viernes, 30 de abril de 2021

BYU’s Brady Christensen drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the 3rd round of the 2021 NFL Draft

BYU offensive lineman Brady Christensen (67) pushes running back Ty’Son Williams (5) over the goal line for a touchdown during second-half action in the Utah-BYU football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019.
BYU offensive lineman Brady Christensen (67) pushes running back Ty’Son Williams (5) over the goal line for a touchdown during second-half action in the Utah-BYU football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

Christensen was selected with the 70th pick, following in the footsteps of former Cougars Bronson Kaufusi and Fred Warner.

There was a time when Brady Christensen didn’t believe himself good enough to play football at BYU.

Now, he’s a professional.

Christensen, a former two-star recruit out of Bountiful High, was selected by the Carolina Panthers with the 70th pick in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft Friday.

“The Panthers must really believe in Christensen, because they passed on a lot of tackles in the second round that were rated ahead of him,” ESPN staff writer David Newton wrote. “That Christensen protected Zach Wilson’s blind side in BYU’s pass-happy offense does fit the mold of what Carolina wants in its pass-happy scheme run by Joe Brady. Christensen’s grade by Pro Football Focus in 2020 was an amazing 96.0. That, by the way, is a record for a PFF tackle... He’s got room to add weight and develop into a starter. The good news is by adding Cameron Erving in free agency, the Panthers don’t have to throw Christensen right into the fire on the left side.”

Christensen’s selection at 70 continues a recent trend for BYU. Bronson Kaufusi was taken with the 70th pick in 2016 by the Baltimore Ravens and Fred Warner was taken with the 70th pick in 2018 by the San Francisco 49ers.

At 6-foot-6 and 305 pounds, Christensen was BYU’s first consensus All-American in football since 2009, an honor he received after his junior season this past fall.

As a redshirt freshman in 2018, he was ranked the second best freshman offensive tackle in college football by Pro Football Focus, and was nominated as a Freshman All-America candidate. And as a sophomore in 2019, Christensen was named the 12th best offensive lineman in the country by PFF, and fifth-best pass blocker.

“A three-year starter at BYU, Christensen started all 38 games the last three seasons for the Cougars,” The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote. “Christensen shows efficient movement patterns in his pass-sets, staying balanced at contact to center his block, sink and stay connected. He moves with bounce in his feet and consistent hand placement, but he will have a tough time adjusting to quick, long-armed defenders who get into his body. Overall, Christensen is an older prospect and needs to clean up his timing, but he displays quickness and body flexibility in pass protection and gets the job done as a run blocker. He projects as an NFL starter.”



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Doctors and nurses from New York and Utah fought COVID-19 together last year. How are they feeling now?

Health care workers from Utah’s Intermountain Healthcare traveled to New York City to give some needed relief to the medical staffs at New York-area hospitals in the spring of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic patient numbers were at one of their highest.
Health care workers from Utah’s Intermountain Healthcare traveled to New York City to give some needed relief to the medical staffs at New York-area hospitals in the spring of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic patient numbers were at one of their highest. | Intermountain Healthcare

A year after a group of Utah doctors and nurses answered the call for help from New York City hospitals, then the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines are offering hope that the worst of the battle against the deadly virus is behind them, but there are still concerns as the country moves toward fully reopening.

“I think we were all looking for a miracle. We were all hoping for something to come save us from this pandemic. That is certainly how I felt when I was in New York,” Whitney Hilton, an Intermountain Healthcare intensive care unit nurse, said during a virtual reunion Friday. “The vaccine, to me, is that miracle.”

For Madison Montague, a cardiothoracic ICU Nurse at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, choosing optimism versus trepidation a day after New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the city will “fully reopen” for business on July 1 is a “tricky question.”

But Montague, who worked side by side with Utahns to care for COVID-19 patients, first in New York City in April 2020 and again several months later in Salt Lake area hospitals as part of a New York team that traveled to Utah as cases surged, also is putting her faith in the vaccine.

“This was a really horrible time filled with things that we never thought would happen, so it’s hard for me to totally say, ‘Yeah, I think we’re on the up and up and I’m ready to move on.’ But that being said, for the first time in a very long time, I am feeling hopeful. Our vaccinated numbers are going up,” she said.

Health care workers from Utah’s Intermountain Healthcare traveled to New York City to give some needed relief to the medical staffs at New York-area hospitals in the spring of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic patient numbers were at one of their highest. Intermountain Healthcare
Health care workers from Utah’s Intermountain Healthcare traveled to New York City to give some needed relief to the medical staffs at New York-area hospitals in the spring of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic patient numbers were at one of their highest.

“I’m hopeful and I’m looking forward cautiously,” Montague said, especially since her parents just received their final dose of COVID-19 vaccine. “I think that as long as we continue to really care for each other as humans and do what’s best for everyone, things will keep getting better.”

This time last year, there was little reason to believe that could happen.

New York City was hit harder than any place in the world in the early days of the pandemic, with nearly 300,000 virus cases and more than 18,000 dead by the end of April 2020. The toll overwhelmed city morgues, and bodies had to be stored in refrigerated trucks, often parked outside hospitals.

Utah has had a total of just under 400,000 COVID-19 cases to date since the start of the pandemic more than a year ago, and the state’s death toll reached 2,202 Friday as five additional deaths were reported, including two that occurred before April 1 of this year.

“To be honest, I was absolutely terrified. I didn’t know what I was getting into. You hear horror stories about what could happen to a hospital,” Hilton said of arriving in New York City amid the crisis. She said when she arrived at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens, “the first words that came to my mind was ‘this is a modern war.’”

Witnessing firsthand the devastation COVID-19 could bring was “very humbling,” Hilton said.

“Seeing is believing. I really felt like we were so fortunate to be able to see it from the inside and really believe what coronavirus could do to the community. I think that that was something on the outside, you just couldn’t believe,” she said.

The experience, Hilton said, made her realize she was “embarrassed at minimizing this pandemic,” since Utah had not yet seen its first surge in cases. Now, she wants to see the same trust in the science behind the vaccines as there was in health care workers at the height of the outbreak.

“Then I feel more and more confident about us moving forward,” Hilton said.

Dr. Dixie Harris, an Intermountain Healthcare critical care physician, said being “really in the trenches” in New York City a year ago helped the Utahns brace themselves for what was to come, including overcrowded ICUs and the loss of a longtime respiratory therapist at Utah Valley Hospital in Provo to the virus.

Harris said she came away from her stint in the New York City hospitals “just understanding we can ‘man up’ for this. We can do this. And reckoning back to the kind of a can-do attitude, this really positive attitude,” the New York health care providers had.

Later, Harris told the Deseret News she has “big trepidation” about what might be coming next from COVID-19, something she’s felt since first seeing how the new virus ravaged the bodies of patients in New York City a year ago.

“When I went and saw what that virus could do to a community, you know it really is scary. I use the word scary and then I would say this virus is a cruel virus. I came back with, we have to pay attention. This is not just any virus,” Harris said. “Afraid of the virus? Yes.”

