Cougars’ contingent at NFL draft intends to make the most of the moment
Kalani Sitake is on a run.
And while he’s running, he might as well seize the moment to keep the momentum rolling, including the most successful NFL draft by his program in 20 years.
At the draft’s opening night in Cleveland last Thursday night, it was a gala, a made-for TV sporting sideshow complete with music, Armani suits and walkways to the camera. Behind the stage in a green room, three BYU coaches including Sitake, pass game coordinator Fesi Sitake and offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick were huddled with Zach Wilson and his family waiting for the moment of the highest draft pick in school history to be announced.
Fesi, who was the first college coach to make an offer to Wilson when at Weber State, didn’t think it was too early to use that moment to recruit. He pulled out his cellphone and fired off some texts and called a few prospects.
“I was able to reach out to a couple of guys and let them know that one day, they too would be able to chase their dreams and play at the next level. It was cool, it really was.”
And why not?
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In Wilson, the No. 2 overall pick was a program first.
In third-round pick Brady Christensen, it was the first offensive lineman drafted by the program in 16 years since Scott Young.
In seventh-round pick Khyiris Tonga, BYU had its first defensive lineman drafted since Bronson Kaufusi was selected in 2016.
In seventh-round pick Chris Wilcox, BYU had its first cornerback drafted in 28 years (Derwin Gray).
It was the first multi-pick draft for BYU in 12 years.
The five Cougars drafted were the most since 2002.
Critics will always put an asterisk on anything BYU did in 2020, the COVID-19 season. But the world gave 2020 an asterisk. Nobody’s taking away an 11-1 season and No. 11 ranking or five draft picks in 2021.
It is in the books. Asterisks are left to the buzz kill class.
In that moment, Fesi Sitake hesitated for a second, wondering if it would appear tacky to use the moment to send some texts. But that apprehension quickly departed, like he’d already left the plane and was reaching for the parachute cord. He was filled with the exhilaration of the moment.
“It was all 100% genuine. I was so excited for Zach. I had flashbacks of him in high school, and imagined what he’d feel like if he got a call from someone while at the draft. He’d probably be a little overwhelmed when he was just trying to get into college. But think it a forum for these guys to know. They need to dream big, but also not miss out on the process that it takes to get there.
“It’s our job as coaches to remind them along the way.
“It was a cool opportunity to reach out to some of the recruits and let them know that this is their goal and that it can happen at BYU as well,” Fesi said.
A front-line recruiter for the Cougars, Fesi believes five BYU draftees this past weekend supports the big-picture plan of his cousin, head coach Kalani, whose foundation is a developmental program.
“The majority of players taken in this draft were not five-star recruits in high school. They were developed players,” said Fesi.
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BYU Photo
The 2021 draft confirms Kalani’s philosophy in recruiting developmental prospects, working on their potential and taking advantage of their measurables.
To be featured on draft day in Cleveland only endorsed what Kalani believes, said Fesi.
“That’s so good for the program, all the exposure we’ve been getting. I know Zach has been carrying a lot of that exposure with him to the other guys. It’s been so great for the university, putting us on a national scale and letting people all across the country know. It’s not just recruits but college football fans and scouts at our pro day.”
On Monday, Roderick told 1280 The Zone radio in Salt Lake City that BYU had recruited enough depth to reload after the 2021 draft of the program’s players.
Fesi explained his label given to this draft.
“This draft class is filled with players who were developed. They were not huge recruits, and most of the makeup of the NFL is like that. You have your guys who have been five-star guys in high school and Heisman candidates who have won all these accolades in college and then obviously can go to the NFL.
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“But you also have that group of guys — most guys — who weren’t on every single person’s radar.
“We are honored to be able to share that message to all the recruits that it’s OK if we see something in you, there’s a good chance we can develop you.”
Fesi declared this is a hallmark of Kalani’s entire coaching career — finding potential and drawing it out.
“This is so big for him. He has such a special eye for talent, for developing guys. He did it at Utah and he was a huge part of Utah’s success and culture that is still there. There is a vision involved to see talent early and develop it and most importantly, to get that potential out of the guy.
“It is one thing to recruit someone that has the physical tools and see that he has intangibles. But if you don’t have someone who can pull those out and develop them into that special player, sometimes it means nothing and you’ll never know.”
In that green room that night, Kalani Sitake stood alongside the rest of the Wilson party, anxious for the moment and the celebration afterwards.
Kalani’s shoe game pic.twitter.com/Wz66JiOKSY
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In his humble, jovial way, the sixth-year head coach and first native Tongan to be a Division I football head coach, was focused on the Wilson family that night. Then as the draft progressed, four other players were taken.
In BYU’s recent draft history, that was a mammoth yield.
Wilson became the highest QB taken by the New York Jets in franchise history — aside from Joe Namath. This draft had more QBs taken through three rounds than any in history.
That so many of his teammates kind of got swooped up in Wilson’s momentum is not lost on those who study the program’s trends.
A lot of credit must to go to Kalani and a chunk of it all should go to athletic director Tom Holmoe, who tirelessly fought to create a schedule out of COVID-19 ashes with Big Ten and Pac-12 teams ordered to give up nonconference games against teams like BYU.
“Kalani made a believer of that culture and his players. He set it up and pushed to continue to develop guys and look for those under-recruited guys,” Fesi said. “He showed we can have in our program those who can play and go on to the next level. And so I’m super happy for him, because the exposure as well deserved.”
Standing near the entire Cleveland experience with his boss and Roderick, Fesi saw Kalani mix with other head coaches, NFL coaches and franchise personnel.
“It was cool to see at the draft. To see other coaches who were there with their players and see how much respect and appreciation they had for Kalani for the type of person he is. It was a good reminder to me and A-Rod to see all of that. So, on all fronts, for Kalani, the school, for these kids, for their families, it was a really, really cool weekend.”
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