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Five players with Utah ties wrapped up a week of trying to make strong impressions with NFL personnel by participating in the Senior Bowl on Saturday in Mobile, Alabama.
Each of the local players, all defenders, posted a heavy dose of snaps while making routine plays as the South team beat the North 27-16.
Here’s a look at how each of those with Utah ties performed on Saturday. All statistics are unofficial.
Bronson Kaufusi, BYU defensive end
Kaufusi started at left defensive end for the South team and played 44 total snaps (41 on defense, three on special teams). Throughout the game, he was moved from outside to inside in the South team's 4-3 defensive formation and finished with two tackles and a pass defended. Kaufusi's tipped pass came on a goal-line play at the end of the third quarter.
Miles Killebrew, Southern Utah safety
Killebrew started at safety for the North team and played 53 snaps (37 on defense, 16 on special teams). He added a pair of tackles late in the contest.
“Every tape I put on, he’s got a heavy thud to him. He’s one of those guys where everyone just bounces backwards,” color commentator and NFL draft expert Mike Mayock said of Killebrew during the game's telecast.
In response to Mayock, fellow draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said, “He can’t wait to hit people, and he tackles with extreme confidence.”
Jason Fanaika, Utah defensive end
Fanaika tied Killebrew for the most game time against those with Utah ties, with 53 total snaps (48 on defense, five on special teams) for the North defense. He had two tackles, as well as another tackle wiped off by a penalty, and also drew a holding penalty on third down during his second series on the field.
Kyler Fackrell, Utah State linebacker
Fackrell played 45 snaps (28 on defense, 17 on special teams) for the North defense. His biggest impact came on his first play on defense, on the South team's second possession, when Fackrell hit the quarterback and forced an incompletion.
Jared Norris, Utah linebacker
Norris played 36 total snaps (30 on defense, six on special teams) for the North team and had three tackles. Two of those tackles came on back-to-back plays near the North goal line when he prevented Alabama's Kenyan Drake from scoring on either play. The second Norris tackle on Drake was for a loss of 1 yard.
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