Health care workers from Utah’s Intermountain Healthcare traveled to New York City to give some needed relief to the medical staffs at New York-area hospitals in the spring of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic patient numbers were at one of their highest. Intermountain Healthcare
Health care workers from Utah’s Intermountain Healthcare traveled to New York City to give some needed relief to the medical staffs at New York-area hospitals in the spring of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic patient numbers were at one of their highest.

Utah COVID-19 numbers

Friday, the Utah Department of Health reported 338 new COVID-19 cases, and a rolling seven-day average for positive tests of 378 per day, with 5,903 Utahns taking tests for the virus and 12.091 tests conducted since Thursday.

That puts the rolling seven-day average for percent positivity of tests at 3.5% when all results are included, the method used by the state to help determine transmission levels, and 6.6% when multiple tests by an individual are excluded. There are 145 people currently hospitalized in Utah with the virus.

The five deaths reported Friday are a Salt Lake County woman, 65-84, hospitalized at the time of her death; a Utah County woman, 65-84 and a long-term care facility resident; two men from Utah County and Salt Lake County, both 65-84, and hospitalized at the time of their death; and a Davis County woman older than 85 and a long-term care facility resident.

New York City is already allowing more indoor seating in restaurants and bars, and Utah is set under a new law to end nearly all restrictions as soon as the state reaches 1.63 million first vaccine doses, likely in mid-May, as long as case counts and hospitalization rates stay low.

Harris said over the past month, she’s seen an increase in COVID-19 patients at the Provo hospital, including more who are younger and on a ventilator. Although the vaccines are available to everyone 16 and older, only just over 20% of Utahns 16 to 29 are fully vaccinated, meaning it’s been at least two weeks since their final dose.

Overall, Utah has administered 2,146,777 vaccine doses, a daily increase of 21,945 and about 40.5% of the population.

Health care workers from Utah’s Intermountain Healthcare traveled to New York City to give some needed relief to the medical staffs at New York-area hospitals in the spring of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic patient numbers were at one of their highest. Intermountain Healthcare
Health care workers from Utah’s Intermountain Healthcare traveled to New York City to give some needed relief to the medical staffs at New York-area hospitals in the spring of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic patient numbers were at one of their highest.

‘This is not something to blow off’

“To me, it’s like, yes, we can open up. Yes, we can do things. But let’s be smart about it,” Harris said. She said she doesn’t know if people are already forgetting how bad the coronavirus is, but it’s clear they “are tired. They are fatigued. For me, the simplest thing is put a mask on.”

That’s her advice even for those who are fully vaccinated, since breakthrough virus cases are already showing up in Utah. About a third of the cases are asymptomatic, so someone could unknowingly be spreading the virus to others.

What’s happening in India, where a record-breaking 300,000 new COVID-19 cases a day have been reported in the latest surge, should serve as a reminder. But Harris, who also treats patients known as long-haulers who have chronic cases of the virus, said she’s seen many people don’t take the virus seriously until they’ve been stricken.

“‘I didn’t realize I could get this sick. I didn’t think this was this bad,’ how many patients have told me that? I’m just sad for them. That’s a very common story,” she said. “I tell them, ‘You have to go out and tell people this is not something to blow off. This is something that’s very serious.’”



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Which capital city is best to call home? Here’s a hint: It’s in Utah

Clouds hang over the Salt Lake Valley on Tuesday, April 27, 2021.
Clouds hang over the Salt Lake Valley on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

There’s a lot to like about Salt Lake City. So much, in fact, that a new report suggests it is the most likable place to live in the nation.

According to the Rent.com blog titled “The Best State Capitals to Call Home,” the Beehive State’s capital ranks tops among all 50 capitals in the United States. The report delves into what might attract people to a prospective home city based on criteria such as economic factors, including the cost of living and median income, as well as professional considerations like the number of overall business opportunities and commuting time, explained Brian Carbury, senior managing editor with Rent.com.

Researchers developed a formula that examined all of the country’s 50 state capitals measuring them in terms of overall livability, then scored every state’s capital city by rank from 1 to 50. While Salt Lake City scored well in some categories, it was rather midland in categories like income, cost of living and commuting. Still, overall Salt Lake City ranked best of the best.

“People are going to want to be in a place that’s desirable in terms of opportunity,” he said. “(For instance), jobs and income and being able to raise a family, as well as just having things to do. There is the feeling of being welcomed by your neighbors, meeting friendly people and living in a city that is growing or an area that’s growing, and Salt Lake City checks off all those boxes.”

He added that much happens in a state’s capital city since it’s where the local government is headquartered, but they are also activity hubs and centers of area culture. Most state capitals are typically more than just seats of government, many are also cities full of economic opportunity along with local history and culture, he said.

In earning the distinction of the state capital with the most to offer, due in part to its reputation of acceptance, the report noted that Salt Lake City was chosen as the capital in 1896 when Utah was granted statehood because its espoused ideals closely aligned with much of the country at the time, which touted expansion, growth and religious freedom.

Today, Salt Lake City offers great potential for professional and business growth, Carbury said. Those are some of the attributes that helped it earn high marks for walkability, bikeability and business opportunity, he said.

“Utah is the fastest-growing state in terms of percentage gain over the past 10 years, so it’s an area that people are interested in,” he said. “A lot of people from California are migrating away from the coast where it’s very expensive to live and settling in places like Nevada, Utah, Idaho — moving a little bit east while still staying on the West Coast. That’s contributing some of that growth as well.

He noted that the urban center is buoyed by a vibrant tech sector, led by Silicon Slopes. The downtown area offers a variety of entertainment and dining options, including eclectic restaurants, craft beer establishments, and theater and cultural selections as well, he said.

Outdoor recreation is one of the major amenities that draws people to the city, bringing winter and summer sports enthusiasts from all over to enjoy a rich array of activities, including world-class skiing, scores of hiking trails, rock climbing and golf, among others, he said. The report noted the city is also within driving distance of five national parks.

Salt Lake City provides plenty of options for people indoors or outside, blending a combination of natural beauty and urban design, along with generally affordable apartment rates, Carbury said. A one-bedroom unit rents for an average of $1,233 per month, putting Salt Lake City near the middle of pack nationally, he said.

“When you compare it to other cities of comparable size or much larger size, then factor in everything, Salt Lake City is going to be much more favorable,” Carbury said. “It’s a lot cheaper to live in Salt Lake City than it would be in like Austin, Texas, Denver, Boston or Honolulu — some of these other cities that are in the top 10.”

Following Salt Lake City on top of the rankings were Austin, Texas, at No. 2 with a $1,417 per month average for a one-bedroom rental. That was followed by Cheyenne, Wyoming, as No. 3, where one-bedroom apartments average $930 per month; Madison, Wisconsin, where renters can expect to pay an average of $1,223 per month for single bedroom unit, at No. 4; and nearby Boise at No. 5 with the average rent for a one-bedroom unit at about $1,340 per month.



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First lady Jill Biden will be coming to Salt Lake City next week, White House says

Jill Biden wife of Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Mary Tarbet wife of Major General Brian L. Tarbet of the Utan National Guard laugh as they talk with families during a stop to visit military families at the Utah National Guard base in Salt Lake City Tuesday, July 10, 2012.
Jill Biden, wife of then-Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Mary Tarbet, wife of Maj. Gen. Brian L. Tarbet of the Utah National Guard, laugh as they talk with families during a stop to visit military families at the Utah National Guard base in Salt Lake City July 10, 2012. Jill Biden is scheduled to visit Salt Lake City next Wednesday as part of a multistate trip in the West, according to a news release from the White House on Friday. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

First lady Jill Biden is scheduled to visit Salt Lake City next Wednesday as part of a multistate trip in the West, according to a news release from the White House on Friday.

