This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The second and third rounds saw only one Utah college prospect drafted, with an additional former Utah high school player taken at the top of the second round. BYU linebacker Kyle Van Noy will line up with former Cougar and 2013 first round pick at defensive end Ezekiel Ansah. UCLA guard Xavier Su'a Filo went to the Houston Texans with the first pick of the second round. The Bruins guard played his high school football at Provo's Timpview High School. Left on the board were Utah's Keith McGill and Trevor Reilly, as well as Utah State cornerback Nevin Lawson, all projected to be quickly scooped up on the third day of the draft.
Team • Player • School • Pos • Grade
33. Houston Texans • Xavier Su'a Filo • UCLA • OG • B
The first pick of the second round was a surprise, not because of Su'a Filo's talent, but because the Texans passed on a quarterback. The UCLA guard and former player at Timpview in Provo was a mainstay on UCLA's line and is effective in both pass and run blocking, but with Derek Carr and other quarterbacks sitting there, it was an odd choice.
40. Detroit Lions • Kyle Van Noy • BYU • OLB • A
The top college prospect in Utah goes to the Lions, a great value and pick at this spot. Van Noy is a field general and will boost Detroit's pass rush. He'll be extra valuable for his ability to diagnose plays and make a secure tackle in a division that features running backs like Adrian Peterson and Eddie Lacy.