BYU Pro day 2023 Results and Reactions

BYU Football held its Pro day on March 24th at the IPF. At the BYU Pro day, all 32 NFL teams were in attendance to show the talent that the Cougars had this past season. These 16 players showed their skills or added to their potential to get drafted or make an NFL roster this fall. Kaleb Hayes was the player with the most significant performance and is now turning heads. Others all had their good times and put their best foot forward.

Chris Brooks RB

He didn’t take any measurements. Brooks did run a 4.5 forty, had 20 reps on the bench press, a verticle of 37″, his broad jump was 10’2″, ran the three-cone drill in 7.13 seconds, and finished with a time of 4.18 seconds on the 20-yard shuttle.

Chris Brooks played three seasons for the University of California and transferred to BYU this past season. Brooks played in 11 games this year, rushing for 817 yards. He would be a great addition to any NFL roster; I don’t see him getting drafted but picking up a deal as a free agent.

Matthew Criddle LB

Matthew Criddle didn’t take any measurements and didn’t lift or run the 20-yard shuttle. He did run a 4.64 forty-yard dash, a broad jump of 10’4″, a verticle jump of 35 and 1/2″, and finished his day with a 6.94 second 3 cone drill. He may go on to be on a practice squad or even play in the USFL or XFL.

Criddle played in seven games this season. He had a big role later in the season when some key players were missing. Criddle isn’t a big prospect and hasn’t turned heads.

Lorenzo Fauatea DL

Lorenzo Fauatea did some measurements and ran every drill. He ran a 5.61 forty, had 19 reps on the bench, a 22″ verticle, a broad jump of 7’10”, an 8.15 3 cone drill, and a 4.93 shuttle. His name has been big for a potential undrafted free agent.

Fauatea played in 12 games this season and was a big guy up front for the defense. Later on in the season stepped up and made some more big plays for the Cougars. He turned some heads on Friday and helped him with him potentially making an NFL team.

Blake Freeland OL

Blake Freeland had a great day at the NFL Combine and turned heads with the big numbers he put up. He only lifted at BYU Pro day, in which he put up 25 reps. At the combine, he ran a 4.98 forty first among NFL linemen, 1.68 10-yard split, 37″ verticle, 10′ broad jump, 7.46 second 3 cone drill, and a time of 4.42 seconds in his 20-yard shuttle. Most of these numbers put him number one amongst the other lineman at the NFL Combine.

Freeland played in all 13 games this season for the Cougars. He was already projected to get drafted, and his performance at the Senior Bowl, the Combine, and then at BYU Pro Day has helped him out. I see him going in round 3.

Jaren Hall

Jaren Hall didn’t bench or jump at the pro day but he did put up a decent forty time of 4.62, ran the three-cone drill in 6.97 seconds, and the 20-yard shuttle at 4.19 seconds. This didn’t help him with him potentially being drafted. He is drawing interest from four NFL teams who need a quarterback.

Hall played in 12 games this year and missed the bowl game due to an injury. This has been a reoccurring story for Hall. He hasn’t played a full college season because of injuries, so that is something that people should take into consideration when thinking about him getting drafted. He didn’t help himself by not playing in the senior bowl and only running limited drills at the combine.

Kaleb Hayes CB

Kaleb Hayes, hands down, had the best pro day in this class with the day he had. He ran a 4.31 forty, 17 reps on the bench press, 40″ verticle, a broad jump of 10’8″, the three-cone drill at 6.88 seconds, and a 20-yard shuttle of 4.17 seconds. He turned many heads and has raised his draft potential exponentially.

Hayes played in 12 games this year and played a big role in this year’s defense. He came into the pro day ready to turn heads and that is what he did. With his abilities being overlooked while playing ball at BYU, he is ready to be quiet no more and make an NFL roster.

Houston Heimuli FB

Houston Heimuli did some measurements and had some good numbers. He ran 4.98 forty, 31 reps at the bench, 29.5″ verticle, broad jump of 9’3″, a three-cone drill of 7.5, and finished off with a 20-yard shuttle at 4.15 seconds. He turned some heads at the pro day as well.

Heimuli played in all 13 games this season and played mainly as an addition to the offensive line for the Cougars. He raised his NFL career potential with his pro day showing, so keep an eye out for him making an NFL roster after the draft.

Britton Hogan LS

Britton Hogan just ran the 40 and he ran it in 5.13 seconds. He had some nice snaps on a pro day and throughout his time at BYU. Hogan must continue to put his best foot forward as the long snapper position isn’t one NFL teams need too many of.

Chris Jackson WR

Chris Jackson did some measurements and put up some decent numbers. He ran a 4.43 forty, 19 reps on the bench press, 33.5″ verticle jump, a broad jump of 10′, ran a 7.22 cone drill, and finished off a 4.37 20-yard shuttle. His NFL potential isn’t that high but he could make a practice squad or go play at another pro level for a couple of years.

Harris LaChance OL

Harris LaChance ran a 5.17 forty, had 18 reps on the bench, a 26″ verticle, a broad jump of 8’7″, a three-cone drill with a time of 7.34, and he didn’t run the 20-yard shuttle. He raised his potential with this performance and with him playing a major role for the Cougars this past season.

D’Angelo Mandell DB

D’Angelo Mandell had a good pro day. He ran a 4.51 forty, did 13 reps, a verticle of 30″, with a broad jump of 9’8″, a 3 cone drill of 7.44 seconds, and finished with a 4.59 20-yard shuttle. He might make an NFL roster if invited to a mini-camp this summer.

Puka Nacua WR

Puka Nacua raised his draft potential with his numbers and his ability to catch the ball when being completely blocked by a defender. He ran 4.55 forty on a pro day while doing the rest of the events at the combine. His combined numbers were 15 reps on the bench press, 33″ verticle, 10’1″ broad jump, a three-cone drill of 7.3 seconds, and the 20-yard shuttle of 4.36 seconds. These are some good numbers for a wide receiver.

Nacua played in nine games this season as he dealt with an ankle all season that occurred during the season opener against South Florida. Staying healthy has also been an issue for Nacua, so that may affect his draft stock. Just keep in mind that we will see him go in the later rounds on Saturday.

Gunner Romney WR

Gunner Romney didn’t get any measurements done. He did run all the drills and he put up some good numbers. He ran a 4.65 forty, did nine reps, had a 34″ verticle, with a 10′ broad jump, and finished his day off with the three-cone drill running 4.47 seconds. He has struggled to stay healthy so I don’t see him playing in the NFL.

Earl Tuioti-Mariner DL

Earl Tuioti-Mariner didn’t do any measurements or did the bench press. He did run a 5.13 forty, a verticle of 33″, with a broad jump of 9′, a three-cone drill in 7.8 seconds, and finished with a 20-yard shuttle run in 4.97 seconds. He may go sit on a practice squad of some team.

Joe Tukuafu OL

Joe Tukuafu didn’t do measurements or the bench press. He ran a 5.06 second forty, a verticle of 26″, his broad jump was 8’7″, a three-cone drill of 7.66 seconds, and his 20-yard shuttle was 4.75 seconds. He also may go sit on a practice squad somewhere.

Payton Wilgar LB

Payton Wilgar didn’t do measurements but he put up some good numbers. He ran a 4.69 forty, did 16 reps on the bench press, 32″ verticle, a broad jump of 9’9″, a three-cone drill of 7.71 seconds, and a 20-yard shuttle of 4.32 seconds. Wilgar has raised his draft potential and will be on an NFL roster this fall.