Tyler Allgeier drafted by Atlanta Falcons in 5th round

BYU running back Tyler Allgeier was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fifth round of the NFL draft Saturday in Las Vegas, selected with the 151st overall pick in the draft.

Allgeier was the 12th running back taken in the draft, joining an Atlanta squad in rebuild mode following four consecutive losing seasons and a 7-10 finish in 2021. Allgeier will likely have the opportunity to play immediately for the Falcons, competing with veterans Cordarrelle Patterson, Mike Davis and Damien Williams for carries within the Atlanta backfield.

Allgeier elected to forego his final two seasons of college eligibility and declare for the draft following a record-breaking 2021 campaign in which he led the nation in rushing touchdowns (23) and set a new BYU single-season rushing mark (1,606).

In four seasons at BYU, Allgeier ran for 2,899 yards and 36 touchdowns, averaging a program-best 6.4 yards per carry. He ranks fifth on BYU’s all-time rushing leaderboard and owns school records for most touchdowns in a single game (five) and most consecutive games with a rushing score (11).

The Fontana, California native arrived in Provo in 2018 and was asked to redshirt before switching positions to linebacker, ultimately moving back to offense in 2020 and becoming BYU’s top option out of the backfield.

The rest, you could say, is history.

Often saving the day for BYU in 2021, dominant Allgeier performances were pivotal in leading the Cougars past foes such as Utah State, Washington State and Virginia, not to mention the famous “tomahawk takeaway” against Arizona State that prevented a go-ahead score and became a viral sensation.

Allgeier is the 10th running back drafted out of BYU in the past 50 seasons and the first since Jamaal Williams was selected in the fourth round in 2017. He is likely to be the lone Cougar selected in this year’s draft after five BYU players — including No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson — were taken in 2021.