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AROUND THE LEAGUE — Former BYU star Harvey Langi didn't get drafted in last April's NFL Draft.
But there is more than one way to make an NFL team.
When the preseason ended and teams had to submit a 53-man roster, Langi was one of the few undrafted free agents from local colleges who found himself on a team's roster. Other first-year NFL players include draftees like Denver's Garett Bolles (Utah), Green Bay's Jamaal Williams (BYU), Green Bay's Devante Mays (Utah State); Miami's Isaac Asiata (Utah); Pittsburgh's Brian Allen (Utah); and San Francisco's Pita Taumoepenu (Utah).
After going undrafted in 2017, Kai Nacua was initially named to Cleveland's 53-man roster, having graded out as one of the top safeties in the 2017 draft class by SPARQ and Pro Football Focus.
“I knew what I needed to show to make this roster," Nacua told The Athletic in Cleveland. "I just told myself that I've played this game for so long, there's no need to psyche myself out."
But less than 24 hours later, Nacua was cut by the Browns to make room for a fourth quarterback — illustrating the cruel reality of life in the NFL.
Langi's inclusion on the 53-man roster was less surprising, and he's likely to stick around. Despite going undrafted following a standout career at BYU where he played linebacker, defensive end and fullback, the Patriots gave Langi a guaranteed deal worth more than $100,000 in base salary and bonuses, according to multiple reports.
The 6-foot-1, 250-pound linebacker led a standout group of linebackers after returning from a two-year mission for the LDS Church and transferring from Utah. He finished his college career with 139 tackles, including a game-high 16 tackles in his collegiate finale against Wyoming in the Poinsettia Bowl.
Here's a list of locals who made NFL 53-man rosters for the 2017 season. The list is subject to change regularly, but we'll try to keep it as updated as possible.
Locals on 2017 NFL rosters
Atlanta Falcons
DE Derrick Shelby (Utah)
Arizona Cardinals
RB Kerwynn Williams (Utah State)
DT Pasoni Tasini (Utah)#
LB Alani Fua (BYU)*
Baltimore Ravens
DE Bronson Kaufusi (BYU)
S Eric Weddle (Utah)
OL Tony Bergstrom (Utah)
CB Reggie Porter (Utah)#
CB Robertson Daniel (BYU)*
Buffalo Bills
WR/PR Kaelin Clay (Utah)
LB Zach Vigil (Utah State)#
Carolina Panthers
LB Jared Norris (Utah)
DL Star Lotulelei (Utah)
OL Tyler Larsen (Utah State)
Cleveland Browns
DL Nate Orchard (Utah)
S Kai Nacua (BYU)#
Cincinnati Bengals
LB Nick Vigil (Utah State)
Chicago Bears
LS Patrick Scales (Utah State)*
Denver Broncos
RB Devontae Booker (Utah)
OL Garett Bolles (Utah)
WR Hunter Sharp (Utah State)#
Detroit Lions
DE Ziggy Ansah (BYU)
S Miles Killebrew (SUU)
CB Nevin Lawson (Utah State)
DL Haloti Ngata (Highland High)
Green Bay Packers
DB Marwin Evans (Utah State)
LB Kyler Fackrell (Utah State)
RB Jamaal Williams (BYU)
RB Devante Mays (Utah State)
Indianapolis Colts
RB Robert Turbin (Utah State)
Jacksonville Jaguars
DL Hunter Dimick (Utah)#
Kansas City Chiefs
QB Alex Smith (Utah)
DB Daniel Sorensen (BYU)
OL Jordan Devey (American Fork High)
WR Marcus Kemp (Layton High)#
Los Angeles Rams
OL J.J. Dielman (Utah)
S Maurice Alexander (Utah State)
CB Dominique Hatfield (Utah)
TE Travis Wilson (Utah)#
Los Angeles Chargers
OL Sam Tevi (Utah)
DT Tenny Palepoi (Utah)*
CB Michael Davis (BYU)#
Miami Dolphins
OL Isaac Asiata (Utah)
LS John Denny (BYU)
LB Trevor Reily (Utah)
LB Koa Misi (Utah)*
New England Patriots
LB Kyle Van Noy (BYU)
LB Harvey Langi (BYU)
CB Eric Rowe (Utah)
New Orleans Saints
S Marcus Williams (Utah)
QB Taysom Hill (BYU)
Oakland Raiders
CB Sean Smith (Utah)
DE James Cowser (SUU)
Pittsburgh Steelers
CB Brian Allen (Utah)
San Francisco 49ers
OL Zane Beadles (Utah)
LB Pita Taumoepenu (Utah)
RB Joe Wiliams (Utah)*
Seattle Seahawks
LB Bobby Wagner (Utah State)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
DE Stevie Tu’ikolovatu (Utah/USC)*
DT Sealver Siliga (Utah)
Tennessee Titans
CB Brice McCain (Utah)
CB LeShaun Sims (SUU)
Washington Redskins
CB Fish Smithson (Highland High)#
WR Dres Anderson (Utah)#
*Placed on injured reserve
#Designates practice squad