PROVO, Utah – When BYU football nose tackle Khyiris Tonga arrived on the Provo campus in 2017, there was buzz that he could be a future NFL nose tackle. Kathy Aiken tells the story that brought Khyiris Tonga to BYU. If he is able to prove to NFL scouts that he is healthy and that his athleticism hasn't slipped, there is a strong possibility that he can sneak into the third day of the draft. Image. Khyiris Tonga #95. But, unfortunately, this year's Combine won't be like traditional combines. Image. And this is an important game for BYU. Khyiris Tonga, Chris Wilcox both invited to the NFL Combine. I think the team is hungry for this one. He has potential to develop into a very good corner at the next level, similar to fellow former Cougar Michael Davis. That doesn't help Tonga and Wilcox show that they are healthy and able to play at a high level. Uriah Leiataua #58. No matter what anyone thinks you can’t just flip a switch and play hard. BYU's heralded defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga is coming back to Provo for his senior season in 2020. There is no downplaying how important an invite to the Combine is. He has committed to Brigham Young Cougars. He appeared in eight games last year for the 7-6 … The blue Cougars also lost Lorenzo Fauatea to an injury earlier this week, leaving the interior of BYU's defensive line full of very large question marks. Offensively, I think BYU has the horses to compete if this game gets into a shootout. BYU Football nose guard Khyiris Tonga talks about Saturday's win over Arizona. Khyiris Tonga is on Facebook. It's really shocking. They finished the season just 4-8 and had one of the worst defenses in the country. pic.twitter.com/yrvsqlljN5. That's another bad sign for BYU. In a memo sent out to NFL teams, it was detailed that there would not be any in-person workouts this year. For BYU, they're hoping to keep rolling in what is the most significant test on their schedule so far this season. The former West Virginia head coach is in his second year leading the Cougars and he has the foundation built to be a very real threat in the American Athletic Conference. Visit ESPN to view the BYU Cougars team roster for the current season BYU played as lazy as you could’ve played during the second half of UTSA. Latest on BYU Cougars defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga including complete game-by-game stats on ESPN If he does that, there is no reason that he won't hear his name called in April's draft. The Good– Khyiris Tonga decided to forego the NFL draft and return for his Senior season. Without Tonga and Fauatea, the Houston offensive line will be able to focus a little more on stopping the edge rushers without needing to double team Tonga on the inside. It makes everything flow better for a 4-3 base defense that is predicated on pressure up front. Image. Due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL has made the decision to cancel in person workouts. The thing that gives me great pause in this game is the old coaches saying that is 100% true you get better between your first and second game more than the rest of the entire season. IDL, BYU. With the exception of BYU's season opener against Navy, predicting a simple win or loss has been fairly simple for the staff here. The graphs show the 247 composite score on the y axis and the eligibility on the x axis. A Combine invite does not guarantee that one will be drafted into the NFL, but getting drafted without going to the combine is something that has proven to be extremely difficult to do. Fortunately BYU is much better than the score indicated against UTSA and the same could be said of Houston. I have a gut feeling the team was really locked in this week. Tonga recently began taking live reps in practice and players readily welcomed him. Since arriving at BYU for the 2017 season, the 6-foot-4, 330 pound defensive lineman has proven an extraordinary talent, capable of a lot of disruption playing at one of the two defensive tackle spots in … It would be really tough to predict the outcome of this game based on what we saw last week. He has struggled staying on the field consistently, but there is no denying how talented he is. Lorenzo Fauatea #55. The best way to stream the Super Bowl in 2021 By Popular Science. First and foremost, tomorrow is going to be a challenging day for me on a personal level. With all due respect to Troy, Louisiana Tech and UTSA, there really wasn't any doubt before those games started that BYU would come away with a win. The red Cougars have so much speed at the skill positions that it's going to be a huge challenge for BYU's secondary. Khyiris Tonga . BYU has only turned the ball over three times all season. Khyiris Tonga. #DreamsIntoReality ? Latest News. They want the big play. Khyiris Tonga and Chris Wilcox both announced on their Twitter accounts that they had received invites to the NFL Combine this year. 247Sports, 1d. They opened the season with a nice win against Tulane last week. So how much better is a Houston’s defense going to