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PROVO — Quarterbacks and skill position players had the chance to shine during Thursday's inaugural Big 12 pro days. But Saturday was made for the big boys and specialists.
Max Tooley ran a 4.5 40-yard dash, added a 34.5-inch vertical leap, and posted a 10-foot, 2-inch broad jump as Big 12 pro day wrapped up the weekend with sessions for specialists, offensive linemen, defensive linemen and linebackers.
More than 130 NFL scouts and team personnel were on hand for the inaugural Big 12 pro day, a three-day event that brought together 137 football players from across the conference — including 11 from BYU. The list included All-American punter Ryan Rehkow, who also worked out at the NFL scouting combine alongside former teammates Kedon Slovis and Kingsley Suamataia in Indianapolis.
"I thought they represented themselves, their families and Cougar Nation really well," BYU director of player personnel Justin Anderson said in a school release. "I am excited to see what the future holds for these guys."
For Tooley, it was the culmination of six years of work since the former Bountiful High standout committed to the Cougars (with a stop in England for a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).
"My six years at BYU prepared me through summer workouts and winter workouts to grind, to get right mentally and get on the biggest stage and show what I can do," Tooley said. "What I'd bring to an NFL franchise is someone who is committed, who is ready to grind, who loves the game and is going to give it his all every play that I am on the field."
Fellow linebacker A.J. Vongphachanh hasn't been at BYU nearly as long. But the former Utah State linebacker posted a 4.8 40 and a 9-foot, 5-inch broad jump.
"It was a little different, not doing a traditional pro day at the school," said Vongphachanh, who was one of 137 prospects from the conference's 14 schools to run drills at The Star in Frisco, Texas. "But honestly, I loved the experience and I'm grateful for it.
"I felt like this day would never come," he added. "I'm glad for it."
Defensive lineman Atunaisa Mahe posted 31 reps on the bench press, and former teammate Jackson Cravens — the Timpview High grad whose career included stops at Utah and Boise State before finishing in his hometown at BYU — added 29 reps.
"Only being there one year, it wasn't a lot of time. But I felt like I had been (at BYU) for years," said Cravens, a nephew of Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. "I really feel like it helped me and showed in leading up to this point. I couldn't have done it without them."
BYU punter Ryan Rehkow also went through drills at pro day, after the 6-foot-4, 235-pound specialist ran similar drills at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
The younger brother of former NFL punter Austin Rehkow showed off his size and leg, including a career-best 60-yard punt he showcased in 2023. But he also demonstrated consistency in distance and hang time Saturday.
"It was just about showing consistency, that every time I come out, that's what you can expect," Rehkow said. "This is the consistency you're going to get from me, and this is what I do."
