Utah football players show out at Pro Day a month away from NFL draft

SALT LAKE CITY — It's been three years since Utah football had multiple players drafted into the NFL, and this year's class took another step toward breaking that streak on Thursday at Pro Day.

Eleven players met with and performed in front of scouts from 31 NFL team at the Spence Eccles Field House, with as many as five projected to be drafted next month in Kansas City.

Dalton Kincaid — the highest projected of them all, with first-round potential — did not participate in the workouts or drills but was in attendance after being medically cleared on Monday from a back injury he suffered last season.

"I think it would be a great reflection of this program," Kincaid said of himself and others getting drafted. "I'd be super grateful to have that opportunity, so (the coaching staff) can kind of carry that with them, as well."

Utah had seven players drafted in 2020 but has since had just one taken across the last two drafts. Star linebacker Devin Lloyd was taken in the first round — 27th overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars — in 2022. The Utes could have another first-rounder this year in Kincaid, but Thursday's workouts may have guaranteed he's not the only one to hit the stage in Kansas City.

Cornerback Clark Phillips III participated in the NFL Combine earlier this month where he ran an impressive 4.51-second 40-yard dash. He let his Combine time speak for itself, and instead focused on football drills at Pro Day, insisting he just wants to "play football."

"I'm a football player," Phillips said. "I guard receivers and I make football plays. I don't play 40, I don't play shuttle, I don't play L drill; I play football. So I'm just glad that we got to kind of get that out the way and get out here and play football."

Pro Football Focus ranks Phillips No. 78 on its draft board, putting the defensive back in the third round of the draft. The other three Utah players listed on the board are offensive lineman Braeden Daniels (No. 184), linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (No. 208), and running back Tavion Thomas (No. 239).

Diabate saw his stock rise the most out of the three on Thursday, impressing scouts with a 34-inch vertical and 11-foot broad jump, the latter of which would have beat out all the athletes at the NFL Combine, according to Utah football.

"I try to just keep my head down and continue to work," Daniels said when asked if he pays attention to draft projections. "I'm trying to keep my head in the grind. I have aspirations to go Day 2 but I mean, you know, I understand that it's Day 2 to undrafted for me. It's cutthroat, but I'm excited and I'm ready to hear my name."

Daniels would be the first offensive lineman since Jackson Barton in 2019 to get drafted from Utah, and Thomas is hoping to follow in Zack Moss' footsteps as the next Ute running back to make it to the league.

The NFL draft takes place April 27-29 in Kansas City and will be broadcast across ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.

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