Tyler Allgeier drafted in fifth round by the Atlanta Falcons

PROVO, Utah (April 30, 2022) — BYU running back Tyler Allgeier was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the eighth pick of the fifth round and 151st overall in the 2022 NFL Draft on Saturday.

“The Falcons are getting a fantastic football player and an incredibly humble and hardworking teammate with the physical versatility and football IQ to contribute in many different ways,” said BYU head coach Kalani Sitake. “He is the kind of person who will always succeed and improve. I am excited for Tyler. I look forward to following his NFL career."

A 5-foot-11, 224-pound All-American from Fontana, California, Allgeier is the fifth-highest drafted running back in BYU football history and the 18th Cougar ball carrier overall to be drafted.

The last BYU running back taken in the draft was the school’s all-time leading rusher Jamaal Williams, who was taken in the fourth round by Green Bay with the 134th pick of the 2017 draft. The other Cougar running backs picked in a round ahead of Allgeier’s fifth-round selection include former fullback Todd Christensen, who was taken No. 56 overall by Dallas as second-round selection in the 1978 draft; Pete Van Valkenburg, who was selected with the 66th overall pick in the third round by the New Orleans Saints in 1973; and Scott Phillips, who went No. 87 overall as the fourth-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 1981. Christensen went on to play tight end in the NFL, becoming an All-Pro with the Raiders.

With his selection, Allgeier becomes the first Cougar running back taken in the fifth round and 38th BYU offensive player to be selected in one of the opening five rounds of the annual NFL Draft.  Overall, he is the 65th BYU player to be taken in one of the first five rounds. 

Historically, Allgeier is the fourth player to be drafted by the Falcons. The last Cougar drafted by Atlanta was defensive lineman Travis Hall, who was picked in the sixth round in 1995. Cornerback Brian Mitchell went to the Falcons in the seventh round in 1991, while defensive lineman Stan Varner was selected in the sixth round in 1976.

BYU Fifth Round Draft Picks

With Allgeier’s selection, the Cougars have had 11 players in the history of the program picked in the fifth round of the annual NFL Draft.  The last BYU player taken in the fifth round was offensive lineman Scott Young, who was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2005 draft. Other fifth-round picks from BYU include quarterback Brandon Doman (2002, 49ers); offensive linemen Matt Johnson (2000, Colts), Eric Bateman (1998, Jets), Louis Wong (1985, Cardinals) and Dave Hubbard (1977, Saints); defensive back Rodney Thomas (1988, Dolphins); linebacker Leon White (1986, Bengals); wide receiver Phil Odle (1968, Lions); and punter/kicker and current assistant BYU development director Lee Johnson (1985, Oilers).

BYU in the NFL Draft

The Cougars have been represented in 50 of the last 55 drafts and in 67 of the 87 drafts conducted overall. With Allgeier’s selection, NFL teams have now drafted a former BYU player 149 times since the team’s first draft choice in 1938 (John Stringham, Back, 9th round). Entering this year’s post-draft free agency signings, 202 additional Cougars have received NFL deals as free agents following the annual draft.  

Tyler Allgeier Career at BYU

A significant contributor on offense, defense and special teams during his four seasons at BYU from 2018-2021, Allgeier played in 41 games for the Cougars, including 21 starts at running back after moving to the offensive side of the ball the past two seasons. Known as a well-built ball carrier with impressive vision and feel as a runner, Allgeier was one of the nation’s most productive players the past two years since becoming BYU’s starting running back.

Allgeier’s workman-like endurance and rugged physicality carrying the ball helped secure BYU wins moving the chains on the ground late in games, while his decisive running and strong bursts of speed always made Allgeier a threat to break off long runs. Over the past two seasons, Allgeier exploded for 16 runs of 30 yards or longer to rank second nationally behind only the 20 such dashes by Iowa State’s Breece Hall, who was the first running back drafted this year, going in the second round on Friday to the New York Jets with the 36th overall pick.

During his career at BYU, Allgeier finished tied for No. 2 all-time for the Cougars in rushing touchdowns (36), No. 3 in 100-yard games (13), No. 4 in total touchdowns (37), No. 5 in rushing yards (2,899), No. 10 in rushing attempts (452) and No. 12 in all-purpose yards (3,433).

In Allgeier's first full season at running back in 2020, he ranking seventh in the FBS with 7.53 yards per carry, totaling 1,130 yards and tying for 10th nationally with 13 rushing touchdowns while also contributing as a receiver with 174 yards. He improved on those numbers last season, ranking fourth in the nation in 2021 with 1,601 rushing yards while carrying a large load for the Cougars with 276 carries. He found the end zone with regularity, tying for the national lead with 23 rushing touchdowns, while also adding 199 yards as a receiver. 

In 2021, Allgeier ranked among the top 10 nationally in 14 different statistical categories and among the top 25 in 17 different categories. Among them, he led the nation in rushing touchdowns (23) and ranked No. 2 in total touchdowns (23), No. 3 in scoring (10.6), No. 4 in rushing yards (1,601), No. 5 in rushing yards per game (123.2), No. 7 in attempts per game (21.23), No. 7 in runs of 30 or more yards (8), No. 10 in runs of 10 or more yards (40) and No. 10 in total all-purpose yards (1,800).

