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For a reminder of just how difficult making the 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie can be, take the path of former BYU cornerback Kaleb Hayes.
The 6-foot, 195-pound defensive back from San Bernardino, California, was a 20-game starter for the Cougars after transferring from Oregon State and ran the fastest 40-yard dash time at the Cougars' annual pro day in March with time of 4.31. After going undrafted in April, he quickly signed a contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Hayes was a stalwart in the Jags' secondary during preseason, totaling six tackles and two passes defended. He was was among the highest-graded defensive rookies in the 2023 preseason, according to Pro Football Focus, among rookies that played at least 45 snaps, with a PFF rating of 83.5.
But Hayes was one of the hundreds of cuts made on the NFL's final cut-down day around the league as the 32 teams made a number of business decisions.
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson even cut his own son Josh — a tight end who played at Louisiana-Monroe and had experience in the NFL and USFL over the past two years.
While rare, some undrafted free agents stick to the team that took a chance on them. That includes former BYU running back Chris Brooks, who was one of six running backs kept on the Miami Dolphins' initial 53-man roster. The one-time Cal transfer ran for 817 yards and six touchdowns a year ago for the Cougars, went undrafted in the NFL draft in April, and signed as a free agent with the Dolphins a few days later.
Brooks ran for 104 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries for the Dolphins in the preseason, scoring a pair in the Dolphins' 31-18 loss to Jacksonville on the weekend, showcasing his brand of the power-run game and speed that helped Miami management add him to the roster.
"We have a great room, and a great coach coaching us," Brooks told the Miami media during preseason. "I think it's definitely a blessing to have a great coach to learn from."
In all, 51 players who played college or high school football in Utah made an initial 53-man roster on one of the NFL's 32 teams. That list includes rookie draft picks like former Utah cornerback Clark Phillips III (Atlanta Falcons) and tight end Dalton Kincaid (Buffalo Bills), former BYU quarterback Jaren Hall (Minnesota Vikings) and former BYU and Orem High wide receiver Puka Nacua, one of 14 drafted rookies to make the 53-man roster with the Los Angeles Rams.
The list includes 15 players from the University of Utah (with four more on injured reserve), 14 from BYU, eight from Utah State, four from Weber State and two from Southern Utah — plus eight players from Utah high schools scattered around the league.
Among the most surprising cuts was former Utah standout Britain Covey, who was released by the Philadelphia Eagles after one season, as first reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane.
Covey, the 26-year-old return specialist who is entering his second season in the NFL, was also released by the Eagles ahead of the 2022 season. But the 5-foot-8, 175-pound returner re-signed with Philadelphia's practice squad before being called up to the active roster.
The one-time Timpview quarterback ended the season returning 33 punts with a 9.3-yard return average, including three returns of 20 or more yards and 18 fair catches while helping the Eagles advance to the Super Bowl before a 38-35 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Here is a look at the former Utah-based high school and college football players who moved off a roster in the final week of the 2023 NFL preseason, as compiled by KSL.com and the Deseret News:
- Cole Fotheringham, TE, Utah: Waived by Las Vegas Raiders
- Bryan Mone, DT, Highland (via Michigan): Placed on reserve/physically unable to perform (PUP) list by Seattle Seahawks,
- Noah Togiai, TE, Hunter (via Oregon State): Released by Arizona Cardinals
- Jackson Barton, OT, Utah/Brighton: Released by Arizona Cardinals
- Bryan Thompson, WR, Utah: Released by Buffalo Bills
- Simi Fehoko, WR, Brighton (via Stanford): Released by Dallas Cowboys
- Matt Bushman, TE, BYU: Waived by Kansas City Chiefs
- Tomasi Laulile, DT, BYU/Westlake: Waived by Denver Broncos
- Chris Wilcox, CB, BYU: Released by Pittsburgh Steelers
- D'Angelo Mandell, CB, BYU: Waived by Dallas Cowboys
- Calvin Tyler Jr., RB, Utah State: Waived by Cincinnati Bengals
- Kaleb Hayes, CB, BYU: Waived by Jacksonville Jaguars
