PROVO — The 2017 NFL draft is here, with the first round beginning Thursday night and continuing through Saturday.

Here are four former BYU Cougars who are hopeful that they will hear their names called in the next few days.

Harvey Langi, linebacker

Langi’s path to the NFL has been interesting. Coming out of high school, he went to Utah and played running back for the Utes. After completing a two-year LDS mission, Langi saw the light and took his talents south to play at BYU. He informed then BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall that he wanted to play on the defensive side of the ball, believing that would improve his NFL stock. In his three years at the Y, Langi played insider linebacker and defensive end but also saw spot duty as a running back.

New head coach Kalani Sitake and his staff moved Langi to defensive end for 2016 due to a lack of defensive linemen as the team transitioned to a base 4-3 scheme. Langi did a solid, if not overwhelming, job in this capacity. His flexibility can be an asset to a team, with him giving them options. It can also be a detriment to him, however, as teams may decide that he has limited position mastery. A scout on NFL.com stated Langi is “way behind with his fundamentals for position.”

What Langi lacks in experience at a single position, he counters with his athleticism. Langi did well at the NFL Combine, earning top performer grades in the 20- and 60-yard shuttle runs. A move back to the inside linebacker position should help Langi reach his potential as that is where he looked most comfortable and that position seemed to match his skill set the best. CBSSports.com has Langi projected as a seventh-round pick.

Jamaal Williams, running back

Williams had quite the career in Provo. Coming into town as just a 17-year-old, the young man from Fontana, California, left the Cougars as the all-time leading rusher in school history. In just three and a half seasons, Williams racked up 3,901 rushing yards and 35 TDs on the ground. In his senior year alone, he ran for 1,375 yards despite only appearing in 10 games.

There is a lot to like about Williams for NFL teams. He is a no-frills runner who gets downhill quickly and likes to initiate contact. In his four years on the field, he only lost two fumbles, so he takes very good care of the football. In 2016, he averaged nearly 6 yards a carry despite teams gearing up for him as the focal point of the offense.

Williams does have some weaknesses, however. While he is tough and was a workhorse when healthy throughout his career, he tended to be injury-prone. He sat out half of 2014 after significantly injuring his knee. He also missed three games in 2016 due to nagging injuries. Another concern is that Williams does not have elite explosiveness for a running back at the next level. He did not do enough in either his Pro Day or at the NFL Combine to put those fears to rest, posting rather average results in explosive measurements. CBSSports.com has Williams projected as a fourth- or fifth-round pick.

Taysom Hill, quarterback

After severely injuring his foot in the first game of the 2015 season against Nebraska, Hill returned to the Cougars on a medical redshirt in 2016. While the talented dual-threat QB doubtless had offers to finish his career elsewhere, he chose the Y at least in part to show NFL scouts that he could succeed in Ty Detmer’s pro-style offense after playing in the spread the previous three seasons. Unfortunately, Hill struggled mightily in the system and actually seemed to regress as a passer. Another concern NFL scouts had about him is his ability to stay on the field. He did nothing to alleviate those worries as he suffered a season-ending injury for the fourth time in his collegiate days.

That’s not to say that Hill has no upside. He is a phenomenal athlete who is built like a linebacker. He showed off his athleticism on BYU's Pro Day, posting outstanding measurables (4.44-second 40-yard dash time and an impressive 38.5-inch vertical jump). He has also expressed a willingness to play another position besides quarterback. That is to his benefit since he does not project as a pro signal-caller. It will be interesting to see if any team picks him up to see if he can learn a new position since he will already be 27 years old when the season kicks off. Hill is highly unlikely to be drafted but could very well sign a free-agent contract.

NFL Draft Profile

Examining former BYU quarterback Taysom Hill in the NFL draft

Another athlete from BYU who remains an intriguing prospect for NFL scouts: quarterback Taysom Hill.

Kai Nacua, safety

Nacua rightfully gained a reputation throughout his BYU career as being a ball hawk. In his last three years as a Cougar, Nacua picked off 14 passes, including six each in his junior and senior seasons. His propensity for creating a play seemed to amplify in big moments and in big games as he sealed the win against Boise State in 2015 with a pick-six, had two interceptions versus the Utes in 2016 and ended Wyoming’s potentially game-winning final drive of the 2016 Poinsettia Bowl with a pick. He also has good size for an NFL safety, listed at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds.

The major knock on Nacua was a perceived lack of athleticism. He went a long way to dispelling the idea that he could not play at a high level in the NFL during his Pro Day. Nacua posted a solid 4.5 40 time and a 39-inch vertical jump. He also put up strong numbers in his other explosive drills. Showing he has the physical tools to play at the next level, mixed with his film where he was a disruptive force in the passing game, should help Nacua be a highly coveted free agent if he does not squeak into the final few picks of the draft.

Dylan Cannon is a regular KSL.com contributor and can be reached at DylanCannon86@gmail.com or via Twitter @DylanCannon11.

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