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Utes in the NFL: 27 Utah Utes With NFL Teams Entering Week One

by Utah Athletics
Sep 7, 2020

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- The 2020 NFL season enters Week One and the Utah Utes are again well-represented on NFL rosters. A total of 27 former Utah football players are affiliated with NFL organizations as training camps come to a close and final 53-man rosters and 16-member practice squads are established.

The total includes 20 players on active rosters, six on practice squads and one who has opted out of the 2020 season because of health concerns, Star Lotulelei with the Buffalo Bills.

After seeing seven players drafted in April -- most by any Pac-12 school and tied for fifth-most in the FBS -- plus five more signing contracts as undrafted free agents, Utah has seen 11 of the 12 who entered training camps as rookies from the 2019 team find homes in the NFL. All seven draft choices (Bradlee Anae, Julian Blackmon, Terrell Burgess, Leki Fotu, Jaylon Johnson, Zack Moss and John Penisini) made the 53-man rosters of their respective clubs (full list below). Of the five undrafted free agents, four were re-signed to their teams' practice squad after being waived in the final cutdown (Francis Bernard, Javelin K. Guidry, Tyler Huntley and Darrin Paulo). Cornerback Josh Nurse remained unsigned Monday after competing through all of training camp with the Baltimore Ravens.

Utah's impressive haul of 21 draft choices in the last four years leads all Pac-12 schools, and 16 of those players are with NFL clubs today.

Two franchises employ as many as three former Utes (Denver and Washington) and five more feature a pair of Utes, between the active roster and practice squads (Arizona, Buffalo, Dallas, New Orleans and Seattle). 

Quarterback Alex Smith, now in his 16th NFL season after being drafted first overall in 2005, continues his inspiring comeback from a severe leg injury suffered in 2018. After enduring 17 surgeries and life-threatening complications, Smith was cleared to resume football activities during training camp and is on the 53-man roster of the Washington Football Team.

One of the more impressive stories is former first-team All-Pac-12 linebacker Chase Hansen making the New Orleans Saints' 53-man roster after going undrafted in 2019 and spending his rookie season on the reserve/non-football injury list because of offseason surgery. He joins fellow Utah Ute Marcus Williams, the second-round safety drafted by New Orleans in 2017.

Denver continues to be a popular home for former Utah players. Tackle Garett Bolles, Denver's 2017 first-round draft choice, and wide receiver Tim Patrick, an undrafted rookie in 2017, are now joined by rookie Darrin Paulo. The 2019 first-team All-Pac-12 tackle, who was part of back-to-back Pac-12 South champions, originally signed in 2020 as an undrafted free agent with New Orleans. He began camp with the Saints but was waived, claimed by Denver, then waived and signed to the Broncos' practice squad Sunday. 

On active rosters the most populated position for former Utes is safety, with four: Julian Blackmon (rookie, Indianapolis), Marquise Blair (2nd year, Seattle), Terrell Burgess (rookie, L.A. Rams) and Marcus Williams (4th year, New Orleans).

Three NFL Week 1 matchups on Sunday will pit former Utah Utes against one another on active rosters:

Bears (CB Jaylon Johnson) at Lions (John Penisini), 11 a.m. MT
Cardinals (LB Kylie Fitts, DL Leki Fotu) at 49ers (P Mitch Wishnowsky), 2:25 p.m. MT
Cowboys (DE Bradlee Anae) at Rams (S Terrell Burgess), 6:20 p.m.

UTES IN THE NFL--Sept. 7, 2020 (alphabetical)
Bradlee Anae, DL, Dallas
Cody Barton, LB, Seattle
Jackson Barton, OL, New York Giants
Francis Bernard, LB, Dallas *
Julian Blackmon, S, Indianapolis
Marquise Blair, S, Seattle
Garett Bolles, OL, Denver
Devontae Booker, RB, Las Vegas
Terrell Burgess, S, Los Angeles Rams
Kylie Fitts, LB, Arizona
Leki Fotu, DL, Arizona
Javelin K. Guidry, CB, New York Jets *
Chase Hansen, LB, New Orleans
Tyler Huntley, QB, Baltimore *
Jaylon Johnson, CB, Chicago
Star Lotulelei, DL, Buffalo #
Zack Moss, RB, Buffalo
Jared Norris, LB, Washington *
Nate Orchard, DL, Washington *
Tim Patrick WR, Denver
Darrin Paulo, OL, Denver *
John Penisini, DL, Detroit
Eric Rowe, CB, Miami
Alex Smith, QB, Washington
Sam Tevi, OL, Los Angeles Chargers
Marcus Williams, S, New Orleans
Mitch Wishnowsky, P, San Francisco
*Practice Squad, #Opt Out

UTES IN THE NFL--Sept. 7, 2020 (by team)
Kylie Fitts, LB, Arizona
Leki Fotu, DL, Arizona
Tyler Huntley, QB, Baltimore *
Star Lotulelei, DL, Buffalo #
Zack Moss, RB, Buffalo
Jaylon Johnson, CB, Chicago
Bradlee Anae, DL, Dallas
Francis Bernard, LB, Dallas *
Garett Bolles, OL, Denver
Tim Patrick WR, Denver
Darrin Paulo, OL, Denver *
John Penisini, DL, Detroit
Julian Blackmon, S, Indianapolis
Devontae Booker, RB, Las Vegas
Sam Tevi, OL, Los Angeles Chargers
Terrell Burgess, S, Los Angeles Rams
Eric Rowe, CB, Miami
Chase Hansen, LB, New Orleans
Marcus Williams, S, New Orleans
Jackson Barton, OL, New York Giants
Javelin K. Guidry, CB, New York Jets *
Mitch Wishnowsky, P, San Francisco
Cody Barton, LB, Seattle
Marquise Blair, S, Seattle
Jared Norris, LB, Washington *
Nate Orchard, DL, Washington *
Alex Smith, QB, Washington
*Practice Squad, #Opt Out

UTES IN THE NFL--Sept. 7, 2020 (by position)
Tyler Huntley, QB, Baltimore *
Alex Smith, QB, Washington
Devontae Booker, RB, Las Vegas
Zack Moss, RB, Buffalo
Tim Patrick WR, Denver
Jackson Barton, OL, New York Giants
Garett Bolles, OL, Denver
Darrin Paulo, OL, Denver *
Sam Tevi, OL, Los Angeles Chargers
Bradlee Anae, DL, Dallas
Leki Fotu, DL, Arizona
Star Lotulelei, DL, Buffalo #
Nate Orchard, DL, Washington *
John Penisini, DL, Detroit
Cody Barton, LB, Seattle
Francis Bernard, LB, Dallas *
Kylie Fitts, LB, Arizona
Jared Norris, LB, Washington *
Chase Hansen, LB, New Orleans
Javelin K. Guidry, CB, New York Jets *
Jaylon Johnson, CB, Chicago
Eric Rowe, CB, Miami
Julian Blackmon, S, Indianapolis
Marquise Blair, S, Seattle
Terrell Burgess, S, Los Angeles Rams
Marcus Williams, S, New Orleans
Mitch Wishnowsky, P, San Francisco
*Practice Squad, #Opt Out

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