First Look At BYU Football’s Top Prospects For 2021 NFL Draft

PROVO, Utah – For the first time since 2015, BYU had zero players selected in the NFL Draft this past weekend. It’s been 11 years since BYU had multiple players selected in one draft. The 2021 NFL Draft has the potential to end some of these droughts for BYU as the Cougars have some intriguing draft-eligible prospects that could hear their names called next spring.

BYU Football’s top draft-eligible prospects for 2021 NFL Draft

Khyiris Tonga, Defensive Line

Tonga’s decision to return to BYU for his senior year was the smart one. Especially with how the draft process lacked face-to-face meetings with prospects. With Tonga returning, he will have to show scouts and executives that he can be more reliable as age will be something that could potentially hurt his draft stock. This off-season Tonga has acknowledged one of his goals is to play more snaps and not have to come off the field in critical downs.

Consistency will be important for Tonga in 2020 as he has shown flashes of dominance against quality teams, now he needs to be productive every week and he will likely hear his name called in next year’s NFL Draft.

Matt Bushman, Tight End

Along with Tonga, Bushman turned down the NFL this year for one more season at BYU. The three-year starter at tight end embodies what the NFL is looking for in tight ends during this pass-happy era of the league. Blocking is still an area where Bushman can continue to improve his game and how he tests in a Combine setting will be interesting. But Bushman has all the makings of an NFL tight end if he can stay healthy.

Brady Christensen, Offensive Tackle*

Christensen is heading into his junior season this fall and he has become one of the leaders along BYU’s offensive line. A dual-sport athlete in high school, Christensen has risen from being a two-star recruit to star left tackle for the Cougars. This past year, Pro Football Focus ranked Christensen the 95th best player in all of college football.

Chris Wilcox, Cornerback

Last summer, Wilcox was already drawing attention from NFL scouts. If healthy, the attention should continue as the NFL continues to look for cornerbacks who have a ton of speed and athleticism. Wilcox is a speedster standing in at 6-foot-2 and 195-pounds. Last season, Wilcox redshirted after only playing in one game against Idaho State. Staying healthy will be critical for Wilcox in order to get drafted next year.

Devonta’e Henry-Cole, Running Back

A graduate transfer running back from Utah, Henry-Cole will arrive on BYU’s campus later this summer/fall. He will have every opportunity to be the Cougars No. 1 running back and make the type of impact that Baltimore Raven free agent signee Ty’Son Williams was for the Cougars.

Troy Warner, Defensive Back

A devastating lisfranc injury has limited Warner’s availability the past two and a half seasons, but now the fifth-year senior coming off a redshirt campaign should be one of BYU’s top players in the back half of the defense. Warner started his career at cornerback but has since moved to safety where BYU coaches believe Warner projects better at in the NFL.

Isaiah Kaufusi, Linebacker

Kaufusi enters his senior year after he had 60 tackles a season, including 4.5 tackles for loss. Bloodlines are important as Kaufusi’s have made an impact on the NFL over the years. If Kaufusi has more games like the one he had against Utah in his sophomore season in 2018, he will get on some NFL radars.

James Empey, Offensive Line*

A master technician, Empey filled in for four-year center Tejan Koroma in 2018, and BYU hasn’t skipped a beat. Empey still has two years remaining but as one of the highest-graded centers in college football the past two years, Empey is a player to watch for the NFL potentially in as early as 2021.

Zayne Anderson, Athlete

Last year at this time, I would have told you that Zayne Anderson was going to be an intriguing prospect for the 2020 NFL Draft. But a nagging shoulder injury cut Anderson’s 2019 season short. Now with a medical hardship being granted, Anderson returns to BYU and has dropped 20 pounds where he is expected to play cornerback. Anderson has good size and athleticism at 6-foot-2, 200-pounds. He’s played safety, linebacker, special teams, and now potentially cornerback. If he succeeds at the corner position, he could find his way into the NFL.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.