The purpose of her visit has not yet been released. She will also stop in Las Vegas and Colorado Springs, Colorado, next week as well.

It will be her first trip to the Beehive State as first lady. Biden campaigned for her husband last January in Salt Lake City.

The president’s sister also visited Salt Lake City on behalf of his campaign in November 2019. Valerie Biden Owens told supporters of their childhood and his character overcoming bullying.

Then-Vice President Joe Biden and his wife came to Utah in 2012. While Joe Biden was at a fundraiser for the reelection campaign of then-President Barack Obama, Jill Biden met with members of the Utah National Guard and their families at the Utah Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City.

The first lady’s visit comes after her three-day tour last week to the Southwest. The tour included a stop at coronavirus vaccination clinics on the Navajo Reservation located in New Mexico and Arizona. She met with female tribal leaders and discussed the needs of the Navajo people who’ve been hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic.



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BYU football gets big recruiting win with commitment from California DT Victory Vaka

The BYU Cougars received a commitment on Friday from California defensive tackle Victory Vaka. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

In more ways than one, the BYU football program got a big win on the recruiting trail Friday.

The win came in name, as California defensive tackle Victory Vaka announced his pledge to the program. It came in size, as Vaka is listed by 247 Sports at 6-foot-2 and 350 pounds. It came in immediate impact, as Vaka is a late addition as part of the Class of 2021. Perhaps most importantly, it came in quality of the player, as Vaka had been pursued by a bevy of Power Five programs.

Vaka, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced his commitment on Twitter.

Out of Westlake High School in Westlake Village in the Golden State, Vaka has had a rather complicated recruiting process. According to 247 Sports, in May of last year, he committed to Texas A&M but decommitted in November.

On Dec. 18, he announced a final six of BYU, Colorado, Florida State, Michigan, Penn State and Vanderbilt. He then committed to Colorado on Christmas Day before decommitting on Jan. 19 and announcing his pledge to BYU on Friday.

In all, he holds scholarship offers from 19 Power Five programs, according to 247 Sports, although that site reported that Vaka will actually initially join BYU as a preferred walk-on because of a scholarship crunch.

Assuming Vaka arrives on campus, he joins a 2021 recruiting class for BYU that is especially strong on the defensive side of the ball with the likes of Logan Fano, Raider Damuni and John Henry Daley, among others.



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Is Dogecoin really a stable investment?

The logo for the cryptocurrency of Dogecoin.
This mobile phone app screen shot shows the logo for Dogecoin, in New York on Tuesday, April 20, 2021. | Richard Drew, Associated Press

U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell recently acknowledged Dogecoin, calling it ‘frothy’

U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell recently hinted at Dogecoin, saying that capital markets are “frothy.”

What the U.S. government said about Dogecoin

Powell said recent internet-based cryptocurrency crazes — like the Dogecoin or Bitcoin boom in recent weeks — might provide a potential risk to financial stability for people, according to Yahoo! Finance.

  • “Some of the asset prices are high. You are seeing things in the capital markets that are a bit frothy. That’s a fact,” he said.
  • “The overall financial stability picture is mixed, but on balance it’s manageable,” he added.

Per CoinDesk, this is a direct reference to the Dogecoin and cryptocurrency spikes that have occurred in recent weeks.

“In a bid to combat the fallout from COVID-19, central banks around the world have continued to flood new money into financial markets which, in turn, has had a major impact on cryptocurrency through asset price inflation,” according to CoinDesk.

Dogecoin continues to rise

Powell’s comments come as cryptocurrencies continue to rise in value. Dogecoin recently spiked in value again after Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban tweeted about it to the public, according to CNBC.

Cuban’s tweet actually mattered a lot. He said that one of the problems of Dogecoin is that it can’t be used to buy things. He suggested that the “greatest inhibitor to its growth is that you can’t spend the Doge you buy on Robinhood,” Cuban tweeted.

  • Not long after, Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev said the Robinhood app — which allows you to buy and sell cryptocurrency — may soon allow people to use their Dogecoin holdings, the Deseret News reported.


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Parole for ex-gang member who killed wrong target? Family says they still can’t forgive him

A guard tower at the Utah State Prison on Monday, Sept, 14, 2020. State and local officials make an announcement regarding the launch of planning efforts to redevelop the Utah State Prison in Draper. “The Point” is the newly established name for this 700 acres of state-owned property.
A guard tower at the Utah State Prison on Sept, 14, 2020. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

When he was in his teens, Collin J. Carter says his gang meant everything.

“I thought that the gang was what my family was,” he recently told the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole during a hearing at the Utah State Prison in Draper. “I had that sense of I needed to fit in.”

Then on Feb. 22, 1996, Carter and two others shot and killed Joey Miera, 19, as he slept on the floor of the house, 918 S. Navajo St. The shooting was ordered by one of the gang leaders who was incarcerated at the Utah State Prison, in retaliation for another incident.

But Miera was not the intended target. Prosecutors say the man that gang members had put a hit on didn’t even live at the house that was targeted. It was later determined that man wasn’t even involved in the incident the gang was seeking revenge for, according to police.

Carter and four others were convicted for their roles in Miera’s death and were sentenced to prison. Carter was convicted of murder, a first-degree felony, and sentenced to up to life in prison.

Once he arrived at the prison, he continued his gang lifestyle, and for the first decade got into a lot of trouble while incarcerated.

Today, Carter, 43, says that has all changed. He says he has put his gang lifestyle behind him and now mentors teenagers to not follow in his footsteps. In a recording of his most recent parole hearing on April 20, the board noted that Carter has maintained a clean disciplinary record for the past three years, has completed numerous college courses, and was even involved in an incident where inmates saved a corrections officer who had a 600-pound cart fall on him in a docking bay.

During his parole hearing, he stated several times that he’s not the same “uneducated 17-year-old punk” he was then, and that he hopes to someday be forgiven by Miera’s family.

But Dan Diego Ortega, Miera’s father, said that time is not now.

“I thought I had forgiven you guys, Mr. Carter. But I haven’t. I can’t,” an emotional Ortega said during the parole hearing. “You and two other gang members walked up to this house, and you put a shotgun through the window and you blew my son’s head off. ... You didn’t even know who you were after.”

Ortega, who appeared to be well-versed on Carter’s record and had knowledge of everyone involved in the incident, had strong words for the parole board and noted that according to his calculations, Carter had served his time for other crimes he had been convicted of, but had only served five years for the death of his son despite being in prison for 25 years.

“Five years for a cold-blooded murder is not enough,” he said. “You have been given so many chances, Mr. Carter. You’ve been given so many chances and never once taken responsibility. You mocked me and you laughed at me at the courts. ... Your street name was ‘Monster.’ Well, you really are a monster. You should not be out. I hope the board listens to me and puts themselves in my shoes.