be? But, despite all of that, Houston was not a very good football team last year. (Photo: Mitch Harper, 247Sports) Khyiris Tonga and Chris Wilcox both announced on their Twitter accounts that they had received invites to the NFL Combine this … Football | Jul, 21 Empey, Tonga named to 2020 Outland Trophy Watch List. I could see a scenario where Houston jumps out to a two score lead but Zach Wilson and company are able to weather the storm and finish strong. Or does Houston take what is given to them and piece together long drives? Football | Jul, 22 BYU lands two on 2019 Outland … Khyiris Tonga opens up about his history as an adopted child. This is a huge step for each of them as they on their quest to be drafted in April's NFL Draft. In the 2020 NFL Draft, only 23 players who were not invited to the 2020 NFL Combine were drafted, and only 10 of those players were drafted before the seventh round. Khyiris Tonga and Chris Wilcox both announced on their Twitter accounts that they had received invites to the NFL Combine this year. 247sports.com - Jeff Hansen. They'll have to pass this test without their star nose tackle Khyiris Tonga. It's likely that BYU will be able to put up points but it might not be like a hot knife going through butter. © 2005-2021 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. It seems like a fairly simple decision, but dinking and dunking your way down the field is antithetical to what Holgorsen's teams are all about. Gunner Romney’s grabbed two long passes in the second quarter, a 41-yarder followed by a career-best 52-yarder. That's not meant to be disrespectful, it's just kind of the reality of the situation. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Freshman Isaac Rex gave BYU six points on only his second career reception; Jake Oldroyd tied his career-high field goal with a 54-yarder to close out the second quarter. That means that BYU's Pro Day will be important for these two players. He has exceptional length and exceptional speed when he is healthy. This is the biggest test of the season but, the Cougars were likely looking ahead to this week and escaped a trap game against UTSA. Edit; Slot to 247Sports Home; Slot to Brigham Young Cougars Newsletter ; … Houston wasn't perfect, but they showed that they are better than they were a year ago. By nature of what they do, they will force Houston to make a big schematic decision: Does Houston try to force big plays? Invited to the NFL Combine! We will see Zach Wilson do his thing, should do a good job running the ball, and the defense will prevent big plays in "bend but don't break" fashion and escape with a 10 point win. In fact, I think they will score a lot of points. He will have to show that he is in great shape and showcase his elite strength in order to secure a draft spot. The box score indicates that they gave up 31 points to a struggling Tulane team but the majority of those points came off of first half turnovers. For purposes of my prediction, the answer is really simple. Image. Khyiris Tonga (two sacks and a pass break-up) and company added four sacks to the five they had against Navy. A copy of the memo sent to NFL teams today that means the traditional Indianapolis scouting combine is off this year and there will be no in-person workouts. It's game week again and that means that it's time for another round of predictions from the Cougar Sports Insider staff. © 2005-2021 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Jeff Hansen Dec 31, 2019 . The travel and short week will be a challenge, as will the high flying Houston offense, but ultimately, Cougs > Coogs, on the field and in the spelling bee. Latest on BYU Cougars defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga including biography, career, awards and more on ESPN The latest stats, facts, news and notes on Khyiris Tonga of the BYU Cougars That same team is mostly back for Holgorsen this year, including 93% of the production from his defense a year ago, and they're hoping to improve in a big way this year. Khyiris Tonga - Projected Grade: 6th-7th round. ... BYU's Khyiris Tonga will participate in the 2021 NFL Combine. Fisher Jackson #59. I believe that BYU's scheme will still make things difficult for Houston. BYU plays Houston, a team with an immense amount of talent and an immense amount of upside. This is an exciting game from a prediction standpoint. Related Stories. Khyiris Tonga and Chris Wilcox both announced on their Twitter accounts that they had received invites to the NFL Combine this year. