And it was very much a welcome sight for all involved.

The occasion was BYU football’s Pro Day, a function that is back on BYU’s campus after a two-year hiatus due to the Big 12 Conference hosting its own Pro Day function. It was perhaps the final opportunity for BYU draft hopefuls to perform in front of NFL scouts with Retzlaff ending the day’s activities as the main quarterback once again throwing passes to Cougar receivers, which included Roberts, who flashed his now famous extended-arm ‘Y’ celebration following one of his better receptions.

“It was awesome and I missed it, for sure,” Roberts said of the opportunity to catch passes thrown by Retzlaff again. “I’m grateful for him and he was slinging it today. So I’m excited to see where he ends up and I’m really proud of the work he’s done.”

Retzlaff opted to transfer out of BYU’s program for his final senior season rather than take on a reported 7-game suspension in the wake of honor code violations. He wound up playing for Tulane where he guided the Green Wave to a berth in the College Football Playoff while enjoying a great level of success.

Courtesy BYU Photo

But rather than wave goodbye permanently to the BYU football program, Retzlaff has maintained strong relationships with both Cougar players and coaches, all of whom welcomed him back this week with open arms.

“It’s great to have Jake back here and once a Cougar always a Cougar,” said BYU coach Kalani Sitake. ” … I’m just really proud of what he’s been able to accomplish and it’s always great to have him back home … We’ve always been in contact with him and wishing him the best for the season. And he’s always been cheering for us, so there’s already a connection there. Even though he wasn’t playing for us (last year) he’s always a part of our family.”

Retzlaff certainly echoed both Sitake and Roberts’ sentiments.

“I got my degree from BYU. I’m a BYU alum all the way through and I love this place. I’ll always love this place,” he said. “I love Kalani and the entire program. I always feel so much love here and it makes it very easy to come back. I’m so thankful for everyone here and that’s never going to change.”

In Retzlaff’s mind, what BYU is for him begins and ends with the culture Sitake has built.

Courtesy BYU Photo

“It’s all love and you absolutely feel that,” Retzlaff explained. “I felt it when I was a player here and it didn’t change when I had to leave. I love Kalani as both a coach and a person. He’s a great man and the culture of love that he’s built at BYU is something I’m so thankful to be a part of.”

As for the individual performances, standouts included cornerback Mory Bamba being timed running the 40 yard dash at 4.27 seconds, which received more than several involuntary cheers the second after it was posted. As for Roberts, he was clocked running it at 4.51 seconds, a time he was very satisfied with.

“It was a great day and I definitely did what I wanted to do,” Roberts said. “It was just fun being back at BYU and in Provo to see all the guys again. My parents were here and it’s a special moment … I’m glad I was able to get those extra weeks and come out a little faster.”

Indeed Roberts’ time was significantly improved from his 4.64 time posted at the NFL combine.

Other top participants included BYU tight end Carsen Ryan, who ran a 40 time of 4.66 seconds and BYU safety Tanner Wall, who was clocked running a time of 4.57 seconds.

Courtesy BYU Photo

“I feel really good and I feel I performed really well,” Wall said. “I met a lot of the goals I set for myself, so I feel really proud of what I put out there today.”

A limited participant was BYU linebacker Jack Kelly, who preferred to let his combine numbers stand, and for good reason. Kelly came away from the NFL combine held in Indianapolis having improved his draft stock significantly in the eyes of several NFL scouts and pundits.

“Overall I was excited with it,” Kelly said of his combine performance. ” … I’ve been hearing positive things, but also things I need to improve on, so I’m really just trying to stay in the grind mode and not get too high or too low. I want to stay even-keel and get better each and every day.”

As for the day in general, all involved were happy to have the event held back in Provo after the aforementioned two-year hiatus due to the Pro Day having been a Big 12 function that was held in Frisco, Texas.

“The Big 12 took the Pro Day away from us the last couple of years and it’s good to have it back in Provo,” Sitake said. “I think our people do a great job at it and I’m just really happy they were able to give our guys a great Pro Day and give them a great environment to perform, and I think our guys did great … It’s just great to have the event back at our facility.”

Courtesy BYU Photo