UPDATED: 10 Cougars receive NFL opportunities via the draft and free agency

In addition to linebacker Jack Kelly and tight end Carsen Ryan being drafted on Saturday, eight other members of last year’s No. 11-ranked BYU football team announced free-agent opportunities with NFL teams following the 2026 Draft.

Author Brett Pyne
BYU Football NFL Free Agent Signings promotional graphic featuring a player in a BYU helmet and uniform against a dark blue background.BYU Football NFL Free Agent Signings promotional graphic featuring a player in a BYU helmet and uniform against a dark blue background.

PROVO, Utah — In addition to linebacker Jack Kelly and tight end Carsen Ryan being drafted on Saturday, eight other members of last year’s No. 11-ranked BYU football team have obtained free-agent opportunities with NFL teams following the 2026 Draft. Others could still be announced. 

Kelly was selected in the sixth round on Saturday with the 193rd overall pick of the draft, while Ryan was taken in the seventh round by the Cleveland Browns with the 248th pick. Eight additional Cougars have announced agreements with NFL teams as undrafted free agents since the seven-round draft concluded.

At the conclusion of the NFL Draft on Saturday, wide receiver Chase Roberts, safety Tanner Wall and offensive lineman Isaiah Jatta signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, while another trio of Cougars—cornerback Mory Bamba, kicker Will Ferrin and long snapper Garrison Grimes—announced they are headed to the New York Jets. Sunday, defensive lineman John Taumoepeau received a rookie minicamp invite with the Kansas City Chiefs, while offensive lineman Austin Leausa, also with a minicamp invite, became the fourth Cougar going to the Raiders.

With this year's drafted players and the subsequently announced NFL free agent agreements, BYU now boasts 157 players selected in the annual draft and another 232 former Cougars who have gone to the NFL as undrafted free agents.

This past season BYU achieved one of the best resumes in college football and most impactful seasons in BYU history while going 12-2, playing in the Big 12 Championship and finishing No. 11 in the AP Top 25. BYU head coach Kalani Sitake has mentored 15 NFL draft picks during his first 10 seasons in Provo and helped an additional 60 Cougars gain NFL opportunities as undrafted free agents. The reigning Big 12 Coach of the Year and 2025 national Buddy Teevens Award recipient, Sitake has guided BYU to double-digit victory seasons in four of the last six seasons, including a 23-4 (.852) record the past two years that only four progams—Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State and Notre Dame—have topped in winning percentage.

Select below to view Information about each of the 10 BYU players announced thus far with 2026 NFL opportunites. 

BYU Player Profiles

A team captain, Jack Kelly played in 25 games at BYU, starting all 25 as a two-year transfer. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound All-Big 12 linebacker totaled 53 collegiate games between BYU and Weber State, starting 47 career games. From Kearns, Utah, Kelly posted 190 total tackles, including 125 solo stops and 43.5 tackles for loss and 31.5 sacks in college. A disruptive force, Kelly also had nine forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, eight pass breakups, two interceptions and scored a defensive touchdown.

In 2025, Kelly was named an All-Big 12 First Team selection and recorded 55 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and led BYU in sacks with 10. Kelly was one of 17 players nationally with 10 or more sacks en route to leading the Cougar defense to its highest sack total since 2015 with 30. BYU’s defense was ranked No. 19 nationally in scoring defense at 19.1 points per game, No. 9 in interceptions (17), No. 14 in total turnovers (24), and No. 25 in pass efficiency defense (116.97).

Kelly added two forced fumbles, a pass breakup and seven quarterback hurries in 2025. He was a Pro Football Network All-Big 12 Third Team selection, a Bronko Nagurski and Butkus Award Watch list honoree.

In 2024, Kelly received Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year honorable mention after posting 51 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles and a school-record 14 quarterback hurries (since 2000). Kelly spent three years at Weber State where he played in 28 games for the Wildcats, totaling 85 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, seven pass breakups and an interception. He led the Big Sky in 2023 with 10.5 sacks and four forced fumbles.

