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SALT LAKE CITY — This year’s NFL draft is one to remember for Utah football. The Pac-12 school sent a program-high eight athletes to the NFL, all of which were invited to and participated in the NFL Combine.
The three-day draft was a thrill for Ute fans as they watched their favorite players’ dreams come true. Here’s how social media reacted to Utah’s draftees.
No. 20: Garett Bolles, offensive tackle
The first Ute to get drafted this year was offensive tackle Garett Bolles, who was selected 20th overall by the Denver Broncos. He’ll join former Utah running back Devontae Booker in Denver. Bolles is the eighth player in program history to be drafted in the first round. The last Utah player selected in the first round was defensive tackle Star Lotulelei (14th overall pick), who was picked by the Carolina Panthers in 2013. Quarterback Alex Smith (No. 1 overall), who was drafted by San Francisco in 2005, was the last offensive player from Utah to be selected in the first round.
Bolles played just one season at Utah before forgoing his senior season to pursue a professional football career. He played two seasons at Snow College before transferring to the Pac-12 school where he became a dominant asset for Utah.
At the Combine, Bolles finished as a top performer in four of five different drills for his position — 40-yard dash (4.95 seconds), broad jump (115 inches), three cone drill (7.29 seconds) and 20-yard shuttle (4.55 seconds). His impressive performance put his name on several teams’ radar, but it was the Broncos who had the 24-year-old as their top target.
Once his name was announced, Bolles took to the stage carrying his 4-month-old son, Kingston, who stole the show wearing a suit — after all Friday was Bring Your Child to Work Day. The newest Bronco held his son up like Rafiki holds Simba in “The Lion King” when meeting Commissioner Roger Goodell on stage. The act melted everyone’s heart.
No. 42: Marcus Williams, safety
In the second round of the draft, safety Marcus Williams became the second Ute drafted as the 42nd overall pick thanks to the New Orleans Saints. He became the program’s 13th second-round NFL draft pick, six of whom are on current NFL rosters — Eric Weddle (Baltimore), cornerback Sean Smith (Oakland), offensive lineman Zane Beadles (San Francisco), linebacker Koa Misi (Miami), cornerback Eric Rowe (New England) and defensive end Nate Orchard (Cleveland).
Williams is a two-time All-Pac-12 safety and first-team All-Pac-12 academic honoree. He started all three of his seasons at Utah, finishing with 11 career interceptions and a team-leading five interceptions in 2015 and 2016.
Of the seven drills he participated in at the Combine, Williams was a top performer in four — 43.5-inch vertical jump, 129-inch broad jump, 6.85 second three-cone drill and 11.26 seconds in the 60-yard shuttle.
No. 121: Joe Williams, running back
After retiring midseason due to injury and family matters, Joe Williams returned to Utah football and set records. The decision proved wise as the San Francisco 49ers drafted him in the fourth round as the 121st overall pick.
Williams finished his career with 1,407 yards and 10 touchdowns. He holds the school record for single-game rushing yards (332) and single-season rushing average (156.3). He also had eight 100-yard games in his 19 career games played. Williams became the Foster Farm’s Bowl MVP with the career-high 58 receiving yards and 278 all-purpose yards he claimed in Utah’s postseason win against Indiana.
Williams’ comeback was a national storyline for the 2016 season. As one of eight Utah athletes invited to the Combine, he was a top performer in two of the six drills he participated in, including the 40-yard dash (4.41 seconds) and the 20-yard shuttle (4.19 seconds).
No. 164: Isaac Asiata, offensive guard
Spanish Fork native Isaac Asiata’s dreams of playing in the NFL came true when the Miami Dolphins selected him in the fifth round as the 164th overall pick.
Finishing as a four-year starter, Asiata played in 45 games, including 39 straight starts in his last three seasons. He’s a two-time all-conference offensive guard who won the Pac-12’s 2016 Morris Trophy Award — a player’s award as the league’s starting offensive linemen vote for the defensive lineman of the year, while the league’s starting defensive linemen vote for the offensive lineman of the year.
Asiata performed in six drills at the Combine and led in bench press with 35 reps at 225 pounds.
No 173: Brian Allen, defensive back
As the 173rd overall pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted receiver-turned-cornerback Brian Allen in the fifth round.
Allen evolved into a defensive starter, although he never played the position before. Thirty-two of his 42 games played were at cornerback. His size and speed favored him as he finished his career with five interceptions (four coming his senior year), 62 total tackles, 14 passes defended and one forced fumble.
Allen participated in six drills at the Combine and was a top performer in the three-cone drill (6.64 seconds).
No. 176: J.J. Dielman, center
The Cincinnati Bengals selected J.J. Dielman as the 176th overall pick in the fifth round. Dielman started three years for the Utes, starting in 31 of 32 games. He moved from right tackle to center his senior season. Midway through his senior year, he suffered a season-ending injury.
Despite his injury, Dielman was invited to the Combine, where he participated in the bench press drill. He benched 225 pounds 27 times.
No. 190: Sam Tevi, offensive tackle
With the 190th overall pick, the Los Angeles Chargers picked Sam Tevi in the sixth round. He began his career as a defensive tackle but switched to offensive tackle where he was a two-year starter.
Tevi was invited to the Combine and participated in six position drills.
No. 202: Pita Taumoepenu, outside linebacker
Pita Taumoepenu, the sixth round and 202nd overall pick, joins Joe Williams with the San Francisco 49ers. In his four years at Utah, he became a ferocious pass rusher. Taumoepenu’s 21.5 career sacks are the fifth-most in program history. He finished with 73 career tackles (41 in his senior season), four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Taumoepenu was a top performer in the three-cone drill (6.91 seconds), one of six drills he performed at the Combine.
