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Date:
Taysom Hill - QB - Cougars

BYU sophomore QB Taysom Hill suffered a "minor" torn MCL.

Hill played in six games during the 2012 season, starting two of those contests, before suffering a knee injury. During that time he threw for 425 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions, and rushed for 335 yards and four touchdowns.
Source: Jeremy Mauss on Twitter
May 21 - 1:01 PM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Cougars

Lions selected BYU DE Ezekiel Ansah with the No. 5 overall pick.

Ansah (6-5, 271) exploded onto the national scene as a senior with 62 tackles -- 13 for a loss -- and 4.5 sacks at outside linebacker in BYU's 3-4 defense. His stock soared in the Senior Bowl game, which Ansah single-handedly took over with 3.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. Ansah has freak length (35 1/8-inch arms) and a 4.63 forty time. His 1.56 ten-yard split in Indy was second fastest among D-Linemen behind only Keke Mingo (1.55), who's 30 pounds lighter. With just three years of football experience, Ansah offers immense upside as a pass rusher and edge presence. With only Willie Young, Ronnell Lewis, and Jason Jones on the roster at defensive end, Ansah should see the field early. He is already a stout run defender, and once Ansah learns to create space on his own, watch out. His closing speed is excellent for the Lions' wide alignment.
Apr 25 - 8:52 PM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Cougars

NFL Network's Albert Breer notes BYU pass rusher Ezekiel Ansah's name is "being bandied about" in the top 5.

"The Lions like him and he could be a target for teams looking to move up," Breer tweeted. The Lions coached Ansah during Senior Bowl week, and the BYU product lined up all over the defense while in school, showing promise from a variety of different angles. He can fit multiple schemes.
Source: Albert Breer on Twitter
Apr 24 - 12:03 PM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Cougars

ESPN's Mel Kiper mocked BYU DE Ezekiel Ansah to the Jaguars at pick No. 2.

"Pass rush is a significant issue, and Ansah offers a high ceiling," Kiper writes. We think the Jaguars could target Ansah if they end up trading down from pick No. 2 with a team that covets a tackle. He showed a lot of promise as a pass rusher form a wide alignment.
Source: ESPN
Apr 23 - 12:03 PM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Cougars

New Orleans Saints' head coach Sean Payton says the defense is a "priority" in this year's draft.

"Certainly we're looking closely at our defense, and that would be a priority," Payton said. "I would say this: When you start getting into that selection and you see magnets both offensively and defensively that are close to each other on the grade line, it's easy then -- if you feel real close about the players -- to go with one side of the ball or the other." The Saints desperately need players on defense, specifically pass-rushers.
Source: NFL.com
Apr 22 - 3:36 PM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Cougars

ESPN's Chris Mortensen believes BYU DL Ezekiel Ansah could be the Lions pick at No. 5 if Luke Joeckel and Eric Fisher aren't on the board.

The Lions' staff coached Ansah during the Senior Bowl, and despite a great performance in the game, head coach Jim Schwartz likened the pass rusher's practices to Allen Iverson. The attitude is different, but Ansah is a bit of an unknown commodity but could shine from the wide alignment.
Source: Chris Mortensen on Twitter
Apr 21 - 5:27 PM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Cougars

NFL Network's Charley Casserly does not see "a lot of instincts" in BYU DL Ezekiel Ansah's game.

Casserly believes Ansah is one of the more overrated prospects in this class. "My concern with him is I call him a 'rope player,' by the numbers. He is a straight -line guy," he said. "I don't see a lot of instincts in him. I don't see a lot of reactions in him. Can he learn that with his limited football background?" We might be alone, but there were at least a handful of very natural or instinctual plays made by Ansah this year.
Source: NFL.com
Apr 18 - 10:40 AM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Cougars

A "big part of" NFL Network's Albert Breer wonders if BYU pass rusher Ezekiel Ansah will intrigue the Eagles at pick No. 4.

"Seems like a Chip Kelly-type of player," Breer tweeted. Ansah could line up in a variety of ways in the Eagles' new 3-4 defense, namely as an end in a three man front opposite Fletcher Cox or as a pass rushing outside linebacker. As soon as Ansah is able to create separation on his own with good technique, watch out.
Source: Albert Breer on Twitter
Apr 15 - 8:43 AM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Cougars

BYU pass rusher Ezekiel Ansah ranks as Gil Brandt's second best prospect in the 2013 NFL Draft.

"The relative football newbie is a unique individual in terms of how quickly he seems to have taken to the game," Brandt writes. "Some guys can play for years without grasping the nuances of competing on the defensive line as well as Ansah has in this early phase of his career." Ansah moved up from the No. 11 slot since February.
Source: NFL.com
Apr 12 - 10:16 AM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Cougars

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports BYU DL Ezekiel Ansah will visit the Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints.

Ansah's already visited the Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns. Now he can add two more teams to his list. The Cardinals could very well be interested in selecting Ansah, provided he slips to their pick. They need another pass rusher, as do the New Orleans Saints. The Saints are moving to a 3-4 defense this year under new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. Ansah's not expected to last to their pick, No. 15.
Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
Apr 9 - 1:48 PM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Cougars

NFL Network's Mike Mayock moved BYU pass rusher Ezekiel Ansah atop his 4-3 DE rankings.

Ansah was listed at No. 2 in Mayock's previous batch of rankings, just behind Bjoern Werner. We think Ansah will also get looks as a five technique end in a three man front, with some teams also possibly evaluating him as a pass rushing outside linebacker. Damontre Moore and Sam Montgomery round out the top three and four, with Tank Carradine and Alex Okafor tied for the fifth spot.
Source: NFL.com
Apr 5 - 2:13 PM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Cougars

NOLA's Larry Holder reports the New Orleans Saints will visit with BYU DL Ezekiel Ansah.

The Saints select No. 15 overall, when Ansah is not expected to be available. Ansah's widely viewed as a top 10 selection and could go to teams such as the Philadelphia Eagles or Cleveland Browns. The Saints are moving to a 3-4 defense and are in need of linebackers, so this visit makes a lot of sense.
Source: NOLA.com
Apr 4 - 5:19 PM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Cougars

Draft Insider Tony Pauline reports BYU DL Ezekiel Ansah will visit with the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals.

Ansah is a very intriguing option for all three teams, especially the first two considering their move to a 3-4 defense. Ansah may be best in space, where he has additional space to work with and is given time to ponder his next move. He is very raw but is strong and relentless. He also has great upside.
Source: Tony Pauline on Twitter
Apr 3 - 6:53 PM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Cougars

The Sideline View's Lance Zierlein lists BYU DL Ezekiel Ansah as the No. 3 overall player in the 2013 NFL Draft.

"The upside on Ezekial Ansah is staggering," Zierlein writes. "He's a prospect who I expect to really take off by year two or three. The fact that he can strong-side DE in the 4-3 or 3-4 DE makes him even more valuable. He can fit in ANY system." We doubt Ansah makes it out of the top 10 selections.
Source: The Sideline View
Mar 29 - 4:05 PM
Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Cougars

Draft insider Tony Pauline reports that Andy Reid and the Chiefs' "brain trust" traveled to BYU to work out pass rusher Ezekiel Ansah.

The team's offensive line coach also joined to work out Braden Brown. Ansah is not often mentioned in the discussion for the first overall pick, but we think the Chiefs see him as a pass rushing linebacker or potential five technique. We expect a top 10 selection in either case.
Source: Tony Pauline on Twitter
Mar 21 - 9:57 AM

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