Kelly graduated with a degree in business management from BYU in December and participated in the Senior Bowl and 2026 NFL Combine.

“Jack Kelly is one of the best linebackers in BYU history. He’s so dynamic and instinctive. One of the best players I’ve ever seen closing in on the football in space, which I think is going to translate directly into the NFL. I think he’s going to be a guy that’s going to be able to do multiple things, a guy like Kyle Van Noy that can rush off the edge and play in the box. That versatility that he used here at BYU is going to be something that NFL scouts and organizations are going to love to use once he gets into the NFL.” — BYU defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga at BYU Pro Day

Carsen Ryan finished his collegiate career with BYU in 2025, becoming the Cougars top tight end target. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound tight end finished his senior campaign playing in all 14 games and starting 13 while totaling 45 receptions, 620 yards and three touchdowns—all highs for his four years of college football.

Ryan, from Orem, Utah, was graded as the top tight end in all of college football by Pro Football Focus with an overall grade of 82.6 in 2025.

An All-Big 12 honorable mention, Ryan had career-best 120 receiving yards on eight receptions in his last game to help defeat Georgia Tech in the 2025 Pop-Tarts Bowl. He caught multiple passes in 13 of 14 games played as a Cougar and had 50 or more receiving yards four times.

Prior to BYU, Ryan spent his first two years at UCLA and then one season at the University of Utah. Including his 2025 season, Ryan finished his college career playing in 43 games with 26 starts, totaled 74 receptions, 1,020 yards and seven touchdowns. 

“He has an incredibly bright football intelligence. He has a really tremendous desire to do things the right way. He's physically tough as well, so it's the complete package. Certain things would have to happen for him to make the 53-man roster, but if he does, he could be an eight to 10 year NFL vet. That's how strongly I feel. I've coached the NFL for a number of years. There were a lot of guys like him and then there were the superstars, but there were the guys that did everything the right way and executed at a high level. That's what they're going to get.” — BYU Tight ends coach Kevin Gilbride at BYU Pro Day

Isaiah Jatta played in 17 games at BYU with 16 starts over two seasons. Prior to BYU, the San Diego, California, native spent one season in Colorado where he played in 11 games with one start.

A 6-foot-6, 315-pound offensive lineman, Jatta played every game at left tackle in 2025, earning All-Big 12 Third Team honors to help the Cougar offense score 31.4 points per game and produce 1,000-yard rusher LJ Martin. Jatta was part of an offensive line that ranked No. 13 nationally in total sacks allowed with just 16 on the year over 14 games.

In 2024, Jatta redshirted and appeared in three games in his first season at BYU, starting two (Kansas and Arizona State). Prior to his one season at Colorado, Jatta was an NJCAA First-Team All-American at Snow College.

Jatta graduated with his degree in economics and was honored as a National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society member and Academic All-Big 12 selection. 

“Whoever drafts Jatta is getting a true ball junkie—one of the smartest guys in our room last year. He lives and breathes football, knows the game inside and out, is very athletic, a great pass protector, and improved our run game. He’s going to be a force at the next level.” — BYU offensive line coach TJ Woods at BYU Pro Day

Chase Roberts, a two-time team captain, appeared in 49 games, starting 40 of them. The 6-foot-3, 209-pound All-Big 12 receiver finished his Cougar career at No. 7 in receiving yards (2,586) and No. 8 in receptions (170) and tied for No. 12 in receiving touchdowns at BYU. The American Fork, Utah, product had multiple receptions in 39 of 49 games played, recorded at least one reception in 46 of 49 games and had one catch in 39 consecutive games.