“You guys wanted to be the most feared gang in Salt Lake. Well, you succeeded. You succeeded by blowing my son’s head off. Then you laughed and said, ‘We blew his head up like a watermelon.’ I thought I had forgiven you, Mr. Carter. Me and your father were friends growing up in Glendale. I can’t even say hi to him when I see him. ... I don’t blame your father, I blame you. You had a chance to walk away from this,” Ortega continued. “I’m 63 years old and I pray to God I’ll be around for every one of your parole hearings.”

When asked by the board if he had a response to Ortega’s comments, Carter agreed he destroyed both the lives of Miera’s family and his own.

“Most definitely I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do to ever take away your pain or rectify what we did,” he said. “I’ve done everything I can to be a better person, be a better man, from a 17-year-old kid who was an idiot, was thoughtless, didn’t think about his actions and consequences. Didn’t really think about anything. I just wanted to belong to the gang. I am just so sorry.”

Carter, when asked to recount his crime, said he joined a gang because he wanted to feel loved and had a need to “fit in.” He had relatives who were already part of the gang, so it felt natural. But when he got the order to kill another person, he said he got cold feet.

“When it was told to us that this is what was expected, I didn’t want to do it. I was scared. I didn’t want to do it. It was either that or ‘We’re going to do something to you.’ And I just went along with it. There’s no excuse for it, but that’s what took place,” he said.

When he first arrived in prison he was placed in maximum security, and the people he was with were the same gang members as before, he said. Carter said the pressure to continue with the gang lifestyle or be stabbed was constant.

“It’s like constant indoctrination,” he said.

Carter admits he “got a little bit institutionalized” as he didn’t see any future for himself, except being a gang member in prison for the rest of his life. It wasn’t until a corrections officer started helping Carter with educational packets and started showing him that there was a way out, that he began to slowly change.

As he earned more trust with corrections officials, he was moved out of maximum security to other housing units at the prison. The more distance he was able to place between him and his old associates, the more success Carter said he started having. Carter said he learned that “I don’t need them to help me be a man or somebody that I want to be.”

Carter soon immersed himself into taking as many college courses as he could.

“Every opportunity I’ve had to better myself I’ve taken advantage of,” he said. “The further removed I am (from the gang lifestyle), the better my chances are for all facets of my life.”

While speaking to the board, Carter said he understands that if he is granted parole, he needs to be able to find ways to continue his success.

“People in prison have the tendency to romanticize freedom and they forget about the responsibility, the job, the responsibility to others. It’s not somebody is going to be taking care of you all the time. You got to be accountable to yourself,” he said.

The full five-member board will now vote on whether to grant parole.



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Why ‘bone-jarring blocker’ Penei Sewell earns high marks as the Lions’ top pick

A Detroit Lions fan, left, who was chosen to be on stage, points to an image of the team’s first-round pick Penei Sewell, an offensive lineman from Oregon, on the display on stage at the NFL football draft, Thursday April 29, 2021, in Cleveland. Sewell, who prepped at Desert Hills High in St. George, was taken by the Lions with the No. 7 overall pick. | Tony Dejak, Associated Press

When scanning through national articles addressing the winners and losers of the 2021 NFL draft’s first round, Penei Sewell and the Detroit Lions aren’t mentioned.

It’s likely, though, that the oversight is partially due to the position Sewell plays: offensive tackle. The Lions used the No. 7 overall pick on the former Oregon and Desert Hills High star and received high marks in articles that graded every pick.

So, just how much did media from around the country rave about the Lions picking Sewell?

Why O-line was the right choice for Detroit

There were still plenty of high-end skill position players available on the board when Sewell was taken by Detroit. ESPN’s Eric Woodyard explains why the decision made sense for the Lions. Part of it comes down to helping provide better protection for the franchise’s new quarterback, Jared Goff, who was traded to Detroit this offseason.

“Lions fans may be upset that Detroit didn’t go after a well-known skill position player, but Sewell beefs up an already strong offensive line with his unique skill set, most notably his quickness and natural blocking instincts,” Woodyard wrote. “Sewell allowed pressures on only 1.9% of pass blocks in 2019, while being called for just one penalty (a false start), according to ESPN Stats and Info. Former Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert was pressured on 24.8% of dropbacks in 2019, which was the second lowest in the Pac-12, and the Lions’ front office picked him to help do the same for new franchise quarterback Jared Goff.”

Grading the Sewell pick

Nearly every major national outlet that graded first-round picks gave the Sewell pick an A or higher, and they all agreed it was a solid choice.

  • Danny Kelly, The Ringer (Grade: A+): “For a new front office and coaching regime that has preached toughness and, as head coach Dan Campbell put it, a bite-off-knee-caps mentality, going offensive line with their first pick just makes too much sense. Sewell is my top-ranked tackle and should slot in as a starter from day one. Whether he starts at right tackle or bumps longtime veteran Taylor Decker out of his blindside spot, the Lions’ offensive line just got a whole lot better.”
  • Chad Reuter, NFL.com (Grade: A+): “There was no doubt in my mind that the Lions would jump at the chance to draft Sewell. I view him as a future All-Pro who will make new quarterback Jared Goff feel much more at home in Detroit. Offensive linemen that weigh 330 pounds simply aren’t supposed to move like Sewell does. He doesn’t have plus length for the position, but you’re not getting around this guy very easily. The Lions can play Sewell at either tackle spot. It had to be a no-brainer for the team — and their palpable excitement visible in the draft room after the pick was made showed they were thrilled.”
  • Lorenz Leinweber, Sports Illustrated (Grade: A+): “Sewell opted out of the 2020 season after one of the most impressive campaigns ever at left tackle from a 19-year-old. When looking at uncoachable traits at the position, the Oregon prospect has them all: athleticism, dominant strength and balance. With NFL coaching he can become a premier blindside protector for years to come. This is a best player available pick for Detroit, who could not pass up on Sewell’s talent. Expect him to be the starting left tackle early on. His demeanor fits what the new Lions regime is looking for.”
  • Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report (Grade: A): “A bone-jarring blocker with unlimited upside to play opposite Taylor Decker is the ideal selection. Sewell will immediately become a tone-setter for the rest of the offense. The Lions will build an identity through their offensive front into their backfield since the team still features the league’s worst wide receiver corps.”
  • Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News (Grade: A): “The Lions came through on a good bet to take the best player available for their total rebuild under GM Brad Holmes. Taylor Decker is still at left tackle, but he’s getting older and Sewell can start and immediately upgrade right tackle with Halapoulivaati Vaitai moving to guard. He’s smooth in pass protection and also a long-term rock for the running game.”
  • Rob Rang, Fox Sports (Grade: A): “The most physically dominant offensive lineman in the Pac-12 since the Dallas Cowboys’ perennial Pro Bowler Tyron Smith was manning the left tackle spot at USC, Sewell is a mauler at the point of attack with rare size, strength and agility. With the investment made in new quarterback Jared Goff, the Lions had to protect and they just added the best blocker in the draft. Folks, despite what some have argued, the gap between Sewell and the other linemen in this class is significant. Sewell is one of the true blue chips of this class, and those are exceedingly rare on the offensive line.”
  • CBS Sports Pete Prisco (Grade: B+): “They probably thought he wouldn’t be here, so they had to be happy he was. Sewell has a ton of talent and will upgrade that line in a big way.”