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Solak. BYU Depth Chart For SoFi Hawaii Bowl There will be media availability and the players are able to meet with teams for interviews, but there won't be the standard workouts that we've grown accustomed to watching on TV. 4 Comments. BYU's Pro Day has been tentatively scheduled for March 26. PROS: Just a humongous human being. The individual talent on this Houston team is the best of all Group of Five teams in the country, according to 247Sports Team Composite rankings. In the end, BYU's execution is what squeaks out the win in the end. PROVO — Khyiris Tonga ended his spring practice session much like he started, which could provide big dividends for the mammoth BYU defensive tackle and for the defense in general. That will be a very big day for Tonga and Wilcox both. Houston had five turnovers last week against Tulane. Khyiris Tonga is a 6-4, 300-pound Defensive Tackle from Salt Lake City, UT. Zach Wilson is special and the offensive line is as healthy as they've been all season. So, let's focus. Houston’s special teams in the one game they’ve played looked like their best unit. Khyiris Tonga, Chris Wilcox both invited to the NFL Combine. This is a huge … View on 247sports.com. This is a huge step for each of them as they on their quest to be drafted in April's NFL Draft. Chambers never really found his footing at BYU after leaving high school as a three-star recruit (247sports.com) and serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Las Vegas. KHYIRIS TONGA. By Jeff Hansen Oct 15, 2020 . CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. The Atlanta Braves are playing in the NLCS with a chance to go to the World Series for the first time since 2001. With two sacks, Khyiris Tonga set a new career high in the second quarter. Khyiris Tonga. Khyiris Tonga Signs With Agent, Closes Out Ride With BYU Football. You need great days of practice, locked in film studies, and good weight room sessions. Towering frame with length … 6-3, 300 | Class of 2017. But, this is about BYU. Tonga, a three-year starter for the Cougars, made his … Join Facebook to connect with Khyiris Tonga and others you may know. THIRD QUARTER. So, this game comes down to execution. BYU is conservative and they tackle as well as any team in the country. Fast forward to 2020; Tonga will have his opportunity to become an NFL player. CSI staff predicts results of Khyiris Tonga-less BYU vs. Houston. Blessings ???? 22 hours ago. The blue Cougars will put up their share of points as well. NFL. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. The talent for this team is unquestionably there. Caden Haws #73. BYU’s offensive and defensive lines in 2020 will be bolstered by somewhat surprising returns of OL Tristen Hoge, DL Khyiris Tonga. Leaked … He has the ability to take over games and simply dominate from the interior defensive line. Football | Sep, 16 Khyiris Tonga turning heads but staying grounded after following Sitake to BYU. The game kicks off tomorrow. Seleti Fevaleaki #44. That makes nine in two games, after Ilaisa Tuiaki’s guys got just 13 all of last year. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. © 2005-2021 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. By … Khyiris Tonga is returning to BYU for his Senior Season. But this game is different. Hirkley Latu #21. Nagurski Trophy names Khyiris Tonga to 2020 watch list. Has a nice first step off the ball and activates hands early and with velocity to shock center back when lined up as a 0-technique, which is his ideal deployment. He also gets into his relationship with Coach Sitake and how his mission changed him. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Football | Aug, 07 BYU lands four on Polynesian Player of the Year Watch List . 247 Sports Jeff Hansen Jan 30, 2021 Give 'Em Hell, Brigham: Where we want Zach Wilson to go vs. where we think he will go. Tyler Batty #92. If there is one thing I know about the red Cougars it's that they are going to score points. Salt Lake City, UT (Granger) DT ; 6-4 ; 300 ; Class of 17 ; 247Sports Composite 0.7667 So, of course it would be the biggest game of the year for BYU right in the middle of Game 5 of the series. The fact that these two former Cougars were both invited shows that they truly are legitimate NFL Draft prospects who have the potential to hear their name called this Spring. He will be the anchor of a Defensive Line that will … The big defensive lineman did not travel with the team to Houston due to a non-COVID-19 related illness. Patrick Mahomes' fiancee goes on social media rampage after game By BroBible. The blue Cougars have played well defensively this year, but they haven't seen an offense like Houston's. Let's get to the predictions. Bracken El-Bakri #93. Houston also touts one of the most exciting and innovative head coaches in all of college football in Dana Holgorsen. Tonga is another strong candidate to be drafted in April. Grateful to be invited to the NFL Combine! PROVO — Khyiris Tonga is hard to miss, not just because of his gigantic 6-foot-4, 340-pound frame, but for what he does when lining up along the BYU defensive front. Wilcox has battled injuries throughout the last two seasons of his BYU career, but there is no denying his potential. Conf FBS Independents; Jersey #95; Class Senior; HT 6'4" DOB--WT 322 lbs; ANALYST'S REPORTS. Players the size of Tonga just don't come around very often. They are gonna score a lot of points this year on ST alone. Learn about Khyiris Tonga and other recruit player profiles on RecruitingNation.com. Zac Dawe #99.