PROVO, Utah — BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia, a team captain in 2023 and All-Big 12 selection in BYU’s inaugural year in the league, was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round (63rd overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft — and five other players received NFL opportunities following the draft as undrafted free agents while two more accepted mini-camp invites.
Following the draft and Suamataia's selection, running back Aidan Robbins signed with the Cleveland Browns, tight end Isaac Rex agreed to a deal with the Detroit Lions, quarterback Kedon Slovis inked a contract with the Indianapolis Colts, linebacker Max Tooley signed with the Houston Texans and punter Ryan Rehkow agreed to terms with the Kansas City Chiefs.
On Sunday, cornerback Eddie Heckard accepted a mini-camp invite with the Denver Broncos.
Tuesday, April 30, linebacker AJ Vongphachanh accepted an invite to the New York Jets mini camp.
Additional free agent agreements may be announced later. Check BYUCougars.com for updates.
The Cougars have been represented in 52 of the last 57 drafts and in 69 of the 89 drafts conducted overall. With Suamataia’s selection, NFL teams have now drafted a former BYU player 155 times since the team’s first draft choice in 1938 (John Stringham, Back, ninth round). Including this year’s post-draft free agency signings, 215 additional Cougars have received NFL deals as free agents following the annual draft.
Bio information about the BYU players receiving free agent agreements after the 2024 NFL Draft are included below.
Aidan Robbins | RB | Cleveland Browns
The 6-foot-2, 240-pound running back, Aidan Robbins, played in 31 career games with 18 starts across his career with Louisville, UNLV and BYU. He graduated from Louisville with a degree in business marketing. He was named to the Hampshire Honor Society for finishing his career with a GPA above a 3.2.
The Louisville, Kentucky, product, posted career rushing totals of 317 carries, 1,545 yards and 11 touchdowns. Robbins also caught 30 balls for 158 yards and one touchdown.
At UNLV, Robbins had his best season with 209 carries, 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns.
In 2023 at BYU, Robbins was a team co-captain and played in eight games with seven starts. He totaled 101 carries, 485 yards and one touchdown.
Isaac Rex | TE | Detroit Lions
From San Clemente, California, Isaac Rex, played in 52 games for BYU, including 38 starts at tight end.
The son of former All-American BYU tight end Byron Rex, the 6-foot-5, 250-pound Rex, caught 24 receiving touchdowns at BYU, the most by any tight end in school history. Rex’s 24 tied for No. 5 among all players at BYU.
He totaled 112 receptions and 1,385 yards and was a three-time Mackey Award Watch List honoree. In 2020, Rex was named a Freshman All-American by the by the Athletic after leading the nation’s tight ends with 12 receiving touchdowns.
In 2023, Rex served as a team captain and played in all 12 games with seven starts. He had 34 receptions, 422 yards and three touchdowns. He was an All-Big 12 Team honorable mention.
Kedon Slovis | QB | Indianapolis Colts
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Kedon Slovis, concluded his career at BYU after playing three years at USC and another at Pitt.
From Scottsdale, Arizona, Slovis appeared in 46 games with 45 starts in his career. He threw for 11,689 passing yards and 80 touchdowns while completing 64.5 percent of his passes in his career.
At USC, Slovis left with several records, including a 515-yard game as a freshman and five 400-yard passing games. He finished his Trojan career with 7,576 yards, seventh all-time at USC. His 58 touchdowns rank No. 5. Slovis was the 2019 Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and a FWAA Freshman of the Year national semifinalist.
Slovis was also named a freshman All-American by several entities.
At BYU, Slovis completed his collegiate career with 1,716 passing yards in eight games. He also added his first three rushing touchdowns of his career and served as a team captain. He was also a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honoree and Hampshire Honor Society recipient.
Max Tooley | LB | Houston Texans
Max Tooley played in 60 games at BYU, the most in school history after six seasons with the program.
From Bountiful, Utah, Tooley amassed 311 tackles, good for No. 14 all-time at BYU. His 176 solo tackles rank No. 4 and his seven interceptions are tied for No. 2 among BYU linebackers.
Tooley, at 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, had two pick-sixes, the most among BYU linebackers No. 2 overall. He added 16.5 tackles for loss and eight pass breakups in his career.
In 2023, Tooley was a team co-captain and played in 12 games with 10 starts. He led the team with 92 total tackles, including a career-best 16 tackle performance against Cincinnati.
Tooley was named a Phil Steele All-Big 12 Third Team selection and was an All-Big 12 Team honorable mention.
Ryan Rehkow | P | Kansas City Chiefs
Punter Ryan Rehkow, from Veradale, Washington, played in 50 games for BYU over four seasons, writing his name in the record books as one of the Cougars’ most successful punters.
An All-American in 2023, he averaged 47.4 yards per punt in his career and owns the modern-day school-record with an 83-yard punt. Rehkow led the Big 12 in 2023 with 48.4 yards per punt.
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound Rehkow put 42 percent of his kicks inside the 20-yard line and was a three-time Ray Guy Award watch list honoree.
In 2023, Rehkow led the conference with 31 punts of 50 yards or more and tied for the lead with 25 punts dropped inside the 20.
Rehkow earned ESPN All-America Second Team in 2023, along with CFN and Phil Steele All-America honorable mentions. He was also named to the All-Big 12 Second Team and was an honorable mention for the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year Award. Rehkow also earned a spot on this year's Hampshire Honor Society.
Eddie Heckard | CB | Denver Broncos (Mini-camp invite)
Out of Las Vegas, Heckard played in 61 total games during his college career at Weber State and BYU.
An FCS All-American in 2022 and four-time All-Big Sky recipient played his final season at BYU where he played in all 12 games and started 10. He recorded 47 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, six pass breakups and five interceptions to lead the Cougars.
Heckard posted a pick-six and recovered a fumble for a touchdown. He was named to the Phil Steele All-Big 12 Third Team and was an All-Big 12 Team honorable mention and College Football News All-America Honorable Mention in 2023.
For his career, Heckard totaled 265 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, nine forced fumbles, 36 pass breakups, 12 interceptions and two defensive scores.
AJ Vongphachanh | LB | New York Jets (Mini-camp invite)
A graduate transfer for the Cougars in 2023, Vongphachanh played in 52 career games with 45 starts between his career at BYU and Utah State.
Vongphachanh posted 308 total tackles, 121 solo stops, 26.5 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks in his college career. He added three forced fumbles and five pass breakups.
In 2022, Vongphachanh led the Aggies with 101 tackles and helped Utah State to a Mountain West title in 2021. He was a four-time Academic All-Mountain West honoree.
Vongpachanh started all 12 games at BYU and was named a team captain in his one year. He was second on the team with 85 tackles and had 5.5 tackles for loss.