No ex-BYU football players get drafted, eight get pro opportunities
Former BYU defensive lineman, from left, Tyler Batty, Blake Mangelson, John Nelson and Isaiah Bagnah pose for a photo during the Big 12 Pro Days at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
The NFL draft came and went without a single BYU football player being selected over the weekend.
Such a result wasn’t a big surprise, however, as most prognostications had Cougar defensive end Tyler Batty and offensive tackle Caleb Etienne pegged as 6-7 round picks at best.
The good news is that seven BYU players either signed free agent contracts or accepted Team camp invites with one other signing a free agent contract with the Canadian Football League.
Tyler Batty, DE: Minnesota Vikings
Batty, a Payson High School product, signed a free agent contract with the Vikings where he’ll be afforded an opportunity to make the team while getting paid.
Batty enjoyed tremendous success while at BYU and topped off his time earning tirst-Team All-Big12 Conference honors. Batty is likely to compete for a spot at defensive end in Minnesota’s base 3-4 system.
Caleb Etienne, OL: Cincinnati Bengals
Etienne improved his play quite a bit from the 2023 to 2024 seasons at BYU following his transfer from Oklahoma State and was rewarded with a free agent contract from the Bengals.
Etienne played primarily at tackle for the Cougars and will likely compete at the same spot in Cincinnati.
Jakob Robinson, CB: San Francisco 49ers
Robinson was a three-year starter for the Cougars at both the slot and outside cornerback positions and hopes to utilize that versatility in sticking on the 49ers’ roster. Robinson was afforded a free agent contract and is hopeful to compete with former Cougar Fred Warner in boosting San Francisco’s defensive prospects.
Robinson is an Orem High product, and following a transfer from Utah State was a standout for the Cougar defense over the past three years. He was named a second-team All-Big12 performer for the 2024 season.
Brayden Keim, OL: Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs
Keim, who missed the latter part of the 2024 season due to injury, was granted a rare opportunity to be invited to camps held by both the Bears and the Chiefs. Keim started 19 games for the Cougars over his career.
Darrius Lassiter, WR: Philadelphia Eagles
Lassiter was invited to try out for the defending Super Bowl Champion Eagles where he’ll compete with NFL greats such as AJ Brown and Devonta Smith. Lassiter had 114 career receptions for both BYU and Eastern Michigan for 1,539 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Blake Mangelson, DT: Minnesota Vikings
Mangelson was a bit of a late bloomer for the Cougars and had his best season this past year where he was a fixture in the middle of BYU’s resurgent defense. The Juab High product is a camp invitee for the Vikings where he’ll hope to earn himself a contract.
Connor Pay, OL: Las Vegas Raiders
Pay was invited to camp by the Raider where he’ll work to earn a roster spot and a contract after starting 41 times for the Cougars over his career. The Lone Peak High product wasn’t only a standout performer on the field for BYU, but was widely considered one of the team leaders throughout his four year career.
Marquee Collins, DB: Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Collins played just one year in Provo after transferring from Weber State, but made a strong impact throughout the 2024 season. Collins will try to make a name for himself in the CFL after signing a free agent contract with Winnipeg.
Other news: BYU adds two more tight ends
The Cougar football team added two names from the transfer portal over the weekend, with both Ethan Wood and Keayan Nead announcing their transfers to BYU from New Mexico State and Weber State, respectively.
Wood is a 6-foot-5, 250 pound tight end who will have three years of eligibility remaining. Wood is originally from Wasatch High School and caught 13 passes for Snow in 2023 before transferring to New Mexico State for the 2024 season.
Nead is the nephew of former BYU tight end Spencer Nead and participated with New Mexico during spring practices before transferring to Provo. He spent the prior two seasons at Weber State where he caught 16 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown.
