PROVO, Utah (April 29, 2016) – BYU defensive end Bronson Kaufusi was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round with the 70th overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft on Friday night in Chicago. Kaufusi is the second BYU player to be drafted by the Ravens, joining consensus All-America tight end Dennis Pitta who was a fourth-round pick in 2010.
I’m really happy for Bronson,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said. “I’ve known Bronson since he was a child and he’s an incredible person from a great family. I didn’t have the chance to coach him here at BYU, but I did coach against him and know how good of a player he is and how hard he’s worked. He will represent BYU well in the NFL."
With his selection, Kaufusi becomes the 10th Cougar defensive lineman and 15th BYU defender to be selected in one of the opening three rounds of the annual NFL Draft. Overall, the 6-foot-6, 285-pound defensive end is the 36th BYU player to be taken in one of the first three rounds and the 16th former Cougar to be a third-round pick.
The last BYU player taken in the third round was defensive end Byron Frisch, who went 93rd overall to the Tennessee Titans in the 2000 draft. The last BYU player taken overall in the draft was Kaufusi’s former teammate linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who went 40th overall to the Detroit Lions in 2014. The last BYU defensive end selected was another of Kaufusi’s former Cougar teammates, Ezekiel Ansah, who has earned Pro Bowl honors since being selected by the Lions with the fifth overall pick of the 2013 draft.
In addition to Kaufusi, the other BYU defensive linemen selected in one of the first three rounds of the annual draft include Ansah (2013, 1st Round), Shawn Knight (1987, 1st Round), Jason Buck (1987, 1st Round), Ryan Denney (2002, 2nd Round), Mat Mendenhall (1980, 2nd Round), Frisch (2000, 3rd Round), Mike Ulufale (1996, 3rd Round), Glen Titensor (1981, 3rd Round) and Wayne Baker (1975, 3rd Round).
Kaufusi’s selection on Friday continues a family tradition established when his father Steve, also a BYU defensive end, was a 12th-round pick in 1988 by the Philadelphia Eagles. His father, currently entering his 15th season as the Cougars’ defensive line coach, coached Kaufusi at BYU. Historically, Kaufusi becomes the 25th BYU defensive lineman and 140th Cougar overall to be selected in the NFL draft.
Kaufusi enters the NFL after leading BYU in tackles for loss and sacks for two consecutive seasons. As a senior captain he led the Cougar defense with 11 sacks and 20 tackles for loss to follow up on a junior year, playing as a linebacker, when he had 7.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss. As a senior he had a sack in seven contests and was in the backfield for a tackle for loss in 10 of 13 games. He finished his BYU career ranked No. 2 among Cougars in sacks with 26.5, and No. 3 in both tackles for loss with 44 and quarterback hurries with 17 (since 2000 when defensive statistics officially tracked by NCAA).
A versatile player, Kaufusi played the defensive end position as well as outside linebacker during his career. He totaled 167 tackles, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and also nabbed two interceptions, including a pick-six during his sophomore season. Kaufusi added 15 career pass breakups, mostly coming batting down passes at the line of scrimmage. He also used his length to block four kicks as a senior to lead the NCAA.
Kaufusi played in 50 games at BYU, starting 36 times as a three-year starter. He was named to the 2015 Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award watch lists in addition to earning recognition as a 2015 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee and 2013 Ted Hendricks Award watch list honoree. Kaufusi was a three-time Phil Steele All-Independent selection including two first-team marks. He was named BYU’s Most Valuable Player in 2015 and was given the 2015-16 Ed Stein Outstanding Senior Male Athlete Award at the Y Awards for high athletic and academic performance and sportsmanship.
From Provo, Utah, Kaufusi graduated from BYU in December with a degree in statistics.
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ESPN’s Mel Kiper on Kaufusi being drafted by Baltimore Ravens
“What didn’t he do this past year? He had tackles for loss (20), sacks (11), forced three fumbles, blocked four kicks, the hands are always in motion. When he looks to get into the backfield and get those impact plays against the run and the pass he varied his moves. He didn’t let the offensive line ever get in their comfort zone. What I love about Kaufusi, I said the same thing about Kamalei Correa (Ravens 2nd round pick from Boise State), he is relentless. At worst you are looking at a rotation guy that can pressure the quarterback. He’s in a division with Ben Roethlisberger and Andy Dalton so you’ve got to get heat on the quarterback and you need these young pass rushers.”