Belief from the Detroit market

The move was also applauded by most media in the Motor City, as it followed the franchise’s commitment to strengthen its offensive trenches.

“That’s the second-highest pick the Lions have invested in an offensive lineman in the modern era of the draft, and they’ve now spent four first-round picks on their offensive line in the last seven years overall, a league high,” mLive.com’s Kyle Meinke wrote.

“The investment up front is considerable, and comes at the expense of acquiring help elsewhere for a decimated roster. But Sewell’s meteoric rise from one of the most remote corners of the football world helps explain why Detroit’s top decision-makers not only made the investment anyway, but were quite literally running in circles looking for someone to bear hug in the war room when Sewell fell to them after an early run on quarterbacks and pass-catchers on Thursday night.”

The Detroit News’ Justin Rogers said Sewell projects as the team’s starter at right tackle on what’s expected to be a strong offensive line.

“Sewell joins a young, talented offensive line consisting of two other former first-rounders in Taylor Decker and Frank Ragnow. The rest of starting five is expected to be Jonah Jackson, a third-round draft pick a year ago, and Halapoulivaati Vaitai,” Rogers wrote.

Like many others, The Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett believed the Lions didn’t reach with their pick and went with the best available talent, avoiding taking a player at a different position where they have greater need.

“I think they got one of the most talented players in the draft, He’s a guy with incredibly high upside at just 20 years old,” Birkett said, while adding there will inevitably be a learning curve for Sewell. Still, when considering what Detroit has invested to its O-line, “You can see this being a strength for the Lions for a very long time.”



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Elder Rasband concludes BYU Women’s Conference with focus on the divine destiny of daughters of God

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Melanie Rasband, speak during the BYU Women’s Conference, broadcast from the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, on Friday, April 30, 2021.  | BYU Photo
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-04-30/byu-womens-conference-elder-rasband-divine-destiny-212058

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How 2020’s wildfires foreshadow another hot season for Utahns

A wildfire on Traverse Mountain threatens homes in Lehi on June 28, 2020. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Less than a year ago, Lehi resident Matt Gonzalez found himself in a “surreal” nightmare as a fast-moving wildfire approached homes along Traverse Mountain.

“It looked like the whole neighborhood was going to catch on fire at one time because, honestly, as close as our houses are if one house caught fire it would have been like a domino effect,” Gonzalez said.

The state experienced 1,547 wildfires in 2020, according to statistics provided by the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, and the total cost to suppress those fires reached $60 million. And an ongoing drought impacting Utah is only increasing fire officials' worries that 2021 will be worse.

In southern Utah, officials have closed open burning a month early in Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane and Washington counties “due to unseasonably high fire danger.” The restrictions normally start June 1, but begin Saturday.

“This summer is just shaping up to be a difficult fire year. We didn’t have much of a winter; spring is not looking much better. So the fuels are extremely dry, receptive to ignition. They’ll burn really hot really fast,” Unified Fire Authority spokesman Patrick Costin said.

Adding to the danger is a rise in human-started blazes, according to Jason Curry, investigations chief for the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. In the past, lightning was blamed for many fires, but 2020 was different.

“Last year, human causes all combined were higher,” he said. “With this year, so far, we’ve had almost all the fires ... have been human (caused).”

According to utahfireinfo.gov, there have already been 167 wildfires in 2021, with 97% of those started by people.

“We’re seeing fire behavior already throughout the state that is quite alarming for how early it is in the season,” said Saratoga Springs Fire Chief Jess Campbell.

How 2020’s wildfires affected Utah

For Gonzalez, the Traverse Mountain wildfire, which began last June with illegal fireworks, the blaze left a lasting impression.

“It was just kind of surreal because this is something you’ve seen on TV before, you’ve seen in the news and you never think it would happen to you, but that is actually happening right in front of your eyes. We were just kind of in shock,” he said.

Lehi home owner Matt Gonzalez walks away from the burned area as he describes watching the 2020 Traverse Mountain Wildfire burn the hillside near his home and neighborhood in Lehi on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Lehi homeowner Matt Gonzalez walks away from a burned area on the hillside near his home and neighborhood in Lehi on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, as he describes watching the 2020 Traverse Mountain wildfire burn.

He said a young man was trying to alert people that a fire was coming.

“As soon as he said that, I saw the orange glow up in the mountain and it was no less than five or 10 minutes later the whole mountainside was just covered in fire. There was smoke everywhere,” Gonzalez said.

He and his wife gathered their 1-year-old daughter and packed up photos, important documents and other valuables into their cars.

They are thankful their home only had smoke damage from the fire, Gonzalez said, noting the incident made the family more aware of the danger of wildfires.

“You always want to be prepared and ready,” he said. “I don’t think I’d really do anything different. There’s really nothing different I could do.”

Hours later on June 28 and only a few miles southwest, the Knolls Fire raced toward Saratoga Springs.

The local fire chief said a combination of weather conditions and human behavior created the wildfire that destroyed one home and damaged a dozen others. Winds reached 50 mph, making firefighting efforts difficult and grounding their support aircrafts.

“Consequently we ended up fighting it from what we call the black, which is the burn side. We were basically assigning personnel to the burn side, instructing them to approach the flame head from the backside,” Campbell said.

This year Campbell is most worried about the western edge of the city and anyone and anything located near undeveloped land.

Some prescribed burns around Saratoga Springs have already been performed to lessen the risk of wildfire, he said, noting they’d rather take care of the factors they can control to help mitigate the risk before a wildfire can threaten homes.

Campbell said the department works with communities to teach the Ready, Set, Go! program describing ways to prepare spaces to defend homes from wildfires. He said Utahns need to also pay stricter attention to red flag days, windy, dry days where the risk for fires is higher.

Fire crews training for the worst

According to the Great Basin Coordination Center, May will likely bring above-average fire potential in the higher terrain of southern Utah. By June and July, higher-than-normal fire potential due to the drought will spread to northern Utah’s higher terrain, the center says. Areas with lower elevation, however, expect lower fire risk due fewer fine fuels caused by the drought.

Capt. Jon Slatore, Unified fire management officer, noted that a lot of last year’s fires weren’t considered large in acreage.

“A lot of that was, I think people were home and they were just staying local. This year, we’re looking at a lot of the same,” Slatore said Thursday at Camp Williams, where a Unified crew helps the Utah National Guard base manage its fire risk.

On Thursday, the crew at Camp Williams trained in the wilderness fighting an imaginary blaze to get them prepared for the season. The task includes separating fuel from the burning area and digging a fire line — the technique wildfire crews use to stop the spread of fire without the help of water. During the practice, crew members who serve as weather look-outs practiced weather predictions as they carried kits that tell them the wind speed, humidity level and temperature.

“So these are skills they can acquire, even in a day without fire. They’re out there practicing that as we speak,” Matthew McFarland, Unified Fire Authority spokesman, said.

Costin, also with the Unified department, said Utahns can help fire agencies by learning to create a defensible space between their home and wildfires.

