BYU stud just became the first Cougar tight end in the NFL Draft since Dennis Pitta

It wasn't a straightforward path by any means, but BYU product and standout tight end Carsen Ryan was selected in the 7th round of the NFL Draft. From UCLA, to Utah, to BYU, and finally arriving in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns, Ryan is the first Cougar tight end to be picked in the draft since Dennis Pitta in 2010.

Ryan was the second and final BYU player to come off the board following Jack Kelly's selection in the 6th round. With the Cleveland Browns, he'll finally get his shot at the next level.

Carsen's selection only affirms BYU football as an increasingly fertile ground for highly-rated tight ends to spend their college career, developing for a future in the NFL. It's no surprise why the best tight ends in the state of Utah are choosing BYU with greater frequency -- Utah is losing its luster as Tight-End U.

Brock Harris and Ty Goettsche, each a four-star tight end, have signed letters of intent to play at BYU this season. That's right -- multiple high-profile tight ends want to play in Aaron Roderick's offense for a chance at developing into an NFL-caliber talent. That becomes even wilder when considering that Walker Lyons, a star from USC and the brother of QB signee Ryder Lyons, will likely own the first-string role this year.

After a fantastic senior season in Provo, Carsen Ryan finally broke onto the NFL radar. A player who packs power in every footstep, and a surprising knack for playmaking, it's not shocking to see him come off the board in the NFL Draft.

Carsen Ryan is a rumbler. A big body with all the upper-body strength to stifle a D-line, and hands as reliable as the Allstate logo behind the field goals. He's not easy to bring down when he gets the ball in his hands, with a low center of gravity and a refusal to dance himself into compromised positions downfield. Ryan isn't flashy, but he's dependable; the ideal tight end archetype.

No, I'm not shocked to see Ryan get drafted. His emergence only improves Kalani Sitake's momentum in establishing an environment that allows tight ends to grow.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow