45 Locals Named To Final 53-Man Rosters Before NFL Season

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The NFL regular season will begin this week. Now that the teams have finalized their rosters, plenty of locals were named to the 53-man roster.

The Utah Utes alumni has 15 players on active NFL rosters including Eric Weddle, Tim Patrick, Devontae Booker, Sam Tevi, Nate Orchard, Eric Rowe, Marcus Williams, Cody Barton, Mitch Wishnowsky, Matt Gay among many others. 13 former Utes were either cut, placed on the injured reserve or put on the practice squad.

10 former BYU Cougars made it onto an NFL 53-man roster, some players include Sione Takitaki, Jamaal Williams, Daniel Sorensen, Kyle Van Noy, Bronson Kaufusi, Taysom Hill and many others. Four players were placed on either a practice squad, injured reserve or were cut from the team.

Utah State has the same amount of players on active rosters as BYU with players like Bobby Wagner, Donald Penn, JoJo Natson and Darwin Thompson. Seven Aggies were put on IR, practice squad or released.

Taron Johnson is the only Weber State player to be on a 53-man roster with the Buffalo Bills. Offensive lineman Sua Opeta was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad and tight end Andrew Vollert of the Los Angeles Chargers was placed on IR with a torn ACL.

Miles Killebrew and LeShaun Sims are on active rosters with the Detroit Lions and the Tennessee Titans respectively. Josh Thornton, Marquez Tucker, Brock Miller and James Cowser were cut after the preseason.

Seven former high school stars who played college football out of the state are on 53-man rosters in the NFL. Two players were cut, two were placed on IR and one player was named to the practice squad.

Here is how the locals performed in the final week of the NFL preseason and if they made the active roster.

GAME WEEK!!!! Finally. Grateful to have made this team. 13 yrs in, extremely thankful for having a job. To continue to live out my dream. Never take it for granted. Let's go make it a memorable season baby…..

— Eric Weddle (@weddlesbeard) September 2, 2019

Note: If the player is not listed on here, it’s because they didn’t play in the final preseason game and will be on the 53-man roster.

Former Utes

Pita Taumoepenu, LB, Arizona Cardinals
Taumoepenu one tackle in the Cardinals’ 20-7 loss to the Denver Broncos. He was cut by the Cardinals following their preseason.

Pasoni Tasini, DL, Arizona Cardinals
Tasini played 16 snaps on defense and two on special teams, but didn’t record any statistics in the Cardinals’ 20-7 loss to the Denver Broncos. He was cut by the Cardinals following their preseason.

Corrion Ballard, S, Carolina Panthers
Ballard played 22 snaps on defense and six on special teams, but didn’t record any statistics in the Panthers’ 25-19 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ballard was cut by the Panthers following the preseason.

Jared Norris, LB, Carolina Panthers
The former Ute started at linebacker and recorded one tackle as the Panthers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 25-19. Norris was cut by the Panthers following the preseason.

Kylie Fitts, LB, Chicago Bears
Fitts started at outside linebacker and recorded four tackles as the Bears lost to the Tennessee Titans 19-15. He was cut by the Bears following their preseason.

Jackson Barton, OL, Indianapolis Colts
Barton played 52 snaps on offense and 4 on special teams in the Colts’ 13-6 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The former Ute was cut by the Colts despite being drafted in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft. After the cuts were made, the Colts named Barton to their practice squad.
Next Up: at Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday at 2:05 p.m. on CBS.

Hunter Dimick, DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Dimick had three tackles in the Chiefs’ 27-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers. He was cut by the Chiefs following their preseason.

Sam Tevi, OL, Los Angeles Chargers
Tevi started at right tackle and participated in 32 offensive snaps and 3 on special teams in the Chargers’ 19-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Next Up: 

Dominique Hatfield, CB, Los Angeles Rams
Hatfield had one tackle while playing 15 snaps on defense and 2 on special teams in the Rams’ 22-10 win over the Houston Texans. He was cut by the Rams following their preseason, but was put on “Injury Designation.”

Nate Orchard, DE, Miami Dolphins
The former Ute started at defensive end and played 22 snaps on defense and one on special teams, but didn’t record any statistics as the Dolphins beat the New Orleans Saints 16-13. Orchard made the Dolphins 53-man roster.
Next Up: vs. Baltimore Ravens, Sunday at 11 a.m. on CBS.

Jason Thompson, S, Philadelphia Eagles
Thompson finished with three tackles and a forced fumble in the Eagles 6-0 loss to the New York Jets. The former Ute was cut by the Eagles.

