Former Utes in the NFL

[ProudUte]

Utah has a player in the NFL at every position group, i.e., QB, RB, TE, Oline, WR, Dline, LB. CB, Safetey, Punter, Kicker, returner.

I highly doubt that any other college has a player in every position group.

Go Utes!!!

[krindor]

Currently rostered Utah players, by position

Quarterback

• Tyler Huntley (QB, Browns): Fighting for the QB3 or QB4 role (with DTR). Unlikely to make 53 man roster

Running Back

• Zack Moss (RB, Bengals): Signed as free agent, expected to be the starter and complemented by Chase Brown
• Sione Vaki (RB/S, Lions): Pretty far down the depth chart at RB, but his versatility, draft status and status as a burgeoning ST ace guarantee him a roster spot

Wide Receiver

• Tim Patrick (WR, Broncos): Missed the prior two seasons with injury and I expected Hill to be cut now…but he wasn’t and the Broncos seem to view him as an important part of their WR room and a solid contributor
• Devaughn Vele (WR, Broncos): Most predictions have him not making the roster, though he’s seen as a “Tim Patrick type” and has looked very good in OTAs.
• Britain Covey (WR/RS, Eagles): As written up in the Special Teams section

Tight Ends

• Dalton Kincaid (TE, Bills): Very promising young TE, should get Even more opportunity this year
• Cole Fotheringham (TE, Raiders): Has spent the last two years mostly on the practice squad, but active a few times. Good blocker, but uphill battle for a roster spot behind Bowers and Mayer
• Thomas Yasmin (TE, Broncos): Really far down on depth chart and partly there because he doesn’t take a roster spot yet (International Pathways Player), but a bit of good buzz. Otherwise he also was drafted for a CFL spot.

Offensive Tackle

• Garrett Bolles (OT, Broncos): After a rough start to his career, Bolles has become a reliable solid LT
• Jackson Barton (OT, Cardinals): Spent 2022 with Raiders, bouncing between active and practice squad and then 2023 on Cardinals practice squad

Interior Offensive Line (OG/C)

• Satoa Laumea (OG, Seahawks): Drafted in the 6th. Seattle drafted and signed quite a few guards, so not guaranteed a spot, but draft capital means he likely does
• Braden Daniels (OG/OT, Commanders): 4th Round draft pick for the Commanders last year, before missing all of 2023 with a torn pec. Likely a depth option with versatility
• Keaton Bills (OG, Bills): UDFA, so an uphill battle to make the roster, but he’s been singled out a few times as the UDFA most likely to make the Bills roster

Defensive Line (Interior)

• Leki Fotu (DT, Jets): Played a pretty good role over the years for the Cardinals and should now do the same for the Jets, though his snaps are limited by his NT role
• John Penisini (DT, Saints): Medically retired in 2022, tried to come back in 2023, but released due to a failed physical, has enough potential to be signed again and get another chance, but medical issues will be the biggest factor

EDGE

• Jonah Elliss (EDGE, Broncos): Joins a crowded rotation in Denver and will have to stand out to get more time…but has looked very good in the limited opportunity so far
• Bradlee Anae (EDGE, Falcons): Played out his 3 year rookie deal with the Jets but spent 2023 on IR. Signed by the Falcons after the end of the NFL draft

Linebackers

• Cody Barton (LB, Broncos): Was a standout for years in Seattle before being just OK last year in Washington. He joined the rest of the Utah team in Denver though and should start there
• Devin Lloyd (LB, Jaguars): After a great start to his rookie season, he tailed off badly late in the season, leading to a lot of questions. Luckily, he was excellent as a sophomore and is now locked in as a long-term starter in Jacksonville
• Nephi Sewell (LB, New Orleans): Has been on the Saints’ active roster each of the past two seasons, but is hurt now. Guess is that he’ll make the 53, then immediately be put on IR to open up a spot. The real decision will come when he’s healthy again
• Mohamoud Diabate (LB, Browns): Last year he was a UDFA without much chance of making the roster, but played well in OTAs and preseason and spent the entire year on the roster. Has to prove it again, but did quite well so has a solid shot

Cornerback

• Jaylon Johnson (CB, Bears): Was one of, if not the, best CBs in the league last season. Signed a massive new contract and should be playing at a high level for the foreseeable future.
• Clark Phillips (CB, Falcons): Despite being pigeonholed as a nickel corner (due to his size) Phillips took over the boundary corner role in Atlanta late last season and played very well. He’s expected to hold down one side now opposite AJ Terrell
• Miles Battle (CB, Chiefs): Signed in the second wave of UDFA, which means a VERY uphill battle…but there’s been at least some local mention of him as a UDFA to watch, so it’s not an impossibility

Safeties

• Marcus Williams (S, Ravens): Long considered one of the best safeties in the NFL, he returns for another season in Baltimore
• Julian Blackmon (S, Colts): The clear starter for the Colts, they thought highly enough of him to bring him back on a $3.7M deal… but not highly enough to give him a multi-year deal. He’s the clear starter…but needs to show well to keep that role in future seasons
• Cole Bishop (S, Bills): The Bills recently moved on from both their starting safeties in Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer. Projections generally have Taylor Rapp starting at one spot and then either Bishop or Mario Edwards at the other. It’s likely Bishop eventually takes the starting role, only question is how soon
• Sione Vaki (RB/S, Lions): As discussed in RB section

Special Teams

• Matt Gay (K, Colts): Considered one of the better kickers in the league at this point
• Mitch Wishnowsky (P, 49ers): Considered one of the better punters in the league at this point
• Britain Covey (WR/RS, Eagles): Started his previous two seasons on practice squad before being elevated and now one of the best PR in the NFL. Philly drafted a few guys who profile as returners (WR Aianas Smith, CB/S Cooper DeJean) so Covey’s path to a roster spot is tough…but he’s proven enough that he probably gets claimed if Philly tries to stash him on the Practice Squad

[RedRocks]

Nice summary, thanks!

Might want to update Mohamoud Diabate’s name though 🙂.

[krindor]

Thanks, that’s what I get for posting on my phone with autocorrect….

[krindor]

Also will note that we don’t have a Long Snapper or Kick Returner (if we’re treating punt returner abd kick returner separately) currently on an NFL roster.

Georgia (as an example) has every position including, punter, kicker, punt returner, kick returner and long snapper

[ProudUte]

Covey has done some kick returns and with the new kickoff rules, I expect him to do more.

Long-snapper is sometimes just a long snapper and sometimes plays another position. I honestly don’t know how many of the 32 NFL teams have a dedicated long snapper. You probably know.

Your detailed write-up on former Utes was excellent. I hope Huntley makes the squad. Maybe he should have stayed with the Ravens.

[krindor]

Most every team has a dedicated long snapper. I only know this because I do writeups on the NFL players from every Utah college (Utah, BYU, Utah St, SUU, Weber St, Utah Tech) and one of them is a Utah State grad.

https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthchartpos/LS

And I agree on Covey – he only had one kick return last year, but there just weren’t really many kick returns in general to be had. With the new rules, I’d imagine he’ll be used there more (assuming he makes the roster. Aianas Smith and Cooper DeJean were both elite returners in college. DeJean is likely too important on defense to be the top choice though, and Smith muffed a punt today)

[//r00t4Utes]

Noticed one error, Leki Fotu. Yes, he was drafted by AZ, but he signed as an FA with the NYJ. I remember because I wanted Miami to sign him since they were in need of a few.

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