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BYU sophomore running back Tyler Allgeier scores a touchdown during the 35-31 Cougar win over USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2021. (Courtesy BYU Photo)

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BYU sophomore running back Tyler Allgeier runs the ball for a touchdown during the 21-19 BYU win over Washington State at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash., on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. (Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo)

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BYU sophomore running back Tyler Allgeier celebrates scoring a touchdown during the 21-19 BYU win over Washington State at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash., on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. (Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo)

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BYU wide receiver Neil Pau'u runs upfield during the 66-49 Cougar win over Virginia at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. (Marcia Harris, Special to the Daily Herald)

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BYU wide receiver Samson Nacua makes a touchdown catch during the 26-17 Cougar loss to Boise State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. (Courtesy BYU Photo)

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BYU center James Empey prepares to snap the ball during the 26-17 Cougar loss to Boise State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. (Courtesy BYU Photo)

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University of Utah junior wide receiver Britain Covey poses for a portrait after preseason practice Friday, Aug. 9, 2019, at the Spence Eccles Field House in Salt Lake City. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

Isaac Hale Daily Herald

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It has become common for NFL teams to post videos of the moments when they let athletes know they are selecting them in the draft.

The Atlanta Falcons were no exception during the fifth round on Saturday as they made the call to former BYU star running back Tyler Allgeier.

“You want to be a Falcon?” Atlanta general manager Terry Fotenot says into the phone on the video posted by the @AtlantaFalcons Twitter account.

“Yes, I’d love that,” Allgeier responded.

“First down, second down, third down and fourth down, alright?” Fotenot said. “Put in the work, alright?”

“Yes, sir,” Allgeier said.

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith took the phone and said, “Are you ready to get to Atlanta and get to work?”

“Yes, sir,” Allgeier repeated.

“We’re fired up to bring you down here,” Smith said. “Obviously we love the way you play, your makeup and the way you finish runs — and really all the things you bring to the table.”

Allgeier was the only BYU player selected in the 2022 draft as he was taken by the Atlanta Falcons with the eighth pick of the fifth round and 151st overall, although wide receivers Neil Pau’u and Samson Nacua, and offensive lineman James Empey also signed as free agents.

But Allgeier was the headliner.

“The Falcons are getting a fantastic football player and an incredibly humble and hardworking teammate with the physical versatility and football IQ to contribute in many different ways,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said in a press release. “He is the kind of person who will always succeed and improve. I am excited for Tyler. I look forward to following his NFL career.”

Allgeier, a 5-foot-11, 224-pound All-American from Fontana, California, is the fifth-highest drafted running back in BYU football history and the 18th Cougar ball carrier overall to be drafted. The last BYU running back taken in the draft was the school’s all-time leading rusher Jamaal Williams, who was taken in the fourth round by Green Bay with the 134th pick of the 2017 draft.

“This weekend was a roller coaster of emotions, seeing what was actually going to happen,” Allgeier said in a press conference posted by the Falcons. “Nothing was in my control. I did everything I could so, then it was just a waiting game.”

In the press release, Sitake said he is confident Allgeier will find success at the next level, thanks in large part to his versatility.

“It’s not just about playing running back,” Sitake said in the release. “He is going to be able to play running back. He is going to be able to tackle and block people and he has been doing that since he got here. He is going to do just fine in the NFL.”

BYU running back coach Harvey Unga said Allgeier will be an attribute in multiple ways.

“He is a great teammate and a good person,” Unga said in the release. “He is a selfless person and the ultimate teammate when it comes to that. I think the film more than anything speaks for itself. You watch the way the kid plays the game. How he carries himself but not just that but how he plays the game. When it’s crunch time and we need a couple of yards or we are trying to run a four-minute drill, we knew we could count on him and call on him to carry the rock to win the game. He also has amazing vision and great feet. One of the things that I appreciated the most was just the way he approached learning the game. I know NFL coaches are going to appreciate how well he learns and picks things up. He is a sponge and very coachable.”

In addition to Allgeier getting selected, opportunities came for a trio of other guys after the draft ended.

Pau’u signed with the Buffalo Bills, Nacua signed with the Indianapolis Colts and Empey signed with the Dallas Cowboys. Empey’s father, Mike Empey (a former Cougar offensive lineman and coach) signed with the Cowboys in 1994 as a rookie free agent coming out of BYU.

“I’m really happy for our guys getting the chance to pursue their goals playing in the NFL,” Sitake said in a press release. “It has been an honor to coach them and witness all the contributions they have each made to make our program better. I know they will continue to represent themselves and BYU well in the NFL.”

That meant four of the five Cougar players who participated in the 2022 pro day have NFL opportunities and defensive lineman Uriah Leiataua could still get an opportunity as well.

A couple of other athletes with Utah Valley connections also got pro opportunities.

Former Timpview star Britain Covey, who had a great career at Utah, signed as an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Covey’s Ute teammate, Nephi Sewell, whose father is Orem head football coach Gabe Sewell, also got an opportunity as an undrafted free agent as he signed with the New Orleans Saints.

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