In 2025, Roberts was named a third-team All-Big 12 honoree and had 54 receptions, 802 yards and six touchdowns. Roberts had a career-best 161 receiving yards against West Virginia in addition to an eight-catch, 128-yard performance against Iowa State later in the year. With two 100-yard games in 2025, Roberts totaled seven 100-yard games at BYU. As a sophomore and junior, Roberts led the Cougars in receiving in back-to-back seasons. He posted 52 receptions, 854 yards and four touchdowns in 2024 to follow up a 2023 season where he totaled 42 catches, 573 yards and five touchdowns.

Roberts graduated from BYU with a degree in business management and co-hosts the Two-Point Conversion podcast with former BYU offensive lineman and teammate Connor Pay.

“He's got a very physical, demanding presence about him. For his size, he is so fluid. He's got a great feel for the game. We utilized him running a bunch of options. We could put him in any spot we knew he was going to get the job done. He is one of the greatest leaders I've ever been around. He is so intentional and deliberate in his craft, and he has his priorities straight and prioritizes things the way you should, which is really hard to do at this stage in any young adult's life. I think that just speaks to him and all that he is as a person. He just happens to be a really good football player on top of that. So I think any organization is going to get a heck of a player and a heck of a person.” — BYU wide receiver coach Fesi Sitake at BYU Pro Day

Tanner Wall is a two-time Academic All-American who earned All-Big 12 First Team honors for his play on the field in 2025. A member of the AFCA Good Works Team, the 6-1, 200-pound safety played in 45 games at BYU, starting 30 at safety.

After coming to BYU as a walk-on receiver, Wall moved to the defensive side of the ball and became a starting safety and team captain as a significant contributor to the teams strong defenses. He recorded 147 total tackles, including 83 solo stops in his career. He also posted seven career interceptions, including a pick-six. The Arlington, Virginia, native was second on the team in 2025 with 71 tackles and had four interceptions. He returned his interception against TCU 68 yards for a touchdown.

In addition to being named to the AFCA Good Works Team and All-Big 12 First Team, Wall was also a finalist for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy and Pop Warner College Football Award, in addition to being named a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award. Wall was also a Phil Steele All-America honorable mention.

“Tanner Wall is going to go down as one of the all-time greats in BYU history. The play he made against Utah in the fourth quarter, where he goes up and intercepts the ball, is one of the iconic plays in BYU history and will never be forgotten. On top of that, [he’s] one of the greatest team captains I’ve ever been around. If you looked in the dictionary ‘what a BYU football player is’, Tanner Wall would be the epitome of that guy. He’s going to be a guy we miss but we sure wish him luck in the future and know he will be an excellent professional football player.” — BYU defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga at BYU Pro Day

Mory Bamba played in 36 games at BYU, starting eight at cornerback. The 6-foot-3, 192-pounder also spent time at Tyler Junior College and ASA College in Miami prior to his Division I career at BYU.

A speedster who clocked a 4.27 time in the 40-yard dash at BYU’s Pro Day in March, Bamba recorded 23 tackles in 2025, had two tackles for loss, four pass breakups and recovered a fumble. He was a part of a BYU defense that ranked No. 25 in pass efficiency defense, allowing a rating of just 116.98 and was No. 9 nationally in interceptions with 17 on the year.

From Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Bamba logged 47 total tackles at BYU, including 37 solo takedowns. He also posted nine pass breakups. Bamba was a 2025 Academic All-Big 12 selection.

“Has some of the best size and speed I’ve seen at corner. If you go back to the Arizona game - maybe the best game of his career -  I think a lot of NFL scouts saw the ability he has with his size and speed, his physicality being a great tackler, one of the best gunners and jammers on special teams that I ever had, and once again just that combination of size and speed. I know NFL scouts have loved this guy for two years now, and I know he's going to perform well on pro day and give himself a chance to be a long NFL vet.” — BYU defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga at BYU Pro Day

A two-time team co-captain, Will Ferrin finished his time at BYU as one of the best kickers in school history.

