3 reasons Sitake will send more BYU players to NFL


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PROVO — The NFL draft starts Thursday, and a handful of former BYU players could be drafted in the annual event.

One of the most consistent knocks on former BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall was that he did not get players into the NFL. In his 11 seasons at the helm, only eight of Mendenhall's players were drafted by NFL squads.

By contrast, legendary former coach LaVell Edwards had six players drafted in each of the 1981 and 1986 NFL drafts alone.

With Mendenhall leaving to Virginia, former Oregon State defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake has taken over the reins in Provo. Already in Sitake's short time as the head honcho at the Y., the program has a very different feel to it. Another area that I think will be drastically different is how many BYU players will be selected in upcoming NFL drafts.

Here are some reasons more Cougars will be drafted and play in the NFL under Sitake than did during Mendenhall's reign.

Sitake has already proven he can get guys to the next level

In his six seasons as Utah's defensive coordinator, Sitake had 11 defensive players get drafted by NFL teams. Of those 11 players, four were taken in the second round and one was selected in the first round. That is impressive by anyone's standards. By contrast, Mendenhall had just three of his defenders (with a fourth likely coming this year in former Cougar defensive end Bronson Kaufusi) selected in NFL drafts in his 11 seasons as head coach at BYU. That is surprising in some ways since Mendenhall often coached very good defenses in his dual role as the defensive coordinator at the Y.

The number of athletes getting drafted on his side of the ball speaks volumes about Sitake in numerous ways. First, it shows that he can recruit guys that have the physical tools to play in the NFL. Sitake has reiterated over and over that recruiting is the lifeblood of any program, and he has been good at it. Secondly, it shows that he can coach and get the best out of the guys he brings in. This is also critical because lots of coaches around the nation squander talented athletes that otherwise may have developed into professional players. Finally, getting so many players into the NFL suggests that he knows what it takes to get guys to the next level and that it has been a priority for him.

Sitake is an Edwards disciple

In many respects, Sitake's short tenure has felt like a rekindling of the past. From his warm personality to the influx of former players on the coaching staff, the Sitake era thus far has been heavily influenced by legendary former BYU head coach LaVell Edwards.

One thing that Edwards did for his players was that he had an open door for players to come in and talk to him about continuing their careers in football, whether it be by playing or coaching. Edwards was a major promoter for his guys who wanted to stay in the game and used his connections to help them land tryouts or interviews for vacant coaching positions. During his 29 years as head coach, 86 players that Edwards coached were drafted by NFL teams. His coaching tree is also very impressive with NFL standout coaches Andy Reid and Brian Billick getting their start from him.

Mendenhall, on the other hand, was not shy about his belief that NFL life was fleeting and generally pointed his kids in a different direction. This lack of emphasis on helping guys get to the next level is perhaps a major reason for the lack of Cougars getting drafted during Mendenhall's tenure. While Sitake is still relatively young into his career, his coaching tree has also been pretty limited. It seems likely, given his track record at the U. and the way he's operated similarly to Edwards so far at the Y., that Sitake will embrace the role of helping his players make it to the next level. This change in emphasis and direction alone should yield more NFL draft picks.

Sitake already has some players on the roster who can make the jump

Credit needs to be given to Mendenhall on this one. He brought in some very talented players who have a legitimate shot at playing football on Sundays after their college careers. He and his staff also deserve credit for helping these players sharpen their skills and develop on and off the field. It is highly possible that Mendenhall would have sent numerous players to the NFL in the upcoming seasons. With the talented crop of players left to Sitake, he should be able to get a few players into each draft for the next few years. This in effect will help him recruit more players that have NFL-caliber potential as he can point to his track record as an assistant and a head coach as proof that he can get guys to the pros.

Still, Sitake is only going to continue to get explosive players if he has success early and often. Mendenhall won a lot of games at the Y., but the program was a little stagnant in the last few years. Sitake has brought some new life and energy to the team, but it will quickly fade if the Y. doesn't come out of the gates strong.


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About the Author: Dylan Cannon ------------------------------

Dylan Cannon is a regular KSL.com contributor and can be reached at DylanCannon86@gmail.com or via twitter @DylanCannon11.

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