With BYU football recruiting in the headlines, many Cougar fans are understandably fixated on the 247 Sports ratings of the members of the 2025 recruiting class. Logic holds that the higher the ratings, the more potential players have and the greater impact they will make on the field.
Ultimately, the goal of BYU coaches and recruiters is to sign players who can excel in a Power Four conference, and by extension flash NFL potential. But just how well do 247 Sports ratings predict the eventual NFL success of BYU players?
Let’s find out.
BYU currently has 20 former players on NFL rosters. Here’s how each of these 20 pros were rated by 247 Sports coming out of high school (or their ESPN ratings for the pre-247 Sports days):
Four-Star Recruits
Kingsley Suamataia, tackle, Kansas City Chiefs
247 Sports rating: 98
Kingsley’s high school rating was as gaudy as it gets as the No. 32 overall prospect in the country. After a brief stint at Oregon he transferred to BYU, dominated in Provo, and was a second round pick this year by the Chiefs. Kingsley was considered an NFL talent since he was a teenager.
Puka Nacua, wide receiver, Los Angeles Rams
247 Sports rating: 96
Puka’s elite 96 rating ranked 48th nationally in 2019. After transferring from Washington and excelling at BYU, he was a fifth round pick in 2023. He went on to shatter most NFL rookie receiving records last year and is once again dominating for the Rams this season. Puka’s pro potential was identified in high school.
This touchdown by Puka Nacua never gets old.
— Total Blue Sports (@TotalBlueSports) December 29, 2023
Go Cougars! https://t.co/t7sY8cqCoj
Chris Brooks, running back, Green Bay Packers
247 Sports rating: 90
Now in his second NFL season, Chris Brooks’ reserve role continues to grow with the Packers. He was ranked as the No. 12 running back in the country coming out of high school, indicating his early NFL potential.
Three-Star Recruits
Kyle Van Noy, linebacker, Baltimore Ravens
ESPN Scout grade: 78 (Estimated 3-star, 89 grade from 247 Sports)
KVN graduated high school before 247 Sports ratings came out, but ESPN ranked him as No. 63 linebacker in his class. When comparing that to the No. 63 linebacker in the class of 2025 at 247 Sports, that’s a high three-star recruit with an impressive 89 grade. High school recruiting services knew KVN had high-end potential.
Fred Warner, linebacker, San Francisco 49ers
247 Sports rating: 87
The three-time All-Pro was a high three-star recruit coming out of California. He had a fantastic career at BYU and has continued that dominance in the NFL as perhaps the best linebacker in the game. Fred was rated as a solid high school recruit, but not one with clear NFL potential.
Taysom Hill, tight end/running back, New Orleans Saints
ESPN Scout grade: 75 (Estimated 3-star, 86 grade from 247 Sports)
Taysom graduated high school in 2009 and 247 Sports didn’t start rating players until 2010. ESPN ranked him as the 62nd best quarterback in the nation which is equivalent to a three-star, 86 grade today from 247 Sports. Nobody could have predicted in high school how Taysom’s glorious, bizarre NFL career would play out.
Zayne Anderson, safety, Green Bay Packers
247 Sports rating: 86
A solid three-star prospect coming out of high school, Anderson had a good career at BYU. He went undrafted in 2021 but signed as a free agent with the Chiefs, kicking off his now four-year career as a special teams ace.
Zach Wilson, quarterback, Denver Broncos
247 Sports rating: 86
As the No. 11 recruit in the state of Utah in 2018, few people saw NFL potential in a young Zach Wilson. But after a legendary career with the Cougars, Zach was the No. 2 overall pick in 2021. Unfortunately, he was selected by the dysfunctional New York Jets, an organization famous for derailing quarterbacks, even future Hall of Famers like Aaron Rodgers.
Max Tooley, linebacker, Minnesota Vikings (practice squad)
247 Sports rating: 86
As the No. 10 prospect in the state of Utah in 2016, Max Tooley was viewed as a good but not elite high school talent. After a great career at BYU he went undrafted in 2024 and is now a rookie on the Vikings practice squad.
Sione Takitaki, linebacker, New England Patriots
247 Sports rating: 84
Takitaki wasn’t even among the Top 100 recruits in the state of California, let alone being considered a top national prospect. But he excelled at BYU, was a third round pick in 2019, and has recorded 274 tackles in his six-year NFL career.
Jaren Hall, quarterback, Seattle Seahawks (practice squad)
247 Sports rating: 84
Considered just the 19th best prospect in the state of Utah in 2016, Jaren Hall became an outstanding quarterback at BYU. He was a 2023 fifth round pick by the Minnesota Vikings and is now on the Seattle Seahawks practice squad.
Kedon Slovis, quarterback, Houston Texans (practice squad)
247 Sports rating: 84
Slovis wasn’t a heralded recruit coming out of high school, but he lit the college football world on fire in 2019 as a freshman at USC throwing for 3,502 yards and 30 touchdowns. But that was the apex of his college career after additional stops at Pittsburgh and BYU. He went undrafted in 2024 but is now on the Texans practice squad as a rookie free agent.
Jamaal Williams, running back, New Orleans Saints
247 Sports rating: 83
Jamaal was a low three-star recruit coming out of high school. After eventually dominating at BYU he was a 2017 fourth round pick and has racked up 4,087 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns in his eight-year NFL career.
Blake Freeland, tackle, Indianapolis Colts
247 Sports rating: 83
Coming out of high school, Blake Freeland wasn’t even a Top 10 recruit in the state of Utah. But he transformed his play while in Provo and was a 2023 fourth round pick by the Colts. His second NFL season has been disappointing, but he has far exceeded his high school ranking.
Two-Star Recruits
Brady Christensen, offensive line, Carolina Panthers
247 Sports rating: 79
Brady Christensen was an overlooked two-star recruit when he signed with BYU. After a consensus All-American career in Provo, Christensen was selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers and has started 29 of 47 career games.
Michael Davis, cornerback, Washington Commanders
247 Sports rating: 78
After a solid career at BYU, Davis went undrafted in 2017 but signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chargers and appeared in 15 games as a rookie. In eight NFL seasons he has started 75 of 120 games with 357 tackles and eight interceptions, far exceeding the expectations of a two-star prospect.
Dax Milne, wide receiver, Carolina Panthers (practice squad)
247 Sports rating: 76
Considered just the No. 42 prospect in the state of Utah in 2018, Dax excelled at BYU and registered 70 receptions for 1,188 as a junior in 2020. In 2021 he was a seventh round pick by the Washington Commanders. He has appeared in 28 NFL games with 15 receptions for 120 yards. He has also returned 40 punts and 15 kickoffs in his young career, blowing away the expectations of a two-star recruit.
Tyler Allgeier, running back, Atlanta Falcons
247 Sports rating: 74
Originally an overlooked two-star defensive recruit, Tyler Allgeier went on to have a legendary career as a converted running back at BYU. He was selected by the Falcons in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft and set an Atlanta rookie rushing record with 1,035 yards.
Ryan Rehkow, punter, Cincinnati Bengals
247 Sports rating: 73
While a 73 rating doesn’t jump off the page, 247 Sports ranked Rehkow as the No. 11 punter in the nation in high school, signaling a decent shot of NFL potential.
“Zero-Star” Recruits
Khyiris Tonga, defensive tackle, Arizona Cardinals
247 Sports didn’t give Khyiris Tonga a rating coming out of high school. Despite flying under the radar on the national level, Tonga was awesome in Provo. After his solid performance at BYU he was a 2021 seventh round pick by the Chicago Bears and has appeared in 50 career games with seven starts.