Unified Fire Authority wildland firefighter Patrick Nordstrom checks the lugnuts on a fire brush truck at Station 127 at Camp Williams on Thursday April 29, 2021. Nordstrom stayed at the station while the majority of his colleague participated in training for the upcoming wildfire season. Annie Barker, Deseret News
Unified Fire Authority wildland firefighter Patrick Nordstrom checks the lugnuts on a fire brush truck at Station 127 at Camp Williams on Thursday April 29, 2021. Nordstrom stayed at the station while the majority of his colleague participated in training for the upcoming wildfire season.

How to protect a home from a wildfire

“With respect to Saratoga Springs, it’s tough to predict, but we do a pretty good job of staying on top of the wildland-urban interface code that we adopted,” Campbell said, but there are limitations when dealing with private property.

Costin said homeowners can start taking measures to clear out any debris or foliage around the property to keep flames from spreading toward a house. These “ladder fuels” are a primary cause for wildfires racing through suburban areas.

Costin recommended starting small and working out from the house to the edge of the property, noting a 10- to 15-foot radius would help. He also emphasized spring cleaning and clearing out any foliage or unused and unnecessary items collecting in storage, either under a deck or similar home attachment where items are susceptible to embers and radiant heat.

“The biggest thing just in our urban setting, if we do get a wildfire is just it comes quick and you might have to evacuate really fast,” Costin said. “There’s no time to create defensible space before you leave.”

The UFA recommends several steps for property owners living next to undeveloped land, including:

  • Remove the “ladder fuels” or plants that provide a link between the ground and tree limbs.
  • Limit the placement of plants and trees next to structures, under eaves, overhangs, decks, etc.
  • Keep weeds and grass cut and remove dead and dying vegetation.
  • Choose fire-resistant varieties of plants in your landscaping.
  • Plant trees and large shrubs in sparse, separate areas.
  • Keep the roof, rain gutters and eaves clear of debris.
  • Properly dispose of items such as old construction materials, boxes and yard waste.
  • Stack firewood away from structures, fences or anything else that may be combustible.
  • Create at least a 30-foot safety zone around your home.

If homeowners create a defensible space ahead of time, Costin said, those actions help the fire departments tremendously in the event of a wildfire evacuation.

Curry cautioned that homes are not safe even if a fire is not racing toward developed areas.

“More often, what happens, is we have a fire that may be a quarter of a mile away and high winds will blow embers out far ahead of the fire. When (the ember) lands in a nice patch of dry grass or in someone’s woodpile or their rain gutters that are filled with leaves and pine needles or on a wood shingle, for example, that’s usually what will take a house during a wildland fire event,” he said.

Contributing: Ashley Imlay



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NFL draft: Returned Latter-day Saint missionaries may be the oldest players taken

Tight end Matt Bushman participates in the bench press during BYU pro day in Provo on Friday, March 26, 2021.
Tight end Matt Bushman participates in the bench press during BYU pro day in Provo on Friday, March 26, 2021. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Four of the seven-oldest players projected to be picked are former missionaries

NFL draft guides list all kinds of things about players that teams consider when making a selection, including age, which can be a real obstacle for Latter-day Saint returned missionaries who want to play in the NFL.

NFL teams want to know much more than when a player was born, from hand size and wingspan to how fast they can run 40 yards, but age matters.

Teams prefer younger players, because studies show that athletes who succeed at younger ages often have higher “ceilings” or “upside,” meaning they may still have more potential to tap. Older players already may be what they will be, with less room for more growth and development.

“Age and (perceived lack of) upside are the real problem with returned missionaries and the NFL,” Orem-based NFL agent Evan Brennan told the Deseret News in 2020. “But they are hard workers and generally smart and intelligent, so that’s kinda how you have to sell a returned missionary guy, is you know what he is, and that he is not going to be a headache for you.”

In fact, the two oldest players expected to be drafted this week by NFL teams are returned missionaries who played at Brigham Young University.

But let’s start with the two returned missionary players considered the best draft prospects.

Brady Christensen

The first former missionary expected to be selected in this week’s NFL draft is Christensen, an offensive tackle from BYU. At 24.59 years old, to be precise, he is the sixth-oldest player who will be drafted, according to one draft guide’s expectation.

Christensen is so good in some analysts eyes — he is BYU’s first consensus All-American since 2009 — his age may not stop him from being a high draft pick, as early as the draft’s second or third round. He was ranked as the eighth-best offensive tackle and the 62nd-best player in the entire draft by “The Beast,” an NFL draft guide by Dane Brugler of The Athletic (paywall).

Offensive lineman Brady Christensen participates in the vertical jump during BYU pro day in Provo on Friday, March 26, 2021. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Offensive lineman Brady Christensen participates in the vertical jump during BYU pro day in Provo on Friday, March 26, 2021.

Christensen spent two years on a mission in Hamilton, New Zealand, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between high school and the start of his BYU career. That’s why he is 24 at the start of his NFL career, and why Brugler mentioned his age in his scouting report, a sign of how it is a factor for scouts and teams.

“Overall, Christensen is an older prospect and needs to clean up his timing, but he displays quickness and body flexibility in pass protection and gets the job done as a run blocker. He projects as an NFL starter,” Brugler wrote.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper ranks Christensen lower, 19th at tackle and 238th overall.

For the record, Christensen, who is 6-foot-5, 302 pounds, has huge 10.25-inch hands, an 80-inch wingspan and ran the 40 in 4.89 seconds. Only two tackles ran faster than that for NFL scouts this spring, and one went in the first round on Thursday night. (Rashawn Slater.)

Christensen spoke to the Deseret News last fall about the importance of prayer in his football career.

Simi Fehoko

Fehoko is a former Latter-day Saint missionary who is a bit younger, 23.48 years old, to be exact. He served a mission in Seoul, South Korea, then played wide receiver at Stanford. Brugler ranked him at No. 16 on his wide receiver list.

“Older prospect due to his religious mission and will be a 24-year old NFL rookie,” Brugler wrote. He added, “Fehoko is older and still growing into the position, but he has impressive short-area quickness for his size with the hand-eye coordination to reel in tough throws. He offers enticing pass-catching traits and special teams ability worth developing.”

Simi Fehoko, Deseret News’ 2015 Mr. Football, poses for a photo at Brighton High School in Sandy, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015. Fehoko served his mission in South Korea. Ravell Call, Deseret News
Simi Fehoko, Deseret News’ 2015 Mr. Football, poses for a photo at Brighton High School in Sandy, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015. Fehoko served his mission in South Korea.

Kiper ranked Fehoko, who is nearly 6-foot-4 and weighs 222 pounds, 94th overall in the draft, 19th at wide receiver.

Now back to the two oldest players in the draft.

Matt Bushman

Bushman is the oldest player in the draft, and it’s not close. He is eight months older than the next player on the list.

Bushman is the only player over the age of 25, and the new father actually is nearly halfway to 26: His birthday is Nov. 8.

That’s why, even though Bushman could have returned to play for BYU for again this fall because of an NCAA rule about the COVID-19 pandemic that gave every player another year of college eligibility, he chose to turn pro.

“I have turned 25,” he told the Deseret News previously. “I am a couple years older than most of the rookie class. That definitely makes it harder.”

Bushman was a Freshman All-American tight end at BYU after serving in the Chile Santiago South Mission, but didn’t play last season and didn’t run the 40-yard dash for NFL scouts this spring because he continues to recover after tearing his Achilles tendon during a BYU practice last August.

