SALT LAKE CITY — BYU and Utah have never had first round draft picks in the same draft. That may change on April 25.

Most draft experts project Utah's Star Lotulelei and BYU's Ezekiel Ansah as top 10 picks. Lotulelei has been rated as high as No. 1 overall. ESPN draft expert Todd McShay believes Ziggy could be a top five pick.

It's a dream come true for both players.

"No time to rest," Lotulelei said after his workout at Utah Pro Day. "It's the most important time of my career."

It's a career opportunity that almost never happened for Star.

Lotulelei was a three star recruit from Bingham High School and helped lead the Miners to the 5A state championship in 2006. He was committed to play football at BYU but he didn't qualify academically. Frustrated, he walked away from the game of football and took a job with a furniture store moving and delivering furniture. It wasn't until Star attended some football games with his brother that he realized how much he missed the game and became determined to get back on the field.

Lotulelei spent a year at Snow College working on his academics while dominating opposing offensive linemen. He then spent another year away from football to focus on his academics. His hard work in the classroom finally paid off. He was cleared academically and ended up at Utah, where he had an immediate impact. His talent was never a question. Once his academics were in order it didn't take long for his play to catch the eye of NFL scouts. Now a college graduate, his NFL dream will become reality on April 25.

Utes Pro Day

Utah Football Pro Day: Star was a star

Today was a much anticipated day, perhaps more than any other pro day in the country, where we finally found out that Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei is exactly who we thought he was - a star.

Ansah's rise in the draft is even more improbable.

"It's been a crazy journey for me," Ansah said at BYU Pro Day. "It's pretty humbling to me."

His story is well-documented. The LDS convert from Ghana came to BYU to study mathematics with the hopes of making the basketball team. When that didn't work out he turned his attention to track and field, where his coach and fellow countryman Leonard Myles-Mills noticed his combination of size, strength and speed may be a better match for another sport. Ansah didn't even know how to put on pads when he started playing football, but three years later he has become one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Ansah will likely become the first BYU player taken in the first round since Rob Morris in 2000 and the first BYU player taken in the draft since Dennis Pitta in 2010.

He could also become the highest BYU draft pick since Jim McMahon was taken 5th overall in the 1982 draft.

That's an impressive rise for someone who has only been playing football for three years.

Lotulelei and Ansah aren't the only local college stars that will hear their named called in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Utah's Joe Kruger left school early to enter the draft. He's enjoying the special opportunity to train along side his brother Dave in preparation for the draft. Where he is drafted isn't certain, but his work at the NFL combine and Utah Pro Day is sure to guarantee his selection. Reggie Dunn also has a great chance to get drafted thanks to his knack for returning kicks for touchdowns and his 4.22 speed he showed off at Pro Day.

BYU's Braden Brown made the successful switch from tight end to offensive tackle in college and will likely hear his name called in the middle to late rounds of the draft.

Utah State also continues to produce NFL talent. Last year Bobby Wagner and Robert Turbin had an immediate impact for the Seattle Seahawks. Now Will Davis and Kerwynn Williams hope to become the next Aggies to have an impact in the NFL.

BYU Pro Day

Ziggy and the Cougars work hard on Pro Day

NFL Scouts were in Provo on Thursday as BYU held it's annual Pro Day.

Southern Utah's Brad Sorensen was invited to the NFL combine and could be taken in the late rounds of the draft.

There should also be several local players who will land free agent contracts if not drafted, and a number of them could surprise people and make NFL rosters in the fall.

The record for most Utah college players taken in the NFL draft is nine, set in 2010. This class will come close to that record which is a tribute to the college football teams in Utah and their ability to develop and produce NFL talent.

Where Lotulelei and Ansah are selected and where other players may land is sure to capture the attention of college football fans and NFL fans in Utah.

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