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BYU senior linebacker Jack Kelly

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BYU linebacker Jack Kelly (17) tackles Utah running back Micah Bernard in a college football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

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BYU senior linebacker Jack Kelly puts pressure on Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson during the Big 12 game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

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BYU linebacker Jack Kelly (17) looks up at the scoreboard as he returns a block field goal for a touchdown in a college football game against Portland State at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU linebacker Jack Kelly's scoop and score for BYU's first touchdown of the season

BYU Photo

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Utah transfer tight end Carsen Ryan looks to play a big role in BYU's offense this season

BYU Photo

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BYU tight end Carsen Ryan celebrates scoring a touchdown against Portland State in a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU tight end Carsen Ryan reacts while photojournalist Brandon Despain captures his reaction during a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium this fall.

Courtesy BYU Athletics

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BYU tight end Carsen Ryan signals a first down in a Big 12 football game against Utah at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU tight end Carsen Ryan leaps into the end zone for a touchdown in a Big 12 football game against TCU at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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It perhaps took a bit longer than most BYU fans were hoping, but in the end two Cougar players were drafted during Saturday’s late rounds of the 2026 NFL draft held in Pittsburgh with six others signing free agent contracts.

First off the board was linebacker Jack Kelly, who was selected by the New York Giants in the sixth round. A little later it was the Cleveland Browns opting to use their seventh round pick on Carsen Ryan.

With regards to Kelly, most analysts had him pegged to go in the fifth round, with some even anticipating a fourth round selection. But with the 6-foot-2, 240 pound linebacker going to the Giants, he joins a rising franchise that will likely be boosted after bringing in a veteran like John Harbaugh as their head coach.

“I think Jack is going to have an amazing career in the NFL,” said BYU head coach Kalani Sitake. “Jack is one of the most versatile linebackers in the country. Not a lot of linebackers can pressure the quarterback like he does in the pass rush but also drop in coverage and play his zones and man coverage with such great skill. He is also a complete player in the run game, whether playing at the line of scrimmage or at linebacker depth. He reminds me a lot of what Fred Warner can do.”

“He is a physical presence. You can play him off the ball, you can put him off the edge. He got after the quarterback,” added ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper. “He goes from point A to point B in a blink and has great size — 240 lbs. He can run. He’s got outstanding speed. He closes very quickly.”

Since transferring from Weber State just prior to the 2024 season, Kelly has served as one of the Cougar defense’s primary playmakers. He primarily played on the outside, but was also asked on occasion to shore up the middle and in thereby showed a degree of versatility that should serve him well at the NFL level.

Overall Kelly tallied 190 total tackles over his collegiate career and 31.5 sacks while being named a first-team All-Big 12 Conference selection this past season.

“Jack Kelly is one of the best linebackers in BYU history,” said BYU defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga. “He’s so dynamic and instinctive. (He’s) 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 … like Kyle Van Noy (he) 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.”

Ryan, meanwhile, wasn’t pegged as a surefire draft pick by some analysts, making his seventh-round selection a good spot for him. With the Browns Ryan hopes to make the roster and will attempt to do as much by employing his solid skill-set that produced 45 receptions for 620 yards and three touchdowns.

“He has an incredibly bright football intelligence,” said BYU tight ends coach Kevin Gilbride. “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.”

Free agent signings

BYU football also had six players sign as free agents to various NFL teams with three players being signed by the Las Vegas Raiders and three others on their way to join the New York Jets organization.

Isaiah Jatta, offensive line, Las Vegas Raiders

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.

Chase Roberts, wide receiver, Las Vegas Raiders

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.

Tanner Wall, safety, Las Vegas Raiders

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.

Mory Bamba, cornerback, New York Jets

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.

Will Ferrin, kicker, New York Jets

A two-time team co-captain, 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.

Garrison Grimes, long-snapper, New York Jets

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.