What former BYU players put NFL scouts on notice during 2023 pro day?

PROVO — Nobody was going to beat Kaleb Hayes' pro-day performance during BYU's annual pre-NFL draft exercise Friday morning.

But Joe Tukuafu was going to try.

The 6-foot-4, 290–pound offensive lineman reverted back to his old East High tight end days when he caught passes from quarterback Jaren Hall during the end-of-session routes in front of 32 NFL scouts and representatives at the school's indoor practice facility.

Tukuafu definitely impressed, too, hauling in his first grab with soft hands and turning uphill on a dime to finish the sequence. The catch drew gasps and applause from the crowd of current players, coaches, family, friends and former players mingling in the facility, too — a clear surprise to most of them.

Not a surprise to the versatile Tukuafu, though.

"It was actually really good," said Tukuafu, who admitted he wasn't planning on performing at Pro Day before January, when several friends talked him into it. "I wanted to display everything I could do, and I didn't want to leave any doubt out there or anything. I displayed everything I wanted to display.

"I told Jaren about a week ago that I wanted to run routes," he added. "Jaren was surprised. But thanks to him, he worked me into his script, gave me 3-4 routes, and I think I displayed that I can accelerate and decelerate, as well as get in and out of cuts really smooth."

For the rest of the day, Hayes' performance caught plenty of notice. The 6-foot, 195-pound cornerback from San Bernardino, California, may have earned himself a contract — drafted, training camp or otherwise — with his pre-draft audition.

Hayes, a graduate transfer from Oregon State who burst on the scene in 2021 and started 20 of 24 games the past two seasons for the Cougars, led the day's 16 participants in five measurable categories (Jake Oldroyd also kicked field goals in front of a handful of scouts) — everything tested except for the bench press — highlighted by a 40-inch vertical leap.

Again, that jump drew gasps from the crowd. Hayes, though, was less surprised.

"I actually jumped a 40 before, at Oregon State (during a mock pro day)," Hayes said. "I'm not surprised that I got these numbers; I wanted to jump higher, but things happened. But those are the things I've been training up for, to go back to that Kaleb Hayes, the athletic part of it."

Hayes also put down a 4.31 40-yard dash and a 10-foot, 8-inch broad jump, among other measurables. His 40 time would've ranked third among cornerbacks and top-five overall at this year's NFL Combine.

But was it good enough to impress a few scouts after the cornerback surpassed current Los Angeles Chargers defensive back Michael Davis for No. 5 on BYU's career pass breakups with 18 and finished his career with 113 tackles?

"It's great for anyone to notice me," Hayes said. "It's great to be wanted, and to be looked at. I just want to have an opportunity to play for them.

"Whatever team I go to, know that I'm ready to compete. I'm always going to go out, have fun, and compete for a championship."

Blake Freeland didn't have much to gain in Provo after his breakout performance at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. But the 6-foot-8, 302-pound offensive tackle from Herriman and third-team All-American did improve on his 20-yard shuttle run with a 4.42, and he added a 25-rep performance on the bench press, which he did not attempt in Indiana.

Same with his quarterback Hall, who did not do drills at the combine but put down a 4.62 40 in Provo, as well as a 6.97-second 3-cone drill and 4.19 shuttle run before throwing to Tukuafu, Gunner Romney, Puka Nacua, Chris Jackson, Chris Brooks and Houston Heimuli. The 6-foot, 232-pound Brooks was also a highlight with his 4.58 40 and 37-inch vertical leap.

"I was just healthy today," Hall said. "My ankle felt better, and I felt recovered; I still didn't have a ton of time to prep for it, but I wanted to show that I'm an athletic guy and confirm what's on tape.

"I tried not to press too much about it, but I just wanted to show that I can do everything I need to."

Hall's best throw of the day was his final attempt to Nacua, a long ball off his back shoulder toward the far corner of the mock end zone in the practice facility.

"The last ball from Jaren was the one that we've been working on," said Nacua, who suffered a concussion during the Senior Bowl and was unable to perform at the combine but performed a full slate in front of family, including older brothers Kai and Isaiah, who both played at BYU. "We ended on a good note, and that made me feel a lot better.

"I felt at home in my environment, and to be out here with the guys was super fun."

Nacua's other brother Samson, who finished college at BYU after a standout career at the University of Utah, is currently with the USFL's Pittsburgh Maulers. But the former Orem High star expects a call from his next eldest brother about his 4.55 40 soon, as well.

"When I'm interviewing with teams, to have a brother who's been in the league for seven years and another who just went through training camp with the Colts, it's always super good to have their advice," said younger Nacua, before adding in jest: "But there are definitely times when I kind of wish I was going through it for the first time, so I didn't have to hear them talk trash about what I'm not doing well.

"It's a blessing to have them supporting me, but then telling me what I need to do better."

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