martin stated he returned in 2026 as a result of he needs to proceed to be part of the BYU tradition.
“Popping out of highschool, I needed my coach to be somebody I may look to as my father determine away from dwelling,” Martin stated. “Having Kalani as that man has been nice for me. That’s sort of what stored me in Provo.”
Cade Uluave, linebacker
This former Mountain Ridge Excessive star was the Pac-12 defensive freshman of the 12 months in 2023 and a first-team All-ACC choice in 2025. So his manufacturing at Cal the previous three seasons has been off the charts, and if he places up related numbers at BYU, he could have a very good likelihood to observe Kelly into the draft as one other excellent BYU LB within the professionals.
Commercial
Uluave is 6-foot-1 and 235 kilos, so he’s not fairly as massive as most NFL linebackers. That could possibly be an element. His playmaking skill and motor are off the charts, nevertheless.
“The factor I really like about this BYU protection beneath coach (Kelly) Poppinga is the flexibility of the linebackers,” Uluave stated when spring camp ended. “On one down, you might be coming off the sting. On the following down, you might be in man protection. That’s what I like, simply being versatile and displaying that I can play all around the subject.”
Faletau Satuala, security
If the 6-foot-4, 215-pound security from Bountiful stays on his present trajectory, he could have a call to make in December — enter the NFL draft, or return to BYU for a fourth season. Satuala broke out in an enormous method his sophomore season, taking part in in all 14 video games and beginning seven.
Commercial
He had a career-best 12 tackles towards Utah, and double-digit tackles towards Arizona and Iowa State. His pick-six towards Iowa State was one of the crucial athletic performs of the complete season for the Cougars.
“One of many greatest on-field enhancements I’m attempting to make is engaged on my man protection extra,” he stated in March. “I by no means performed man protection in highschool, so I’m sort of new to it. However I’m attempting to select it up and get higher at it, as a result of that will likely be an enormous factor for me and my future.”
Andrew Gentry, proper deal with
A mountain of a person at 6-8, 315 kilos, this redshirt senior will stay at proper deal with in 2026 because the Cougars introduced in an enough substitute for Isaiah Jatta at left deal with, Paki Finau of Washington. Gentry started his profession at Michigan, and appeared in 26 video games, beginning in two.
Commercial
Working towards Gentry is the truth that he served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and will likely be 25 within the 12 months through which he enters the NFL. Some brokers imagine that the rationale the aforementioned Roberts wasn’t drafted final week was due to his age. He’s 25.
Isaiah Glasker, linebacker
Glasker thought-about turning professional final December, till the NFL’s scouting service advised that he could be higher served returning to BYU for his senior season. Glasker is taken into account an impressive protection man for a linebacker, and at 6-5 and 240 kilos, he’s received the scale essential to excel within the NFL.
Commercial
A two-way participant at Bingham Excessive who was recruited to BYU to play receiver or security, Glasker is as athletic as any participant on the BYU soccer workforce in 2026. That athleticism, coupled together with his dimension, ought to serve him effectively subsequent April when the draft is held within the nation’s capital.
Others who could possibly be within the combine
A fast take a look at others who may transfer on to some NFL draft boards if they’ve standout seasons and, in some instances, elect to surrender their last seasons of eligibility and switch professional:
Walker Lyons, tight finish — USC switch has the measurables and pedigree, so he may need an enormous determination to make if he places up Carsen Ryan-like numbers for the Cougars in 2026 as a result of he could have yet one more 12 months of eligibility remaining after this 12 months.
Keanu Tanuvasa, defensive lineman — Though he began in all 14 video games and was an honorable point out All-Massive 12 decide, the Utah switch didn’t have as enormous of a 12 months statistically as some anticipated. Nevertheless, he was a captain, his management qualities are off the charts, and a whole lot of what he does on the sector — equivalent to take up two blockers — is tough to quantify.
Siale Esera, linebacker — Former four-star recruit from Timpview Excessive has but to remain wholesome for a whole season, however the expertise and measurables are there; like Lyons and Satuala, he will likely be eligible to return to varsity soccer in 2027 if he so wishes.
Bruce Mitchell, offensive lineman — Transformed defensive lineman was an All-Massive 12 choice and has proven a whole lot of versatility as a guard and heart at BYU. Nevertheless, BYU doesn’t put a whole lot of inside offensive linemen into the NFL, for no matter cause.
Evan Johnson, cornerback — Definitely has the NFL bloodlines, as his father, Ron, was an NFL large receiver for Philadelphia Eagles; “Schmev” could possibly be the primary BYU cornerback drafted since Chris Wilcox in 2021.
How did we do final 12 months?
How effectively can we do in these annual projections? Final 12 months presently, we projected Glasker, Tanuvasa, offensive lineman Weylin Lapuaho and the aforementioned Kelly, Roberts and Ryan because the most definitely to get drafted. In fact, Glasker and Tanuvasa elected to return to this system in 2026 and subsequently weren’t within the combine to be drafted, whereas Lapuaho battled accidents for a 3rd straight season and apparently by no means caught the attention of any NFL groups this previous season.
BYU defensive deal with Keanu Tanuvasa (57) celebrates after a play towards Texas Tech in the course of the Massive 12 championship recreation at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret Information