The 6-foot-3, 180-pound specialist made 58 field goals, the second-most at BYU while setting the single-season school record in 2024 with 24 made field goals. He added the No. 2 mark with 23 made field goals in 2025. The Kaysville, Utah product also finished No. 2 at BYU in field goal percentage (81.7) and set the school record for consecutive field goals made at 25 and consecutive PATs made with 120. Ferrin made eight 50-yard field goals in his career, including a school-record tying 56-yarder against Portland State in the 2025 season opener.

A two-time All-Big 12 selection, including a first-team citation in 2024, Ferrin was also the Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Year and the Big 12 kicker of the Year by the College Football Network. Ferrin was also a two-time CSC Academic All-District selection and Academic All-Big 12 honoree. 

“Will Ferrin, one of my all-time favorites. A guy that was never too high, never too low, very business-like, had the perfect mannerisms and characteristics that a kicker needs. He’s never going to get caught up in himself, especially with all the success he had here. All the field goals he made, the records that he broke, and the game-defying, culture defining play back in 2024 at Utah to win the game, Will will go down as one of the legendary players in BYU history. And I know for a fact that he can go on to the NFL and have an amazing career and be successful.” — BYU defensive coordinator and 2025 special teams coordinator Kelly Poppinga at BYU Pro Day

Garrison Grimes, son of former BYU offensive coordinator and current Wisconsin coordinator Jeff Grimes, played in 45 collegiate games between Baylor and his final year at BYU as the primary long snapper.

A 6-foot-2, 220-pounder from American Fork, Utah, Grimes handled snapping duties for BYU’s field goal, PAT and punting units while earning AFCA Second-Team All-America honors in 2025. Grimes was also a Patrick Mannelly semifinalist for the nation’s best long snapper and received All-Big 12 honorable mention.

Grimes spent 2021-2024 at Baylor where he was the Bears’ starting long snapper for three years after redshirting in 2021. He was named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s honor roll in 2022 and was a two-time Academic All-Big 12 selection.

“Garrison Grimes is one of the best snappers, if not the best snapper I’ve had over my 18 year career. The combination of his speed, his athleticism, his strength, his size and just his technique and fundamentals as a snapper is the best I’ve seen as a combination of all that. That’s why the pros are after this guy and I know that he has a chance to have a very long career in the NFL with the skillset he has.” — BYU defensive coordinator and 2025 special teams coordinator Kelly Poppinga at BYU Pro Day

 

John Taumoepeau, a transfer from Snow College, appeared in 26 games at BYU, including nine starts along the defensive line in 2025.

Elected a team co-captain for his senior year, the 6-foot-2, 300-pound defensive lineman posted 42 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, one pass breakup and blocked a kick en route to receiving All-Big 12 honorable mention. From Federal Way, Washington, Taumoepeau posted a season-high five tackles five times and recovered a fumble and blocked a kick against Portland State to start the 2025 season.

Taumoepeau played in nine games at Snow College in 2022, recording 39 tackles (24 solo), including 11.5 tackles-for-loss and 7.5 sacks.

“One of the hardest working defensive lineman at BYU. I know he’ll do the same as he goes on to another team. Whoever picks him up is going to be delighted. He’s a guy who's tenacious and relentless about his technique. He’s strong and he’s tough…the next team who gives him a chance is going to enjoy him.” — BYU defensive tackle coach Sione Po’uha at BYU Pro Day

 

Austin Leausa played in 46 career games with 34 starts over his career at BYU and Southern Utah. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound offensive lineman appeared in 25 games as a Cougar with 17 starts, seeing action at every offensive line position except for center.

A Polynesian Player of the Year watch list honoree, Leausa helped BYU’s offensive line rank No. 13 nationally in fewest sacks allowed with 16 in 2025.

Prior to coming to BYU, Leausa played in 21 games at Southern Utah, with 15 starts for the Thunderbirds.

“Austin is very athletic. He's a versatile player who can play really all five positions on the offensive line. Very smart. Loves ball. Going to be a great addition.” — BYU offensive line coach TJ Woods at BYU Pro Day