NFL teams had to make their final roster cuts on Tuesday to get down to the mandated 53-man roster size, which turned out to be good news for four former BYU players trying to make it in pro football.

Wide receiver Puka Nacua was kept by the Los Angeles Rams, offensive lineman Blake Freeland made the cut with the Indianapolis Colts, running back Christopher Brooks did enough to stay with the Miami Dolphins and quarterback Jaren Hall is on the 53-man roster with the Minnesota Vikings.

While that was the good news, eight other former Cougars ended up being waved and now will be looking for other opportunities.

The veterans in that situation include safety Zayne Anderson (cut by the Buffalo Bills), tight end Matt Bushman (cut by the Kansas City Chiefs), offensive lineman James Empey (cut by the Green Bay Packers), defensive lineman Tomasi Laulile (cut by the Denver Broncos), defensive back Chris Wilcox (cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers) and running back Ty’Son Williams (cut by the Arizona Cardinals).

Two other BYU rookies were also cut as defensive back Kaleb Hayes was dropped by the Jacksonville Jaguars and defensive back D’Angelo Mandell didn’t make the Dallas Cowboys roster.

Long-time pro football players Kyle Van Noy and Daniel Sorensen are currently free agents.

As of Tuesday, there are 14 former Cougar currently on rosters with NFL teams:

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, Atlanta Falcons
• Christopher Brooks, RB, Miami Dolphins
• Brady Christensen, OL, Carolina Panthers
• Michael Davis, DB, Los Angeles Chargers
• Blake Freeland, OL, Indianapolis Colts
• Jaren Hall, QB, Minnesota Vikings
• Taysom Hill, ATH, New Orleans Saints
• Dax Milne, WR, Washington Commanders
• Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
• Sione Takitaki, LB, Cleveland Browns
• Khyiris Tonga, DL, Minnesota Vikings
• Fred Warner, LB, San Francisco 49ers
• Jamaal Williams, RB, New Orleans Saints
• Zach Wilson, QB, New York Jets

UVU men’s soccer hires alum Blake Frischknecht as an assistant coach

Utah Valley men’s soccer head coach Kyle Beckerman has announced the hiring of former WAC Offensive Player of the Year and program single-season goal scoring record-holder Blake Frischknecht to his staff as an assistant coach.

Frischknecht joins Beckerman’s staff after a four-year professional career that included stints with Las Vegas Lights FC and Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, before heading overseas to play for Forjães SC in Portugal.

Frischknecht played three seasons at Utah Valley, scoring an impressive 20 goals in that time, which is tied for second-most in program history. As a senior in 2019, Frischknecht set the program record for goals in a single season with 13, smashing the previous record of nine held jointly by Paul Hoffmeister (2016) and Skyler Milne (2015). Frischknecht’s 13 goals tied for most in the WAC and ranked 16th nationally, earning him WAC Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-WAC, and First Team All-Far West region honors.

Frischknecht graduated from Utah Valley in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Communications Studies. A native of Las Vegas, Frischknecht prepped at Centennial HS, where he also played football and volleyball. Prior to Utah Valley, Frischknecht played one season for the BYU PDL team. Frischknecht and his wife, Ella, have a two-year-old son named Jones.