As fall camp continues, former Cougars get started in NFL preseason

BYU currently has 24 players on NFL rosters. Preseason action for the NFL is getting started this week as BYU continues to prep for its 2024 campaign.

Author Kenny Cox
As fall camp continues, former Cougars get started in NFL preseasonAs fall camp continues, former Cougars get started in NFL preseason
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PROVO, Utah — As BYU's 2024 football team continues to work toward the end of week two in fall camp, the NFL preseason is getting under way with several teams in action this week. 

Friday's practice geared up the squad for a session featuring heavy scrimmage work over the weekend to end week two. 

Single game tickets are now on sale and season tickets are still available for the 2024 season. 

BYU currently has 24 players on NFL rosters during fall camp. Most recently, the Cougars had offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round with the 63rd overall pick the 2024 NFL Draft while several more received free agent opportunities and mini camp invites. 

BYU Players on NFL Rosters

NAME POS. TEAM
Allgeier, Tyler RB Atlanta Falcons
Anderson, Zayne S Green Bay Packers
Brooks, Chris RB Miami Dolphins
Christensen, Brady OG Carolina Panthers
Davis, Michael CB Washington Commanders
Freeland, Blake OT Indianapolis Colts
Hall, Jaren QB Minnesota Vikings
Hayes, Kaleb CB New York Giants
Hill, Taysom QB/TE New Orleans Saints
Milne, Dax WR Las Vegas Raiders
Nacua, Puka WR Los Angeles Rams
Nacua, Samson WR New Orleans Saints
Rehkow, Ryan P Cincinnati Bengals
Robbins, Aidan RB Cleveland Browns
Slovis, Kedon QB Indianapolis Colts
Suamataia, Kingsley OT Kansas City Chiefs
Takitaki, Sione LB New England Patriots
Tonga, Khyiris DT Arizona Cardinals
Tooley, Max LB Houston Texans
Van Noy, Kyle LB Baltimore Ravens
Warner, Fred LB San Francisco 49ers
Wilcox, Chris CB Los Angeles Chargers
Williams, Jamaal RB New Orleans Saints
Wilson, Zach QB Denver Broncos

With the selection of the 6-foot-5, 326-pound Suamataia, BYU has had its last three starting left tackles drafted in the NFL. In 2023, Suamataia’s former teammate Blake Freeland was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round while Consensus All-American Brady Christensen was taken by the Carolina Panthers in the third round in 2021.

The head man for the Chiefs is former BYU offensive lineman and coach, Andy Reid who has led Kansas City as the head coach to three Super Bowl rings in the last five seasons, including back-to-back titles after last season's 25-23 win over San Francisco in Super Bowl LVIII. 

Reid is fourth all-time in NFL regular-season victories with 258 and is the league's active leader. He also holds the top spot with 26 postseason wins among active coaches. 

Last year, the NFL was captivated by rookie sensation, wide receiver Puka Nacua. The 6-foot-2, 212 pounder broke the NFL rookie receiving records with 105 receptions and 1,486 yards after being drafted in the 5th round by the Los Angeles Rams. 

Nacua, from Provo, Utah, scored six touchdowns in 2023 for the Rams and also set the NFL's rookie receiving record with 181 yards in a playoff game and most receptions by a rookie in a single game with 15. He was selected to the Pro Bowl and named a Second-Team All-Pro along with being named to the NFL's All-Rookie Team. 

Most recently, Nacua was ranked No. 33 in the NFL's Top 100 Players. 

Nacua's older brother, Samson Nacua, who played one season for the Cougars in 2021, recently signed with the New Orleans Saints. 

Last week, free agent linebacker Max Tooley made his NFL preseason debut with the Houston Texans in the Hall of Fame Game against the Chicago Bears in Canton, Ohio. Tooley, looking to make the 53-man roster as a linebacker and special teams weapon, posted two tackles, including a solo stop in a 21-17 loss to the Bears. 

Three players were in action last night with two NFL contests, including offensive lineman Brady Christensen (Panthers), linebacker Sione Takitaki (Patriots) and cornerback Kaleb Hayes (Giants). 

Cougar fans can watch two of their favorite running backs go head-to-head Friday night with Tyler Allgeier (Falcons) facing off against Chris Brooks (Miami) at 7 p.m. ET/5 p.m. MT on NFL+ while Tooley is playing again with Texans against Pittsburgh at the same time on NFL+/NFL Network. 

The longest tenured BYU player in the league, veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy and the Baltimore Ravens host the Philadelphia Eagles at 7:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. MT Friday on NFL+. Van Noy is entering his 11th season the NFL, claiming two Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots during his career. 

Kyle Van Noy back with the Baltimore Ravens

One of BYU's other all-time greats at the linebacker position, Fred Warner continues to be one of the NFL's best linebackers and overall defensive standouts. 

Warner, named No. 11 in the NFL's Top 100 is entering his seventh NFL season as a three-time First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection. The leader of the 49er defense is out to win his first Super Bowl after falling short twice in the big game against another former Cougar, head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, Andy Reid. 

The Cougars currently have four former quarterbacks in the league, including Taysom Hill, Zach Wilson, Jaren Hall and now Kedon Slovis. 

Hill, the 6-foot-2, 233-pounder, has evolved into the premier "do-it-all" player in the league, seeing snaps at quarterback, running back, tight end, wide receiver and all over special teams as he enters his eight year in the NFL. 

The New Orleans Saints have embraced Hill's skillset throughout his career. He has thrown for more than 2,000 yards and rushed for more than 2,000 yards while adding 756 receiving yards to his resume. He has thrown 11 touchdowns, rushed for 27 and caught 11 in his career. 

Wilson is getting a new opportunity in Denver after spending his first three seasons with New York Jets. The former No. 2 overall pick started 33 games for New York and is in a three-man race for the starting job for the Broncos. 

Hall enters his second year in the league with the Vikings while Slovis looks to earn a spot in Indianapolis. 

Catch up on all of BYU's NFL players this weekend as the NFL Preseason continues through the month of August. Follow BYUCougars on social for updates on all the action.