Mitch Wishnowsky, P, San Francisco 49ers
Wishnowsky punted the ball six times for 288 yards. Two punts were touchbacks, two landed inside the 20-yard line and his longest kick was 54 yards in the 49ers 24-15 win over the Denver Broncos. He also had a fantastic hard-hitting tackle on a kickoff that created a buzz around the NFL.
Next Up: 

Marquise Blair, S, Seattle Seahawks
Blair started at safety and picked up two tackles as the Seahawks beat the Oakland Raiders, 17-15. He has been named to the Seahawks 53-man roster.
Next Up: vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday at 2:05 p.m. on CBS.

Cody Barton, LB, Seattle Seahawks
Barton started at middle linebacker and recorded 6 tackles in the Seahawks’ 17-15 win over the Oakland Raiders. He has been named to the Seahawks 53-man roster.
Next Up: vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday at 2:05 p.m. on CBS.

Matt Gay, K, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Gay connected on a 53-yard field goal and made one extra point in the Buccaneers 17-15 win over the Dallas Cowboys. He has been named to the 53-man roster and will be the starting kicker for Tampa Bay.
Next Up: vs. San Francisco 49ers, Sunday at 2:25 p.m. on FOX.

Stevie Tu’ikolovatu, DL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tu’ikolovatu had just one tackle in the Buccaneers’ 17-15 win over the Dallas Cowboys. He was cut by the Buccaneers following their preseason.

Salesi Uhatafe, OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The former Ute played 31 offensive snaps at the guard position on the offensive line in the Buccaneers’ 17-15 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Uhatafe was cut by the Buccaneers following their preseason.

Tony Bergstrom, OL, Washington Redskins
Bergstrom started at center on the offensive line and played 10 offensive snaps in the Redskins’ 20-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Next Up: at Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday at 11 a.m. on FOX.

Former Cougars

Kai Nacua, S, Indianapolis Colts
Nacua recorded four tackles in the Colts’ 13-6 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He was cut by the Colts but was given a “With Injury Designation” tag.
Next Up: at Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday at 2:05 p.m. on CBS.

Michael Davis, DB, Los Angeles Chargers
Davis earned the start at left cornerback for L.A. and is positioning himself to be the starter in the regular season as well.  In the loss to the Saints on Sunday, Davis played 14 snaps which made up 22-percent of the Chargers defensive snaps.
Next Up: 

John Denney, LS, Miami Dolphins
Denney started and played 4 snaps on special teams as the long snapper in the Dolphins 16-13 win over the New Orleans Saints. After 14 seasons as the starting long snapper, Denney was cut by the Dolphins. He never missed a game in his career and has played the second most games in a Miami Dolphins uniform, only trailing Dan Marino.

The Miami Dolphins have released former BYU player John Denney. He was the Dolphins long snapper for 14 years, never missed a game in his NFL career (224 games). It's the longest current streak in the NFL. Only Dan Marino played more games as a Dolphin. https://t.co/wXyMTwnmUs

— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) September 2, 2019

Corbin Kaufusi, DE, New Orleans Saints
Kaufusi recorded 2 tackles and a pass deflection in the Saints 16-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins. He was cut by the Saints following their preseason.

Taysom Hill, QB, New Orleans Saints
Former BYU QB Taysom Hill completed 13 of his 17 pass attempts for 100 yards, while rushing for 35 yards on five carries in the Saints 16-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Next Up: vs. Houston Texans, Monday, September 9 at 5:10 p.m. on ESPN.

Bronson Kaufusi, DL, New York Jets
Kafusi started on the defensive line for the Jets and recorded two tackles, including one tackle for a loss in the Jets 6-0 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. He made the Jets’ 53-man roster.
Next Up: vs. Buffalo Bills, Sunday at 11 a.m. on CBS.

Fred Warner, LB, San Francisco 49ers
Niners play Monday night against the Denver Broncos in Denver on Monday Night Football.
Next Up: 

Ezekiel Ansah, DE, Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks top pass rusher had a set back on his road back to playing. The former top-five pick injured his groin in practice.  Seattle head coach Pete Carroll said it isn’t major and that they still expect him back for week one of the regular season.
Next Up:

Former Aggies

Maurice Alexander, LB, Buffalo Bills
The former Aggie started at linebacker and had three tackles as the Bills beat the Minnesota Vikings 27-23. Alexander made the Bills 53-man roster.
Next Up: at New York Jets, Sunday at 11 a.m. on CBS.

Tyler Larsen, OL, Carolina Panthers
Larsen started on the offensive line and 17 snaps as the Panthers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 25-19. He made the Panthers’ 53-man roster.
Next Up: vs. Los Angeles Rams, Sunday at 11 a.m. on FOX.

Dax Raymond, TE, Chicago Bears
Raymond hauled in 2 catches for 16 yards in the Bears’ 19-15 loss to the Tennessee Titans. The Bears put Raymond on the injured reserve list following their preseason.
Next Up: vs. Green Bay Packers, Thursday at 6:20 p.m. on KSL 5 TV.

