Bronson Kaufusi is a 6-foot-6, 285 pound defensive end for Brigham Young that is expecting to get drafted in the 2016 NFL draft, with nearly all projections placing him in rounds 2-4 (see summaries below). Kaufusi is regarded as a defensive playmaker that has good length and has shown steady improvement each of the past three years. His BYU highlight reel shows what that length can do as he led the nation in blocked kicks.
Kaufusi showed steady improvement from year-to-year at BYU and during his senior campaign recorded 64 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, one interception, three forced fumbles and FIVE blocked kicks (led the nation). For his career he played 50 games, had 167 total tackles, 43.5 tackles for loss, 26.5 sacks, 12 passes defended, five forced fumbles, three fumbles recovered, and two interceptions.
Combine stats: 4.87 seconds in the 40, 30 inch vertical, 9-feet 3-inch broad jump, 7.03 seconds in the 3-cone drill and 4.25 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle. He did 25 repetitions on the 225 pound bench press. He received a grade of 5.55 at the combine.
Summaries of all the Bronson Kaufusi draft articles
Emory Hunt of www.FootballGameplan.com joins Adam on the Rise and Shout Podcast (listen to it here). He likes Bronson’s size and said he “utilizes his size well” but later notes that he “plays too high”. He thinks he is strictly a defensive end in the 4-3 scheme and projects him to be a late round pick (6-7 rounds) because he doesn’t have “elite level traits” (posted April 12, 2016).
The Buffalo News produced Road to the NFL Draft: Bronson Kaufusi, a detailed profile that discusses some of Bronson’s intangibles (wingspan, good first step, versatility). They note he needs to work on being more effective in space and more fluid and project him as a third or fourth round selection (posted April 12, 2016).
Another Buffalo Bill’s blog—Buffalo Rumblings—wrote a post entitled Bronson Kaufusi linked to Buffalo Bills pre-2016 NFL Draft. They note that he has been impressive, with a great combination of length and athleticism, but that he’ll be the oldest player taken in the draft. The article notes that he has plans to visit or work out with Denver, Green Bay, New York (Jets), Atlanta, Indianapolis, Buffalo, Pittsburg, and New England. They project him as a second day draft selection (posted April 11, 2016).
The Players’ Tribune featured Bronson with NFL Job Application: Bronson Kaufusi. The application is a mock application for playing in the NFL where Bronson notes that he is a statistics – analytics major (i.e. he’s smart), likes to make sacks, agrees with me that Remember the Titans is the best football movie of all-time (honestly it might be the best of all movies), and that his most impressive game was vs. Cincy. He’s interested in coaching and did a pretty decent rendering of Cosmo (posted April 11, 2016).
Packers.com posted a “Prospect Primer” video profile of Bronson. The video/interview highlights his feelings about playing as “the coach’s kid” and the benefits of playing multiple positions and on the basketball team. They don’t make a draft projection but talk favorably of his prospects (posted April 9, 2016).
Mark Eckel for the NJ Advance Media projects Kaufusi could go as early as the late first round and list him as the No. 4 defensive end in the draft and a sleeper pick (posted March 28, 2016).
Tony Pauline from draftinsider.net reported on 2016 Pro Day Notes: Friday, March 25, 6:15 p.m. that “Kaufusi looked athletic, smooth and forceful in everything he did. Many say it looks like his upper body has filled in and Kaufusi is coming into his own. Known as a class act and high-character person, the senior solidified himself as a second-day pick” (posted March 25, 2016)
In 2016 NFL Draft BYU’s Bronson Kaufusi Scouting Report Jon Dove of WithTheFirstPick.com notes that Kaufusi’s “overall draft stock will be tied more to his potential than production while at BYU” and points out that with his length Kaufusi has great potential, but that he needs to hit the weight room to gain “inside hands.” He projects that he’ll be taken in the 4th round. (posted March 7, 2016).
Pauline apparently is pretty high on Kaufusi, because he also posted on an article featured on the Philadelphia Eagle’s official website: D-Lineman Don’t Disappoint in Indy, that “Kaufusi likely placed himself in the draft’s second day” and lists him as the No. 5 defensive end on the board (posted February 28, 2016)
Mike Gerken, a staff writer for NEPatriotsDraft.com, wrote an early Scouting Report for Bronson in early February. He admits he knew little about Kaufusi until the senior bowl, but that he likes his measurable and athleticism. Like others he is skeptical about Kaufusi having the flexibility needed to be an elite edge rusher and notes he is older due to his LDS mission. He projects Kaufusi as a day two pick, and a possible pick for New England in the late second round (posted February 2, 2016)
The USA Today posted NFL Draft: Where will BYU’s Bronson Kaufusi go? prior to the combine. In that article Thomas Boozel places Kaufusi as a mid-round pick (posted January 20, 2016).
Local reporters Jared Lloyd and Darnell Dickson of the Daily Herald discuss Kaufusi’s draft prospects immediately following the 2015 regular season. Both speculate that he could be a first rounder, but Dickson places him in rounds 2-3 while Lloyd posits his draft position depends on combine and pro day performances (posted November 23, 2015).
Other Draft Profiles
- com list him as the No. 14 defensive end available in the draft, projecting him to go in the third or fourth round
- CBS Sports. Combine results, player overview, and strengths and weaknesses
- RotoWorld. Comprehensive list of latest news and quotes about Bronson
- NFLdraftscout.com – Project Kaufusi as a 3-4 round pick and list him as the No. 12 DE
This is the first draft profile written for BYU Insider. If you would like to see additional profiles or have recommendations for additional information to include in this profile, please note it in the comment section below.
