Locals In The NFL: Rookies Entering Their First Season In 2021
Jul 14, 2021, 2:13 PM | Updated: 2:14 pm
Zach Wilson #2 of the New York Jets runs drills during New York Jets Mandatory Minicamp on June 15, 2021 at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Multiple local players will represent the state of Utah as rookies in the NFL during the upcoming 2021 season.
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The list of Locals in the NFL grew during the offseason thanks to the 2021 NFL Draft and players who signed as undrafted free agents.
Here are the rookies from the state of Utah for the 2021 NFL season:
Former BYU Cougars
Zayne Anderson – Kansas City Chiefs
Undrafted Free Agent
Anderson played at BYU from 2015-20. During his college career, Anderson had 161 total tackles, 85 solo tackles, and three interceptions.
Andy Reid loves his @BYUfootball guys.@zayneanderson23 ➡️ @Chiefs #BYU #GoCougs #ChiefsKingdom https://t.co/BRgDvfI3Rj
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 1, 2021
The Chiefs open the 2021 season against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, September 12 at 2:25 p.m. (MDT) on CBS.
Matt Bushman – Las Vegas Raiders
Undrafted Free Agent
Bushman played for the Cougars from 2017-20. He played in 39 games over his first three seasons. Bushman missed the entire 2020 season after suffering an achilles injury. The tight end finished his college career with a total of 125 receptions for 1,719 yards and nine touchdowns.
Former @BYUfootball TE Matt Bushman (@mbush89) is taking a drive down the I-15 freeway to join the @Raiders. 🖤#LocalsInTheNFL #RaiderNation #BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL https://t.co/Kz3QPOSVyk
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 1, 2021
The Raiders open the 2021 season against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday, September 13 at 6:15 p.m. (MDT) on ESPN.
Brady Christensen – Carolina Panthers
No. 70 overall pick during third round of 2021 NFL Draft
Christensen played in every game during his time at BYU, which amounted to 38 contests from 2017-20. He helped the Cougars to an 11-1 record in his final season in Provo.
BREAKING: With No. 70 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the @Panthers select former BYU OL Brady Christensen (@Brady_BYU) #LocalsInTheNFL #BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/lOJe4E4a8P
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 1, 2021
The Panthers open the 2021 season against the New York Jets on Sunday, September 12 at 11 a.m. (MDT) on CBS.
Zac Dawe – Atlanta Falcons
Undrafted Free Agent
Dawe played in 38 games during his BYU career, which spanned from 2016-20. He recorded 81 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and three pass breakups.
Zac Dawe (@zdawe99) is off to the #NFL!
.@pgvikings ➡️ @BYUFootball ➡️ @AtlantaFalcons #GoCougs #RiseUpATL https://t.co/iMEyWlmtQ9
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 2, 2021
The Falcons open the 2021 season against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, September 12 at 11 a.m. (MDT) on FOX.
Chandon Herring – Tennessee Titans
Undrafted Free Agent
Herring played in 49 games during his BYU career from 2016-20. He helped the Cougars to an 11-1 record in his final season in Provo.
Another #BYU OL lands an #NFL free agent contract.@ChandonHerring ➡️ @Titans #BYUFootball #GoCougs #TitanUp https://t.co/zBnQM2YXYR
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 2, 2021
The Titans open the 2021 season against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, September 12 at 11 a.m. (MDT) on CBS.
Tristen Hoge – New York Jets
Undrafted Free Agent
Hoge played in 26 games with the Cougars from 2017-20. He played in eight games as a senior in 2020 and helped lead BYU to an 11-1 record.
.@HogeTristen will reunite with @zachkapono1 as a member of the @nyjets. ✈️ #LocalsInTheNFL #TakeFlight #BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL https://t.co/4YB4bXkd8N
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 2, 2021
The Jets open the 2021 season against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, September 12 at 11 a.m. (MDT) on CBS.
Isaiah Kaufusi – Indianapolis Colts
Undrafted Free Agent
Kaufusi played linebacker at BYU from 2016-20. During his career with the Cougars, Kaufusi recorded 204 total tackles, 122 solo tackles, 15 tackles for loss, five sacks, five interceptions, four forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, one quarterback hit, and 10 pass breakups.
Former @BYUfootball LB @isaiah_kaufusi is reportedly headed to the @Colts. 🤙#LocalsInTheNFL #BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL #NFL #ForTheShoe https://t.co/kZwHWqycse
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 1, 2021
The Colts open the 2021 season against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, September 12 at 11 a.m. (MDT) on FOX.
Dax Milne – Washington Football Team
No. 258 overall pick during the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft
Milne played for the Cougars from 2018-20. During his time at BYU, Milne had 101 catches for 1,542 yards and 11 touchdowns.
BREAKING: With the No. 258 overall pick in the 2021 @NFLDraft, the @WashingtonNFL selects former @BYUfootball WR Dax Milne (@DaxMilne). #LocalsInTheNFL #NFL #NFLDraft #BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL #WashingtonFootball pic.twitter.com/VeCGGterMH
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 1, 2021
The Washington Football Team opens the 2021 season against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, September 12 at 11 a.m. (MDT) on CBS.
Micah Simon – Carolina Panthers
Undrafted Free Agent
Simon played for the Cougars from 2015-2019. During his career at BYU, Simon had 90 catches for 1,109 yards and three touchdowns. Simon also ran the ball 11 times for 54 yards and two touchdowns. Simon was unable to participate in a Pro Day event following his senior season due to the coronavirus pandemic. A year later, the receiver impressed scouts at BYU’s 2021 Pro Day and was signed by the Panthers a short time later.