Patrick Scales, LS, Chicago Bears
Scales played four special teams snaps as the Bears lost to the Tennessee Titans 19-15.
Next Up: vs. Green Bay Packers, Thursday at 6:20 p.m. on KSL 5 TV.

Devantae Mays, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Mays had one catch for six yards as the Jaguars lost to the Atlanta Falcons 31-12. He was cut by the Jaguars following the preseason.

Jalen Greene, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Greene started at wide receiver had two catches for 22 yards in the Rams’ 22-10 win over the Houston Texans. He was cut by the Rams following their preseason

Jalen Davis, CB, Miami Dolphins
Davis finished with two tackles as the Dolphins beat the New Orleans Saints 16-13. He was cut by the Dolphins following their preseason.

Kerwynn Williams, RB, New Orleans Saints
Williams ran the ball four times for 16 yards and hauled in three catches for eight yards in the Saints’ 16-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins. The former Aggie was cut by the Saints following their preseason.

Nevin Lawson, CB, Oakland Raiders
Lawson started at cornerback and played 28 snaps on defense and 13 on special teams, while picking up two tackles as the Raiders lost to the Seattle Seahawks 17-15. Following the preseason, Lawson was placed on the injured reserve.
Next Up: vs. Denver Broncos, Monday, September 9 at 8:20 p.m. on ESPN.

Dallin Leavitt, S, Oakland Raiders
Leavitt started at free safety while recording three tackles in the Raiders’ 17-15 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He was named to the 53-man roster for the Raiders.
Next Up: vs. Denver Broncos, Monday, September 9 at 8:20 p.m. on ESPN.

Former Wildcats

Iosua Opeta, OL, Philadelphia Eagles
Opeta started at left guard and played all 46 snaps on offense in the Eagles 6-0 loss to the New York Jets. He was cut by the Eagles following their preseason, but they brought him back on their practice squad.

Former Thunderbirds

Josh Thornton, CB, Carolina Panthers
Thornton had two tackles in the Panthers’ 25-19 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was cut by the Panthers following their preseason.

Marquez Tucker, OL, Chicago Bears
Tucker played 57 snaps on offense and 4 on special teams in the Bears’ 19-15 loss to the Tennessee Titans. He was cut by the Bears following their preseason.

Brock Miller, P, Los Angeles Rams
Miller punted the ball five times for 229 total yards. His longest punt was 53 yards and one of his six punts landed inside the 20-yard line and none of them were touchbacks in the Rams 22-10 win over the Houston Texans. He was cut by the Rams following their preseason.

James Cowser, DE, Oakland Raiders
Cowser finished one tackle on special teams and a hit on the quarterback in the Raiders’ 17-15 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He was cut by the Raiders following their preseason.

Former High School Stars

Durrant Miles, DE, Atlanta Falcons
Miles started at defensive end for the Falcons and picked up a tackle-for-loss and a hit on the quarterback in the Falcons’ 31-12 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was cut by the Falcons following their preseason.

Kaden Ellis, LB, New Orleans Saints
The former Judge Memorial High School star started at linebacker and picked up seven tackles in the Saints 16-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins. He was named to the 53-man roster after the preseason ended.
Next Up: vs. Houston Texans, Monday, September 9 at 5:10 p.m. on ESPN.

Porter Gustin, LB, New Orleans Saints
The Salem Hills High School star had one tackle as the Saints lost to the Miami Dolphins 16-13. Gustin was cut by the Saints following their preseason.

Luke Falk, QB, New York Jets
The Logan High School star completed 13 of his 18 pass attempts for 91 yards, while running the ball once for six yards in the Jets 6-0 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. He was cut by the Jets following their preseason. One day later, Falk was named to the Jets practice squad.
Next Up: vs. Buffalo Bills, Sunday at 11 a.m. on CBS.

Andre James, OL, Oakland Raiders
The former Herriman High School offensive lineman started at center and played 61 snaps on offense and one on special teams in the Raiders’ 17-15 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. James was named to the Raiders 53-man roster.
Next Up: vs. Denver Broncos, Monday, September 9 at 8:20 p.m. on ESPN.

Bryan Mone, DL, Seattle Seahawks
The former Highland High School defensive lineman had three tackles, including one for a loss and a fumble recovery in the Seahawks’ 17-15 win over the Oakland Raiders. Mone has been named to the Seahawks 53-man roster.
Next Up: vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday at 2:05 p.m. on CBS.

John Ursua, WR, Seattle Seahawks
The Cedar High School product had one punt return for five yards, while playing 19 snaps on offense and six on special teams in the Seahawks’ 17-15 win over the Oakland Raiders. Ursua has been named to the Seahawks 53-man roster.
Next Up: vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday at 2:05 p.m. on CBS.