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Here’s how prospects from Utah and BYU performed at the NFL combine

Plus, other updates about Utah players at the NFL Combine.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah running back Tavion Thomas (9) runs for the Utea, in PAC-12 football action between the Utah Utes and the Stanford Cardinal at Rice-Eccles Stadium, on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022.

Utah cornerback Clark Phillips III may not be the biggest guy in the draft, but he can hold his own — and then some.

Phillips put up 18 bench reps, the most of anyone in his group, at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. The potential first-round pick, however, wasn’t the only prospect from a Utah university to impress over the weekend.

Seven players with Utah ties were invited to the 2023 combine: quarterback Jaren Hall, wide receiver Puka Nacua and offensive tackle Blake Freeland from BYU; and Phillips, running back Tavion Thomas, tight end Dalton Kincaid and offensive tackle Braeden Daniels from the University of Utah.

Tavion Thomas, RB, Utah

Thomas talked to reporters Saturday at the combine and gave a pointed message of his competitive nature.

“I want to run through you,” he said.

Thomas also described what he feels he might bring to an NFL team. He said he would bring “my willingness, my hunger and my passion for the game.”

In a tender moment at the podium, Thomas said he is leaning on his mother throughout the combine process.

“She’s kind of my hero to me, been through the most,” Thomas said. “I try to reach out to her to keep me grounded and keep me wanting to grind and work hard for her and chase my dream.”

Thomas ended his college career with the Utes early after he said he suffered a toe injury.

At the combine, Thomas ran a 4.74 in the 40, the slowest of any running back who participated in the event. Thomas’ 30″ inch vertical leap and 9-foot-10 broad jump were also near the bottom of the group.

Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah

Phillips recorded an official time of 4.51 seconds in the 40-yard dash on Friday — the eighth fastest among defensive backs at the combine. In the 10-yard split, he recorded a time of 1.51 seconds. As for his vertical jump, he clocked in at 33 inches. His time in the 20-yard shuttle was 4.2 seconds.

Phillips’ bench press numbers came out Saturday morning. He completed 18 reps — the most of any cornerback at the combine, per the most recently updated results.

NFL analyst Lance Zierlein wrote on NFL.com that Phillips may not be big or long, but he’s a playmaker, and has the traits to continue that at the professional level.

“He’s a voracious student of the game and has developed a feel for reading the quarterback’s drops and eyes,” Zierlein wrote. “He’s a little tight-hipped and can give away separation at the top of the route, but when he’s clued in, Phillips uses aggressive angles to search for takeaways. He’s tough, smart and knows how to play.”

During his media appearance, Phillips said he wants to bring consistency, hard work and dedication to an NFL locker room — the same traits he ascribed to former teammate and current Jacksonville Jaguar Devin Lloyd.

“I’m going to try to be the best cornerback on the roster,” Phillips said.

Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

Kincaid, who missed the Rose Bowl due to an injury, did not be competing in any of the events during the combine, but indicated he is “hoping” to participate at Utah Pro Day on March 23.

Even though he’s not testing in any of the events, there is already some buzz that Kincaid could be the top tight end in the NFL Draft and could be taken in the first round. He said he has had formal meetings with several teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cincinnati Bengals.

Daniel Jeremiah, analyst for the NFL Network and NFL.com, said recently that Kincaid is “a big-time player” and one of his favorites to watch in this draft due to his ability to get yards after the catch and block.

“I think he is one of the best players in the draft,” Jeremiah said, later comparing him to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz.

“Those are guys you want to kind of be compared to,” Kincaid said. “I think I’m kind of my own player. But those are two fantastic tight ends who kind of shifted the league.”

Kincaid also showed some confidence in his abilities at the next level.

“Any ball thrown to me in a one-on-one situation, I should come down with,” Kincaid said. “I think I’m one of the best pass catchers [in the draft], not just tight ends, but everyone.”

Braeden Daniels

The Utah tackle ran a 4.99 40-yard dash. That put him behind only Georgia’s Broderick Jones (4.97), Oklahoma’s Anton Harrison and BYU’s Blake Freeland (both 4.98) among offensive linemen.

Daniels also had a 30.5″ vertical leap, tied for 10th best in the group, and a 9-foot-1 broad jump.

Jaren Hall

Hall didn’t run the 40-yard dash or do any of the shuttle drills at the NFL combine on Saturday in Indianapolis. But the former BYU quarterback did throw and take his measurements with the rest of the quarterback class.

Hall measured in at 6-foot, 207 pounds — making him one of the smaller quarterbacks in this draft. Hall was taller than presumed No. 1 pick Bryce Young (5-foot-10) and national champion Stetson Bennett (5-foot-11). Overall, being 6-foot puts him tied for the third-shortest among QBs at the combine.

Perhaps more concerning for NFL scouts is the hand size.

His hand size was 9.5 inches and his arm length was 29.75 inches, which tied for the smallest at the combine. Quarterbacks of comparable size to Hall, like Young and Bennett, had larger hands. Bennett’s were 10 inches and Young’s were just under 10.

Puka Nacua

Nacua did not test the combine this weekend, but he is hoping to show scouts he can overcome some of the injury issues that hampered his season.

“I had some injuries early on in my college career, so trying to maintain my body,” Nacua said. “... I believe my versatility [is my best trait]. I played outside receiver. This year I was able to move into the slot. I ran wide zone for our team. I do a lot of the jet sweeps. I believe once I get the ball in my hands I am capable of a lot of things. I also pride myself in being able to take the top off the defense.”

Blake Freeland

The BYU tackle showed off some athleticism in Indy. His 4.98 time in the 40 was the second fastest among the 36 linemen who ran at the combine. His 37″ vertical and 10-foot broad jump were the best among offensive linemen.