In addition to the national rankings, Allgeier broke several BYU records and moved up the career rankings in Cougar history for individual performances. Atop the list of record-breaking achievements was breaking Luke Staley's 20-year-old single-season rushing record by becoming the first BYU player to run for 1,600 yards in a season (1,601), passing Staley's 1,582 rushing yards that powered the 2001 star to the school's only Doak Walker Award. 

Allgeier also scored a touchdown in 11 consecutive games, passing former wide receiver Mike Chronister's mark of 10 straight games set across the 1976 and 1977 seasons. He also passed former running back Ronney Jenkins (252 carries in 1998) for No. 1 in rushing attempts in a single season, finishing with 276. 

With his third touchdown in the 2021 Independence Bowl, Allgeier also set a new BYU bowl record with three touchdowns in a bowl game for the first time in school history. Allgeier finished his career as one of just three players in school history, joining Jamaal Williams and Curtis Brown, to have multiple 200-yard rushing games (213 at Utah State and 266 vs. Virginia) and tied Williams, BYU’s all-time rushing leader, for the single-game school record with five rushing touchdowns against the Cavaliers. 

One Allgeier play that didn't set a record may also have been his most memorable of the 2021 season. Allgeier, who had recorded 26 tackles as a linebacker his first two seasons, showed his ability to make plays no matter the circumstances when he leaped, literally, to the top of the highlight reels, with a critical, momentum-making forced fumble in BYU's win over nationally ranked Arizona State last season. With ASU seemingly returning an interception back for a touchdown to take the lead entering the fourth quarter, Allgeier chased down the ASU defender from behind to not only overtake him before he reached the end zone but also reach over him while flying through the air to punch out the ball onto the field of play. Meanwhile, quarterback Jaren Hall, who was right behind Allgeier chasing the play, recovered for the Cougars, who would go on to post one more touchdown to secure the victory. 

Tyler Allgeier Awards & Honors

• 2021 BYU Football Co-Captain
• 2021 Sporting News All-America Second Team
• 2021 Phil Steele All-America Fourth Team
• 2021 Pro Football Network All-America Honorable Mention
• 2021 Pro Football Network All-Independent Player of the Year
• 2021 Pro Football Network All-Independent Running Back of the Year
• 2021 Pro Football Network All-Independent First Team Offense
• 2021 Phil Steele All-Independent First Team Offense
• 2021 Doak Walker Award Semifinalist
• 2021 Maxwell Award and Paul Hornung Award watchlist
• 2021 CFPA National Performer of the Year midseason watchlist
• 2021 Heisman hopeful list (week 10)
• 2021 Capital One Orange Bowl Player of the Week (Nov. 3)
• 2021 NCAAF Nation247 Week 13 Performance honoree (Nov. 29)
• 2021 College Sports Madness Independent Offensive Player of the Week (three-time honoree)
• 2020 Phil Steele All-America honorable mention
• 2020 Phil Steele All-Independent First Team
• 2020 College Football Performance Awards National Performer of Year Watch List

Talking About Allgeier

BYU head coach Kalani Sitake on Tyler Allgeier
"I think about everybody that we recruit but we knew that he had something special. When you get to know him and his work ethic, then everybody that confirms that from his coaches to opposing coaches to the people in Fontana. We knew he was going to do something special here at BYU are really proud of him. I look forward to seeing the things that he is going to do with this new opportunity that he has coming his way."

On how his versatility helps going to the NFL, having played offense, defense and special teams
"It’s not just about playing running back. He is going to be able to play running back. He is going to be able to tackle and block people and he has been doing that since he got here. He is going to do just fine in the NFL."

BYU running back coach Harvey Unga on Tyler Allgeier
"I don’t even know where to start. He is a great teammate and a good person. He is a selfless person and the ultimate teammate when it comes to that. I think the film more than anything speaks for itself. You watch the way the kid plays the game. How he carries himself but not just that but how he plays the game.  When it’s crunch time and we need a couple of yards or we are trying to run a four-minute drill, we knew we could count on him and call on him to carry the rock to win the game. He also has amazing vision and great feet. One of the things that I appreciated the most was just the way he approached learning the game. I know NFL coaches are going to appreciate how well he learns and picks things up. He is a sponge and very coachable.”

On how his versatility helps going to the NFL, having played offense, defense and special teams
"It is huge for anyone that’s trying to make it to the NFL. The more you can do, that is the name of the game for a lot of guys. The fact that he played on both sides of the ball and back when he was doing special teams, he was one of the leaders in every unit. The NFL is always looking for those types of guys and he is that kid that can do it all. He is not afraid to get in there and make tackles but on offense he is able to block which also translates to punt and kick returns. I think I am biased and think that he should be an every down back, and I am sure that he will get his chance.”

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