I agree. I would be interested in knowing any changes in the number of return missionaries. Look at the list of successful pro athletes that have served to those who have not. Not many. That is even the case for the Utes RM's (Reilly, Murphy, etc.). My take on the decline in NFL draft picks: Some of it is Bronco and Co. BUT, there are 2 things (in addition to the number of RM's) that I think are different from LaVelle's days that contribute to the decline. 1) Bronco's Honor Code is NOT LaVelle's honor code; by choice AND by the Brethren since Crowton's grave legal issues. 2) Also, as the number of applicants has risen, the academic standard have also risen. Many Ute fans (and some BYU fans) believe that BYU football gets anyone they want as long as they pass NCAA clearinghouse. This is not the case based on a former coach that I had classes with in my master's program at BYU. I asked him that question, he said that the staff wished they could get everyone they wanted that simply passed NCAA clearinghouse. The staff has had to learn to pick and choose their battles with admissions. It's become a dance between the two. Staff has to decide which of all the kids that pass clearinghouse, but lag behind BYU admission standards they will go to bat with Admissions. Admin does NOT allow ALL of them. This is good and bad. As BYU has become more difficult to get into, classes have also gotten more challenging (heck, looking at the current averages of students that are being admitted I would NOT get in to BYU like I did). As some kids that have transferred (most recently Kyle Davis) have indicated (as well as some on here that have attended BYU and another in-state or out-of-state school) BYU classes are more challenging. If staff was able to take on ALL kids that passed the clearinghouse, they would have to figure out a way to hire a lot more tudors and academic advisors to help the kids pass their classes. If they don't, then BYU risks taking a hit from their academic rating which can result in scholarship penalties (the number of kids that have to sit out during spring and parts of fall camp due to academic issues would rise as well probably).

So in summary: I can see why the number of NFL drafts picks has declined at BYU because of the post-Crowton honor code, increase in academic rigors, and the number of RM's. Now apply these to BYU recruiting. The pool is no where near what other school's have access to. Let's look at Utah's or other school's draft history in the last 10 years. How many are LDS? How many were RM's? What were their HS and college GPA's? My guess is that their lists would not be what they are if subjected to the same percentages of BYU (LDS, RM's, etc.). I do think other coaches could sneak a few LDS, RM's, etc. into the NFL more than Bronco, but no way their lists are the same. And the only way things change for BYU (because the honor code and academics are not) is a coach that can lure the very best LDS kids to BYU (like Xavier SuaFilo, etc.) away from other schools. Where BYU becomes THE destination (the cool destination) for LDS athletes once again.