BYU Alumni make a Major Impact in NFL Week 17, BYU Football Pro Tracker

In NFL week 17 there were several standout performances by BYU alumni. Van Noy had his second defensive touchdown of the season with a 46 yard scoop and score fumble recovery. Daniel Sorensen stayed in the starting lineup for Kansas City and made his time count with a 56 yard interception returned for a touchdown. Taysom Hill had limited reps at QB for New Orleans but made an impact with an impressive nine yard touchdown run. And Michael Davis and Fred Warner both had season and career highs in tackles.

Below are the summaries, statistics, and snap counts for each of the BYU alumni that played this week, as well as an update on the status of other unsigned players.

Michael Davis (CB, Los Angeles, No. 43). Davis started at cornerback in LA’s 23-9 victory over Denver.  He had had a season high nine tackles (six solo) with two passes defended. Davis played 79 defensive snaps (100%) and four more on special teams (17%). Season Totals: Nine games as a starter, seven games as a substitute; 40 solo tackles, 10 assisted tackles, eight passes defended, one forced fumble

John Denney (LS, Miami, No. 92).  Denney came in as a substitute in Miami’s 42-17 loss to Buffalo.  He had eight snaps at long snapper (28%) and recorded no stats.  Season Totals: 15 games as a substitute; one tackle, three assisted tackles

Taysom Hill (QB, New Orleans, No. 7).  Hill was listed as the starting tight end in New Orlean’s 33-14 loss to Carolina, but of course he did a little bit of everything. He rushed three times for 11 yards, including a nine yard touchdown, and had one three yard receptiono. Hill played 8 snaps on offense (15%) and 23 on special teams (92%).  Season Totals: Four games as starter, 12 games as a substitute; 37 rushes for 196 yards, two rushing touchdowns, three-of-six passing for 64 yards and an INT, three receptions for four yards, 14 kickoff returns for 348 yards, one punt return for zero yards, four solo tackles, two assisted tackles, one blocked punt.

Bronson Kaufusi (DE, New York Jets, No. 92). Kaufusi came in as a substitute in New York’s 38-3 loss to New England. He recorded his first stat of the season with a pass defended and also had a muffed kickoff return (which he recovered) for zero yards. He played 14 snaps on defense (21%) and 13 on special teams (52%). Season Totals: Three games as a substitute, one pass defended.

Kyle Van Noy (LB, New England, No. 53). Van Noy started in New England’s 38-3 victory over New York.  He recorded three assisted tackles, one quarterback hurry, and one fumble recovery he returned for a 46 yard touchdown. Van Noy played 52 snaps on defense (93%) and 5 more on special teams (20%).  Season Totals: 16 games as starter; 56 solo tackles, 35 assisted tackles, two passes defended, nine quarterback hurries, five tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception, two fumble recoveries with one returned for a touchdown, one forced fumble, one touchdown on a blocked punt.8

Daniel Sorensen (S, Kansas City, No. 49).  Sorensen started at safety in Kansas City’s 35-3 victory over Oakland.  He recorded one solo tackle, one assisted tackle, one pass defended, and one interception which he returned 54 yards for a touchdown. He played 63 snaps on defense (95%) and four more on special teams (21%). Season Totals: Three games as starter, four games as a substitute; 14 solo tackles, 11 assisted tackles, two passes defended, one quarterback hurry, one fumble recovery, one interception returned 54 yards for a touchdown.

Fred Warner (LB, San Francisco, No. 48). Warner started in San Francisco’s 48-32 loss to the LA Rams.  He recorded nine solo tackles and five assisted tackles for a season and career high 14 total tackles. Warner played 68 snaps on defense (93%) and three more on special teams (10%).  He jumped from no. 19 in the NFL in total tackles to his current position at no. 12. He ranks no. 14 in solo tackles. Season Totals: 16 games as starter; 83 solo tackles, 39 assisted tackles, three tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, six passes defended, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery.