Micah Simon's performance at @BYUfootball's Pro Day helped land him a spot with the @Panthers. 🤙#LocalsInTheNFL #YACPodcast #NFL #KeepPounding #BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL https://t.co/vvtTUnwpIT
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 30, 2021
The Panthers open the 2021 season against the New York Jets on Sunday, September 12 at 11 a.m. (MDT) on CBS.
Khyiris Tonga – Chicago Bears
No. 250 overall pick during the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft
Tonga played at BYU from 2017-20. He finished his college career with 130 total tackles, 69 solo tackles, 7.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, five quarterback hits, and 12 pass breakups.
BREAKING: With the No. 250 overall pick in the 2021 @NFLDraft, the @ChicagoBears select former @BYUfootball DL Khyiris Tonga (@khyiristonga). #LocalsInTheNFL #NFL #NFLDraft #BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/nQy0Y0ZWxU
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 1, 2021
The Bears open the 2021 season against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, September 12 at 6:20 p.m. (MDT) on KSL TV.
Troy Warner – Los Angeles Rams
Undrafted Free Agent
Warner played at BYU from 2016-20. He finished his college career with 116 total tackles, 70 solo tackles, 15 pass breakups, and two interceptions.
Former @BYUfootball DB @TroWarner is headed to sunny SoCal to play for the @RamsNFL. 💙💛 #LocalsInTheNFL #BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL #NFL #RamsHouse https://t.co/Va6g3tPqi3
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 2, 2021
The Rams open the 2021 season against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, September 12 at 6:20 p.m. (MDT) on KSL TV.
Chris Wilcox – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
No. 251 overall pick during the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft
Wilcox played for the Cougars from 2016-20. He finished his college career with 88 total tackles, 68 solo tackles, three tackles for loss, and eight pass breakups.
BREAKING: With the No. 251 overall pick in the 2021 @NFLDraft, the @Buccaneers select former @BYUfootball DB Chris Wilcox (@SuperCFlash).#LocalsInTheNFL #NFL #NFLDraft #BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/l7gR3CClOj
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 1, 2021
The Buccaneers open the 2021 season against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, September 9 at 6:20 p.m. (MDT) on KSL TV.
Zach Wilson – New York Jets
No. 2 overall pick during first round of 2021 NFL Draft
Wilson played at BYU from 2018-20. He finished his BYU career passing for 7,652 yards, 56 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions with a 67.6 percent completion rate. Wilson also ran the ball for 642 yards and 15 touchdowns.
BREAKING: The @nyjets select former @CCHSFOOTBALL_ and @BYUfootball QB Zach Wilson (@zachkapono1) with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 @NFLDraft.
Read more on the @kslsports app!#LocalsInTheNFL #NFL #NFLDraft #BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL #TakeFlight
🖼: @x_hems pic.twitter.com/lcpkKA9dUJ— KSL Sports (@kslsports) April 30, 2021
The Jets open the 2021 season against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, September 12 at 11 a.m. (MDT) on CBS.
Former High School Standouts
Simi Fehoko – Dallas Cowboys (Brighton Bengals/Stanford)
No. 179 overall pick during the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft
After his prep career at Brighton High School, Fehoko played college football at Stanford. He finished his college career with 62 receptions for 1,146 yards, and nine touchdowns.
BREAKING: With the No. 179 overall pick in the 2021 @NFLDraft, the @dallascowboys select former @BrightonBengal and @StanfordFball WR @Simi_Fehoko. #LocalsInTheNFL #NFL #NFLDraft #DallasCowboys
📷: Deseret News pic.twitter.com/MWZtkEhHnY— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 1, 2021
The Cowboys open the 2021 season against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, September 9 at 6:20 p.m. (MDT) on KSL TV.
Penei Sewell – Detroit Lions (Desert Hills Thunder/Oregon)
No. 7 overall pick during the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft
Following his high school career at Desert Hills, Sewell played for the Oregon Ducks. He won the Outland Trophy as a sophomore. The Outland Trophy recognizes the best interior lineman in the country. Rather than play in 2020, Sewell opted out of playing as a junior during the coronavirus pandemic. During his time off, Sewell prepared for the 2021 NFL Draft.
BREAKING: The @Lions select former @DhillsAthletics and @oregonfootball OL Penei Sewell (@peneisewell58) with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 @NFLDraft.
Read more on the @kslsports app!#LocalsInTheNFL #NFL #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/56ag1bdZrB
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) April 30, 2021
The Lions open the 2021 season against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, September 12 at 11 a.m. (MDT) on FOX.
Jay Tufele – Jacksonville Jaguars (Bingham Miners/USC)
No. 106 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft
After his prep career at Bingham High School, Tufele played for the USC Trojans. He finished his college career with 65 total tackles, 36 solo tackles, one pass breakup, 7.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, and one touchdown.
BREAKING: With the No. 106 overall pick in the 2021 @NFLDraft, the @Jaguars select former @BinghamFB and @USC_FB DL Jay Tufele (@tufele123).#LocalsInTheNFL #NFL #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/WjbRUr2zPv
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 1, 2021
The Jaguars open the 2021 season against the Houston Texans on Sunday, September 12 at 11 a.m. (MDT) on CBS.
Kyle Ireland is a Locals in the NFL Insider for KSLSports.com and host of the Yards After College Podcast. Follow him on Twitter (@kyleireland) and Instagram (@kyleirelandksl).
