On Thursday afternoon, Simi Fehoko tweeted, “This weekend my childhood dream comes true. Thank you Heavenly Father.”
On Saturday, that became official, as the former Brighton High and Stanford wide receiver was taken by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round (179th overall pick) in the 2021 NFL draft.
“Wide receiver wasn’t considered much of a need for the Cowboys, who tout one of the more explosive groups in the NFL,” NFL.com’s Mark Dulgerian wrote in analyzing the pick. “However, Fehoko is an impressive size/speed specimen who can immediately help on special teams coverage units as he refines the details of route running.”
Listed at 6-foot-4 and 227 pounds, Fehoko broke out as a junior at Stanford in 2020, finishing with 37 receptions for 574 yards with three receiving touchdowns, which earned him First Team All Pac-12 honors. That led him to declare for the draft last December.
“He’s big, and he’s an athlete. Unfortunately, athleticism is less important for projecting wide receiver success, but it can have a major impact on draft position. ... Fehoko was able to use his size and speed to make big plays at the collegiate level, though perhaps not as often as you’d hope for a future NFL star,” wrote Pro Football Focus’ Kevin Cole.
The pick was applauded by a couple of former Utah high school stars — Zach Wilson, the BYU and Corner Canyon High quarterback to went No. 2 overall to the New York Jets, and former Bingham tight end Dalton Schultz, who plays for the Cowboys.
And of course the video of Fehoko getting the call from Dallas brass, including owner Jerry Jones, was excellent.
Incidentally, Fehoko was drafted by the Cowboys with the same pick they used a year ago to select another player with Utah ties, as they took former Utah defensive end Bradlee Anae with the 179th choice in 2020.