Jamaal Williams (RB, Green Bay, No. 30). Williams started at running back in Green Bay’s 31-0 loss to Detroit.  He rushed 8 times for 4 yards and caught three passes for 16 yards.  Williams played 39 snaps on offense (70%). Season Totals: Eight games as starter, eight as substitute; 121 rushes for 464 yards and three touchdowns, 27 receptions for 110 yards, four kickoff returns for 96 yards.

Injured Reserve

  • Ezekiel Ansah (DE, Detroit, No. 94). Ansah was injured in Week 14 and likely won’t play the rest of the season  Season Totals: Two games as a starter, five as a substitute; nine solo tackles, four assisted tackles, two tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries, four sacks

Practice Squads

  • Harvey Langi (LB, New York Jets, No. 48). Langi suffered an internal laceration after a hit in the first week of the preseason sat the remainder of the preseason due to concerns with his kidney.  He was waived by the Patriots on September 1st and was picked up by New York and added to their practice squad in October.
  • Tomasi Laulile (DT, New Orleans). Cut by Indianapolis in preseason but picked up by the Saints on September 27. Preseason Totals: Three games, three solo tackles, two assisted tackles, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hurry, one sack. Laulile was waived September 1st by the Colts, and worked out by Houston on September 4th before being signed by New Orleans on September 27.
  • Dallin Leavitt (S, Oakland, No. 45). Preseason Totals: Four games, 16 solo tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, one pass defended. Leavitt was waived by the Raiders on September 1st but added to their practice squad the next day.
  • Kai Nacua (S, Baltimore, No. 31). Preseason Totals: Four games, 12 solo tackles, five assisted tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, one pass defended, one interception for a touchdown.  He was waived by the Ravens on August 31st but was resigned and added to the practice squad. He was released from that squad on October 16th but picked up by the Carolina Pathers and added to their practice squad on December 5.
  • De’Ondre Wesley (OT, Indianapolis, No. 74).  Preseason Totals: Three games, no stats.  Wesley was waived by the Bills on September 1st but re-signed the following day and added to the practice squad.  He was released two weeks later by the Bills (9/14) but then signed on November 6 to the Indianapolis Colts and added to their practice squad.  They released him a week later (11/13) but re-signed him to the practice squad on December 5.

Cut Prior to the Regular Season.

  • Algie Brown (FB, Kansas City, No. 30). Preseason Totals: Two games, no stats.  Was waived by the Chiefs on September 1st and is currently an unsigned free agent.
  • Micah Hannemann (DB, L.A. Chargers, No. 35). Hannemann was signed to the Chargers practice squad on but then released on September 1. He was signed in December to play for the Salt Lake Stallions. Preseason Totals: Four games, six solo tackles, one assisted tackle. He was waived by the Chargers on September 1st and then re-signed to the practice squad on October 21st.
  • Tejan Koroma (C, Kansas City). After a promising summer was injured and waived prior to preseason.
  • Jordan Leslie (WR, Denver, No. 19). Leslie was waived by the Broncos on September 1st but was signed in December to play for the Salt Lake Stallions. NFL Preseason Totals: Four games, nine receptions for 110 yards, one touchdown, two tackles. 
  • Colby Pearson (WR, Atlanta, No. 84). Preseason Totals: Two games, no stats.  Pearson was waived by the Falcons on August 24th and is currently an unsigned free agent.
  • Jonah Trinnaman (WR, New York, No. 9). Preseason totals: One game, no stats. Trinnaman was waived by the Jets on August 30th and is currently an unsigned free agent.

For more information on each of these Pros, click on their names.  It will redirect you to their player profiles which include short summaries of their BYU and NFL careers.  During the season I will update these profiles with week-to-week game summaries and statistics. Note: Not all the profiles are up right now, but I’ll be adding most of them in the next week or two.

About Tyler Christensen 784 Articles
Tyler Christensen is a teacher, sports writer, speaker, and ultra-marathon runner. He is the founder of BYU Insider, D1 Recruiting, Virtual School Assembly, and After the Run. When he's not writing or speaking, he's spending time at home in southern Utah with his amazing wife and four children.
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