Arguably the highlight was seeing the hottest receiver in pro football finally get into the end zone and do it in dramatic fashion as Puka Nacua scored the game-winning TD for the Los Angeles Rams in overtime against Indianapolis — which featured former BYU lineman Blake Freeland getting his first start.

But a close second might be the performance over ex-Cougar quarterback Zach Wilson, who has been under constant attack for his struggles with the New York Jets in recent years. On Sunday night against the Kansas City Chiefs (led by Andy Reid, who also has BYU ties), Wilson played arguably his best game and nearly led the Jets to the upset.

Add those performances to what Cougar fans have routinely seen from Fred Warner in San Francisco, Tyler Allgeier in Atlanta, Taysom Hill in New Orleans among others and there are quite a lot of successes for BYU faithful to enjoy seeing.

But they aren’t the only ones. The current Cougar players love seeing their former teammates chasing their dreams as well.

“It’s awesome,” BYU offensive lineman Connor Pay said during Monday’s press teleconference. “Outside of football players, those guys are just my friends, so to see them be successful is a special thing. Zach played really well, obviously Puka played really well, Blake got his first start. It’s so much fun to watch those guys be successful.”

As a lineman, Pay said Freeland’s situation was the one that really caught his attention.

“Blake had been my roommate for the last two and a half years and now all of a sudden he’s blocking (Rams star defensive lineman) Aaron Donald,” Pay said. “It’s kind of surreal. I can’t wait to talk to him on the phone about it and see what that experience was like.”

Pay could talk about guys like Nacua and Wilson from a different viewpoint than the average fan because he knows them so well.

“We all knew what Puka was going to be like, but the rest of the world didn’t,” Pay said. “For Zach to come out and play well with all the ridicule that he’s gotten was really awesome. So it’s a lot of fun to see those guys be successful. It makes you happy.”

BYU punter Ryan Rehkow knows a little bit about the NFL world, since his older brother Austin Rehkow kicked for the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, and Indianapolis Colts. He understands just how great it feels to make it in the pros.

“It’s super cool to see guys who we shared a lot of great experiences with at the college level go on and be successful at the next level,” Rehkow said. “We have nothing but best wishes for our NFL guys.”

BYU head coach Kalani Sitake noted that having former Cougars do well at the next level benefits his program but feels a responsibility to give every guy the best chance he can.

“It’s great for us,” Sitake said. “But that’s part of my job to realize that they can play at the next level. They can play at the next level in alignment with the things that we do at the university.”

His perspective, however, goes beyond just seeing them reach the NFL. He takes his duties to each athlete seriously and wants them to make the most of their abilities, on and off the field.

“We want to open up new treasures of talent they have, and that extends beyond football,” Sitake said. “We want them to be the best versions of themselves. I can’t wait to see them accomplish so many things. I want them to accomplish their dreams, and it’s not just football. The NFL is part of it. I want our players to know that you can come to BYU to improve spiritually, physically and mentally.”

BYU players currently in the NFL

Kyle Van Noy, ILB, Baltimore

Taysom Hill, TE, New Orleans

Fred Warner, ILB, San Francisco

Michael Davis, CB, Los Angeles Chargers

Zach Wilson, QB, New York Jets

Jamaal Williams, RB, New Orleans

Sione Takitaki, LB, Cleveland

Brady Christensen, G, Carolina

Harvey Langi, ILB, Las Vegas

Dax Milne, WR, Washington

Khyiris Tonga, DT, Minnesota

Tyler Allgeier, RB, Atlanta

Zayne Anderson, S, Green Bay

Blake Freeland, T, Indianapolis

Jaren Hall, QB, Minnesota

Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Chris Brooks, RB, Miami