- Cameron Latu, TE, Olympus (via Alabama): Placed on injured reserve by San Francisco 49ers
- Darrin Paulo, OT, Utah: Waived by Detroit Lions
- Darwin Thompson, RB, Utah State: Waived by Las Vegas Raiders
- Braeden Daniels, OT, Utah: Placed on injured reserve by Washington Commanders
- Marcus Kemp, WR, Layton (via Hawaii): Waived by Washington Commanders
- Pita Taumoepenu, LB, Utah/Timpview: Released by New York Jets
- Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State/Fremont: Released by New York Jets
- Brian Cobbs, WR, Utah State: Waived by Arizona Cardinals
- Tyler Larsen, C, Utah State/Jordan: Released by Washington Commanders
- Eric Rowe, S, Utah: Waived by Carolina Panthers
- Terrell Burgess, S, Utah: Waived by Washington Commanders
- Britain Covey, WR/RET, Utah/Timpview: Released by Philadelphia Eagles
- Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury: Waived by Buffalo Bills
- Ty'Son Williams, RB, BYU: Waived by Arizona Cardinals
- Javelin Guidry, CB, Utah: Placed on injured reserve by New York Jets
- John Penisini, DT, Utah/West Jordan: Waived by Carolina Panthers
- Hunter Thedford, OT, Utah: Waived by Cleveland Browns
- Tim Patrick, WR, Utah: Placed on injured reserve by Denver Broncos
- James Empey, C, BYU/American Fork: Assigned to Green Bay Packers off waivers from Tennessee Titans before being released Tuesday
Here are the former BYU players that made a 53-man roster around the league following cutdown day (Utah-based high school included, where applicable):
- Tyler Allgeier, RB, Atlanta Falcons
- Chris Brooks, RB, Miami Dolphins
- Brady Christensen, OG, Carolina Panthers (Bountiful)
- Michael Davis, CB, Los Angeles Chargers
- Blake Freeland, OT, Indianapolis Colts (Herriman)
- Jaren Hall, QB, Minnesota Vikings (Maple Mountain)
- Taysom Hill, TE, New Orleans Saints
- Dax Milne, WR, Washington Commanders (Bingham)
- Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams (Orem)
- Sione Takitaki, LB, Cleveland Browns
- Khyiris Tonga, DT, Minnesota Vikings (Granger)
- Fred Warner, LB, San Francisco 49ers
- Jamaal Williams, RB, New Orleans Saints
- Zach Wilson, QB, New York Jets (Corner Canyon)
Here are the former Utah players that made a 53-man roster (Utah-based high school included, if applicable):
- Cody Barton, LB, Washington Commanders (Brighton)
- Julian Blackmon, FS, Indianapolis Colts (Layton)
- Garett Bolles. OT, Denver Broncos (Westlake/Snow College)
- Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Cleveland Browns
- Leki Fotu, DT, Arizona Cardinals (Herriman)
- Matt Gay, K, Indianapolis Colts (Orem via Utah Valley)
- Tyler Huntley, QB, Baltimore Ravens
- Jaylon Johnson, CB, Chicago Bears
- Dalton Kincaid, TE, Buffalo Bills
- Devin Lloyd, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Zack Moss, RB, Indianapolis Colts
- Clark Phillips III, CB, Atlanta Falcons
- Nephi Sewell, LB, New Orleans Saints (Desert Hills)
- Marcus Williams, FS, Baltimore Ravens
- Mitch Wishnowsky, P, San Francisco 49ers
Here are the former Utah State players that made a 53-man roster (Utah-based high school included, if applicable):
- Jalen Davis, CB, Cincinnati Bengals
- Dallin Leavitt, S, Green Bay Packers (via BYU)
- Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers
- Patrick Scales, LS, Chicago Bears (Weber)
- Deven Thompkins, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Bobby Wagner, LB, Seattle Seahawks
- Jaylen Warren, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers (East via Snow College and Oklahoma State)
- Derek Wright, WR, Carolina Panthers (Manti via Snow College)
Here are the other players with ties to the state of Utah players that made a 53-man roster (Utah-based high school included, if applicable):
- Braxton Jones, OT, Chicago Bears (Murray Southern Utah)
- Miles Killebrew, S, Pittsburgh Steelers (Southern Utah)
- Taron Johnson, CB, Buffalo Bills (Weber State)
- Sua Opeta, OG, Philadelphia Eagles (Stansbury via Weber State)
- Rashid Shaheed, WR/RS, New Orleans Saints (Weber State)
- Jonah Williams, DE, Los Angeles Rams (Weber State)
- Kaden Elliss, LB, Atlanta Falcons, (Judge Memorial via Idaho)
- Alohi Gilman, S, Los Angeles Chargers (Orem via Notre Dame)
- Siaki Ika, DT, Cleveland Browns (East via Baylor)
- Andre James, C, Las Vegas Raiders, (Herriman via UCLA)
- Dalton Schultz, TE, Houston Texans (Bingham via Stanford)
- Noah Sewell, LB, Chicago Bears (Orem via Oregon)
- Penei Sewell, OT, Detroit Lions (Desert Hills via Oregon)
- Jay Tufele, DT, Cincinnati Bengals (Bingham via USC)
