Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PROVO, Utah (April 27, 2008) -- Prior to the start of the 2008 NFL Draft on Saturday, BYU linebacker Bryan Kehl made a friendly wager with friends and family. He had a feeling he would be drafted by the New York Giants. On Sunday, his premonition became a reality when the defending SuperBowl champions traded up to make Kehl their 24th selection in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
"After interviewing and meeting with a few teams at the combine in Indianapolis, New York was in my top-five," Kehl said. "I could see myself as a New York Giant. I'm really excited. They're the SuperBowl Champions. It doesn't get any better than that."
Kehl, a 6-foot-3, 242-pound native of Salt Lake City, will leave Utah for the East Rutherford, N.J., early in May for the Giants' mini camp which begins May 8. According to NFLDraftScout.com, the Giants have an immediate need at linebacker after losing both of their starting outside linebackers to free agency. Kehl was the first of only two linebackers selected by the Giants. New York had only seven picks in this year's draft, using two of those seven selection to draft linebackers.
Kehl said, after talking with head coach Tom Coughlin and linebackers coach Bill Sheridan, he felt he could help make an immediate impact as a rookie.
"They've told me who they have in the program, what they plan for me and where I'll fit in," Kehl said. "I feel like I will be able to go in and make an immediate impact on special teams and then work my way in to the rotation. It's honestly a privilege and an honor to be drafted by the Giants. I'm looking forward to getting out there."
The Giants were prepared to select Kehl in the third round; however, those plans were changed when Michigan receiver Mario Manningham slipped down the draft board after a poor showing at the NFL combine.
"When that happened, they told me they were going to get me in the fourth round if I was still available," Kehl said. "It's good to know they made a trade to move up and draft me. It's a good fit and its a great opportunity for me."
Kehl, a first-team All-Mountain West Conference selection as a senior, was selected by his teammates as the Cougars' Defensive MVP last season. Kehl finished his senior campaign with 84 tackles, including a team-best 48 solo tackles. According to NFLDraftScout.com, Kehl is a playmaker with great speed and the ability to produce.
"He is versatile and can play inside or outside and on special teams," says the on-line scouting source. "Bryan is a natural playmaker who showed marked improvement during his senior year."
Kehl is the 14th BYU linebacker to be selected in the NFL Draft since 1972, and the first linebacker to be drafted since Brady Popping was picked by the Green Bay Packers in 2005. Interestingly, Poppinga and Kehl were both the 24th pick in the fourth round of their respective drafts. Since the 2004 NFL Draft, more linebackers have been drafted from BYU than any other position.
Kehl is also the first player from BYU to be drafted by the Giants since David Futrell was selected in the 12th round in the 1988 draft.
BRYAN KEHL 6-3, 242 Salt Lake City, UT / Brighton HS SENIOR - (2007): Earned first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors ... named the team's defensive MVP and earned the Strength & Conditioning Award ... ranked second on the BYU roster with 84 tackles on the season, including a team-high 48 solo takedowns ... averaged 7 tackles per game ... credited with double-digit tackles in three games this season, including a season-high 11 tackles against UCLA ... ranked second on the BYU roster with 11 tackles for a combined loss of 48 yards on the season ... had four sacks on the season ... credited with a career-high three interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery ... earned MWC Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors after picking up 10 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a sack in the Cougars' 31-24 win at Wyoming ... against New Mexico, credited with his first-career interception, returning it 36 yards for a touchdown ... had an interception in three straight games (New Mexico, UNLV, Eastern Washington) ... part of a defensive unit that has not allowed a 100-yard rusher all season ... captained a BYU defense that ranks 10th nationally, allowing a MWC leading 307.2 yards per game.
JUNIOR - (2006): Earned Academic All-Mountain West Conference honors ... ranked third on the roster with 70 tackles, including 35 solo takedowns ... averaged 5.2 tackles per game against MWC opponents ... had eight tackles for a combined loss of 33 yards as a junior ... credited with three sacks ... led all BYU linebackers with three pass break-ups ... part of a BYU defense that ranked 10th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 14.7 points per game ... part of a BYU defense that ranked fourth in the nation and tops in the Mountain West Conference in turnover margin (1.08) ... part of a defensive unit that ranked second in the MWC in third-down defense, allowing opponents to convert just 53 of 161 (32.9 percent) attempts ... a 2006 All-Mountain West honorable mention selection.
SOPHOMORE - (2005): Earned letterman honors as a sophomore ... named Academic All-MWC ... played 11 out of 12 games on the season ... credited with 30 tackles, including 15 solo takedowns ... against Utah, had nine tackles, including five solo takedowns ... had four tackles in the Las Vegas Bowl against California ... had three tackles, one fumble recovery and one tackle for a loss of one yard against San Diego State ... recorded one punt return for 11 yards ... blocked a punt that led to BYU's only score against Boston College.
FRESHMAN - (2002): Earned letterman honors as a true freshman ... saw action in 11 games at linebacker ... credited with 14 tackles on the season, including six solo takedowns ... earned the prep team defensive player-of-the-week award (vs. Utah State).
Before BYU Earned Salt Lake Tribune First-Team All-State honors as a senior ... earned academic recognition at Brighton HS with a 4.0 grade-point average ... earned Academic All-State honors ... a three-year letterwinner ... led team to an 11-1 record and a Region 2 championship as a senior ... earned second-team all-region honors as a junior ... named the team MVP as a senior ... also named Region 2 MVP as a senior.
Personal Born in Salt Lake City ... parents are Gary and Nancy ... older brothers, Ed and Brandon, played for the Cougars ... majored in mechanical engineering ... served a Chuch mission in Toronto, Canada ... recruited by Utah, Oregon, Utah State, Harvard, Yale, Penn, Idaho State.