BYU tight end Matt Bushman catches a touchdown against the University of Massachusetts Minutemen in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017. UMass won 16-10. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
BYU tight end Matt Bushman catches a touchdown against the University of Massachusetts Minutemen in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017. UMass won 16-10.

So what does Brugler think of Bushman, who is 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds? The draft analyst gushed about his focus, hands and NFL readiness and ranked him as the 12th-best tight end in the draft with some potential to be a starter:

“Overall, Bushman is an older prospect coming off a major injury and doesn’t have separation speed, but he is a physical blocker with the ball skills to handle seam work.”

Brugler expects Bushman to be picked in the sixth or seventh round. That portion of the draft is scheduled for Saturday.

Kiper has him at 19th at tackle and 249th overall.

Khyiris Tonga

The player eight months younger than Bushman but second-oldest in the draft, based on Brugler’s analysis, is Tonga, who is 24.81 years old and served in the church’s Kansas Wichita Mission before beginning his BYU career.

He turns 25 on July 7.

Tonga is a big, run-stopping inside defensive lineman at 6-foot-2, 325 pounds. But he ran a fast 5.07-second time for his size in the 40.

20181014 BYU defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga celebrates a sack on Hawaii Warriors quarterback Cole McDonald Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
BYU defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga celebrates a sack on Hawaii Warriors quarterback Cole McDonald Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018.

“His pursuit skills and straight-line speed are above average for a nose tackle,” Brugler wrote, also noting his quickness and strength and calling him an “aggressive space-eater.

“He struggled through a tough childhood, but he found direction with his adopted family, the church and BYU football,” the analyst added to his scouting report.

Brugler ranked Tonga 16th among interior defensive linemen and pegged him as a sixth round pick. Kiper has him 19th at the position.

Other older players in the draft

Former Latter-day Saint missionaries make up four of the seven-oldest players who Brugler expects to be drafted:

  • Bushman (25.48 years old).
  • Tonga (24.81).
  • Arkansas State defensive lineman Forrest Merrill (24.71), who sat out a year at one point and is projected to be picked in the seventh round or become a priority free agent.
  • Oklahoma State cornerback Rodarius Williams (24.63), a projected sixth- or seventh-round pick who was held back a grade.
  • Illinois State offensive tackle Drew Himmelman (24.61), who grayshirted (didn’t enroll in college the first fall after high school) and redshirted and is expected to go in the seventh round or be a priority free agent.
  • Christensen (24.59)
  • BYU offensive guard Chandon Herring (24.51). Herring served in the Washington D.C. North Mission before arriving at BYU, where he redshirted a year before playing for four years.

At 6-foot-6, 307 pounds, Herring ran a 5.01-second 40 and Brugler likes his flexibility, because he played guard and tackle for the Cougars.

“Overall, Herring is over-aged, plays high-cut and gives up his chest too easily, but he has traits and works hard to finish while offering position flex as a backup,” Brugler said.

He ranked Herring 22nd at guard and expected him to be drafted in the seventh round or become a priority free agent.

Priority free agents

Once the draft ends, NFL teams scramble to sign priority free agents, players who went undrafted but that teams want enough to sign them to a contract with a modest amount of guaranteed money.

That’s why Brugler’s draft guide included scouting reports on 415 players when only 259 players will be drafted.

After last year’s draft, Dallas gave former missionary and linebacker Francis Bernard $110,000 guaranteed to sign with them, making him one of 20 players to receive more than $100,000, according to Spotrac. Bernard played in 13 games for the Cowboys.

This year, Brugler listed one former missionary as a priority free agent:

  • BYU offensive guard Tristen Hoge — he just turned 24 — as a priority free agent, ranked just two spots behind Herring at the position. He redshirted one year at Notre Dame, then sat out a year per NCAA rules when he transferred to BYU.

Brugler also listed three other former missionaries from BYU who are candidates to get NFL tryouts:

  • Zac Dawe, the 48th-ranked edge rusher, who served in the Texas Houston Mission.
  • Isaiah Kaufusi, who Brugler ranked 42nd at linebacker. Kaufusi served in the Tonga Nuku’alofa Mission.
  • Kavika Fonua, ranked 41st at defensive safety. Fonua served in the Canada Vancouver Mission.


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NFL draft: Returned Latter-day Saint missionaries may be the oldest players taken

Tight end Matt Bushman participates in the bench press during BYU pro day in Provo on Friday, March 26, 2021.
Tight end Matt Bushman participates in the bench press during BYU pro day in Provo on Friday, March 26, 2021. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Four of the seven-oldest players projected to be picked are former missionaries

NFL draft guides list all kinds of things about players that teams consider when making a selection, including age, which can be a real obstacle for Latter-day Saint returned missionaries who want to play in the NFL.

NFL teams want to know much more than when a player was born, from hand size and wingspan to how fast they can run 40 yards, but age matters.

Teams prefer younger players, because studies show that athletes who succeed at younger ages often have higher “ceilings” or “upside,” meaning they may still have more potential to tap. Older players already may be what they will be, with less room for more growth and development.

“Age and (perceived lack of) upside are the real problem with returned missionaries and the NFL,” Orem-based NFL agent Evan Brennan told the Deseret News in 2020. “But they are hard workers and generally smart and intelligent, so that’s kinda how you have to sell a returned missionary guy, is you know what he is, and that he is not going to be a headache for you.”

In fact, the two oldest players expected to be drafted this week by NFL teams are returned missionaries who played at Brigham Young University.

But let’s start with the two returned missionary players considered the best draft prospects.

Brady Christensen

The first former missionary expected to be selected in this week’s NFL draft is Christensen, an offensive tackle from BYU. At 24.59 years old, to be precise, he is the sixth-oldest player who will be drafted, according to one draft guide’s expectation.

Christensen is so good in some analysts eyes — he is BYU’s first consensus All-American since 2009 — his age may not stop him from being a high draft pick, as early as the draft’s second or third round. He was ranked as the eighth-best offensive tackle and the 62nd-best player in the entire draft by “The Beast,” an NFL draft guide by Dane Brugler of The Athletic (paywall).

Offensive lineman Brady Christensen participates in the vertical jump during BYU pro day in Provo on Friday, March 26, 2021. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Offensive lineman Brady Christensen participates in the vertical jump during BYU pro day in Provo on Friday, March 26, 2021.

Christensen spent two years on a mission in Hamilton, New Zealand, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between high school and the start of his BYU career. That’s why he is 24 at the start of his NFL career, and why Brugler mentioned his age in his scouting report, a sign of how it is a factor for scouts and teams.

“Overall, Christensen is an older prospect and needs to clean up his timing, but he displays quickness and body flexibility in pass protection and gets the job done as a run blocker. He projects as an NFL starter,” Brugler wrote.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper ranks Christensen lower, 19th at tackle and 238th overall.

For the record, Christensen, who is 6-foot-5, 302 pounds, has huge 10.25-inch hands, an 80-inch wingspan and ran the 40 in 4.89 seconds. Only two tackles ran faster than that for NFL scouts this spring, and one went in the first round on Thursday night. (Rashawn Slater.)

Christensen spoke to the Deseret News last fall about the importance of prayer in his football career.

