Four former BYU football players made it to the NFL’s 53-man roster for the upcoming season.
The rosters, announced last Saturday, include Alani Fua, linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals, and Jordan Leslie, wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, as rookies.
Ziggy Ansah, defensive end for the Detroit Lions, will be entering his third season and Kyle Van Noy, outside linebacker for the Detroit Lions will be entering his second season in the NFL.
Bronco Mendenhall tweeted his congratulations to his former players:
Congrats to our NFL guys making rosters and practice squads this weekend! Thank you for representing us well. #BYUFOOTBALL #NFL
— Bronco Mendenhall (@UVACoachBronco) September 7, 2015
NFL rules dictate that teams can have a maximum number of 53 players on the roster. Players are evaluated during summer training camps and preseason games before final cuts are made. Players who do not make the roster may also be placed on the 10-man practice squad or put on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
In May 2015, there were nine former Cougars who were signed with NFL teams: six offensive players and three defensive players.
In addition to the four players who made it to final rosters, a few former Cougars were added to NFL practice teams:
Paul Lasike was cut by the Arizona Cardinals, but signed with the Chicago Bears as a running back on the practice squad.
De’Ondre Wesley signed with the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad as an offensive lineman.
Rob Daniel signed with the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad as a defensive back.
Although Lasike, Wesley and Daniel are on practice squads, they have the opportunity to make the full roster.
Tight end Dennis Pitta was added to the PUP list for the Baltimore Ravens after receiving his second major hip surgery.