Simi Fehoko

Fehoko is a former Latter-day Saint missionary who is a bit younger, 23.48 years old, to be exact. He served a mission in Seoul, South Korea, then played wide receiver at Stanford. Brugler ranked him at No. 16 on his wide receiver list.

“Older prospect due to his religious mission and will be a 24-year old NFL rookie,” Brugler wrote. He added, “Fehoko is older and still growing into the position, but he has impressive short-area quickness for his size with the hand-eye coordination to reel in tough throws. He offers enticing pass-catching traits and special teams ability worth developing.”

Simi Fehoko, Deseret News’ 2015 Mr. Football, poses for a photo at Brighton High School in Sandy, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015. Fehoko served his mission in South Korea. Ravell Call, Deseret News
Simi Fehoko, Deseret News’ 2015 Mr. Football, poses for a photo at Brighton High School in Sandy, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015. Fehoko served his mission in South Korea.

Kiper ranked Fehoko, who is nearly 6-foot-4 and weighs 222 pounds, 94th overall in the draft, 19th at wide receiver.

Now back to the two oldest players in the draft.

Matt Bushman

Bushman is the oldest player in the draft, and it’s not close. He is eight months older than the next player on the list.

Bushman is the only player over the age of 25, and the new father actually is nearly halfway to 26: His birthday is Nov. 8.

That’s why, even though Bushman could have returned to play for BYU for again this fall because of an NCAA rule about the COVID-19 pandemic that gave every player another year of college eligibility, he chose to turn pro.

“I have turned 25,” he told the Deseret News previously. “I am a couple years older than most of the rookie class. That definitely makes it harder.”

Bushman was a Freshman All-American tight end at BYU after serving in the Chile Santiago South Mission, but didn’t play last season and didn’t run the 40-yard dash for NFL scouts this spring because he continues to recover after tearing his Achilles tendon during a BYU practice last August.

BYU tight end Matt Bushman catches a touchdown against the University of Massachusetts Minutemen in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017. UMass won 16-10. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
BYU tight end Matt Bushman catches a touchdown against the University of Massachusetts Minutemen in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017. UMass won 16-10.

So what does Brugler think of Bushman, who is 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds? The draft analyst gushed about his focus, hands and NFL readiness and ranked him as the 12th-best tight end in the draft with some potential to be a starter:

“Overall, Bushman is an older prospect coming off a major injury and doesn’t have separation speed, but he is a physical blocker with the ball skills to handle seam work.”

Brugler expects Bushman to be picked in the sixth or seventh round. That portion of the draft is scheduled for Saturday.

Kiper has him at 19th at tackle and 249th overall.

Khyiris Tonga

The player eight months younger than Bushman but second-oldest in the draft, based on Brugler’s analysis, is Tonga, who is 24.81 years old and served in the church’s Kansas Wichita Mission before beginning his BYU career.

He turns 25 on July 7.

Tonga is a big, run-stopping inside defensive lineman at 6-foot-2, 325 pounds. But he ran a fast 5.07-second time for his size in the 40.

20181014 BYU defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga celebrates a sack on Hawaii Warriors quarterback Cole McDonald Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
BYU defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga celebrates a sack on Hawaii Warriors quarterback Cole McDonald Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018.

“His pursuit skills and straight-line speed are above average for a nose tackle,” Brugler wrote, also noting his quickness and strength and calling him an “aggressive space-eater.

“He struggled through a tough childhood, but he found direction with his adopted family, the church and BYU football,” the analyst added to his scouting report.

Brugler ranked Tonga 16th among interior defensive linemen and pegged him as a sixth round pick. Kiper has him 19th at the position.

Other older players in the draft

Former Latter-day Saint missionaries make up four of the seven-oldest players who Brugler expects to be drafted:

  • Bushman (25.48 years old).
  • Tonga (24.81).
  • Arkansas State defensive lineman Forrest Merrill (24.71), who sat out a year at one point and is projected to be picked in the seventh round or become a priority free agent.
  • Oklahoma State cornerback Rodarius Williams (24.63), a projected sixth- or seventh-round pick who was held back a grade.
  • Illinois State offensive tackle Drew Himmelman (24.61), who grayshirted (didn’t enroll in college the first fall after high school) and redshirted and is expected to go in the seventh round or be a priority free agent.
  • Christensen (24.59)
  • BYU offensive guard Chandon Herring (24.51). Herring served in the Washington D.C. North Mission before arriving at BYU, where he redshirted a year before playing for four years.

At 6-foot-6, 307 pounds, Herring ran a 5.01-second 40 and Brugler likes his flexibility, because he played guard and tackle for the Cougars.

“Overall, Herring is over-aged, plays high-cut and gives up his chest too easily, but he has traits and works hard to finish while offering position flex as a backup,” Brugler said.

He ranked Herring 22nd at guard and expected him to be drafted in the seventh round or become a priority free agent.

Priority free agents

Once the draft ends, NFL teams scramble to sign priority free agents, players who went undrafted but that teams want enough to sign them to a contract with a modest amount of guaranteed money.

That’s why Brugler’s draft guide included scouting reports on 415 players when only 259 players will be drafted.

After last year’s draft, Dallas gave former missionary and linebacker Francis Bernard $110,000 guaranteed to sign with them, making him one of 20 players to receive more than $100,000, according to Spotrac. Bernard played in 13 games for the Cowboys.

This year, Brugler listed one former missionary as a priority free agent:

  • BYU offensive guard Tristen Hoge — he just turned 24 — as a priority free agent, ranked just two spots behind Herring at the position. He redshirted one year at Notre Dame, then sat out a year per NCAA rules when he transferred to BYU.

Brugler also listed three other former missionaries from BYU who are candidates to get NFL tryouts:

  • Zac Dawe, the 48th-ranked edge rusher, who served in the Texas Houston Mission.
  • Isaiah Kaufusi, who Brugler ranked 42nd at linebacker. Kaufusi served in the Tonga Nuku’alofa Mission.
  • Kavika Fonua, ranked 41st at defensive safety. Fonua served in the Canada Vancouver Mission.


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Photo of the day: Remembering those who gave the gift of life

DonorConnect employee Tiff Blue spreads rose petals along the Celebration of Life Monument at Library Square in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 30, 2021, as part of Donor Remembrance Day.
DonorConnect employee Tiff Blue spreads rose petals along the Celebration of Life Monument at Library Square in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 30, 2021, as part of Donor Remembrance Day. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Employees with DonorConnect on Friday marked Donor Remembrance Day — and the end of National Donate Life Month — by decorating its Celebration of Life Monument on Salt Lake City’s Library Square.

The monument, 297 E. 500 South, honors organ donors, especially those who are deceased, and their families. Any family member whose loved one was an organ, tissue, cornea, whole body or research donor can submit their name to be added to the monument free of charge. The names of living kidney and liver donors are also included.

“We invite anyone who has been touched by organ, eye, or tissue donation to take a few moments on Friday to reflect on their experience, and join us at the monument if time permits,” said David Robles, director of donor family services for the nonprofit that is dedicated to the recovery and transplantation of organs and tissues in the region.

DonorConnect’s service area encompasses 3.8 million residents, 94 hospitals and three transplant centers — Primary Children’s Hospital, Intermountain Medical Center and University of Utah Hospital, along with the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.



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