Minnesota Vikings select BYU quarterback Jaren Hall in fifth round of the NFL Draft

PROVO, Utah – BYU quarterback Jaren Hall has been selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 29th pick of the fifth round at 164th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft on Saturday.

He is the second BYU player selected thus far in the 2023 NFL Draft, joining All-American offensive lineman Blake Freeland, who was selected by the Indianapolis Colts 106th overall in the fourth round.

“Jaren is an ultimate leader,” said BYU head coach Kalani Sitake. “He’s all about the team, does everything right. Just a great kid and a great leader and has tons of ability. He’ll do amazing things to help the Vikings. I’m looking forward to seeing him in the NFL.”

A 6-foot, 207-pound native of Spanish Fork, Utah, Hall led BYU’s successful offense as the starting quarterback the past two seasons while appearing in 31 games with 25 starts overall during his college career from 2018-2022.

 “Jaren has always been a poised guy,” said BYU offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Aaron Roderick. “He’s accurate, a super athlete and he’s smart. He’s going to play a long time in the NFL.”

Hall is the third BYU player to be drafted by the Minnesota Vikings and the first since offensive lineman John Hunter was a third-round selection in 1989. The Vikings also drafted safety Kyle Morrell in the fourth round in 1985.

With his selection, Hall becomes the 10th Cougar quarterback and the 40th BYU offensive player to be selected in one of the opening five rounds of the NFL Draft. Overall, he is the 67th BYU player to be taken in one of the first five rounds and the 12th former Cougar to be a fifth-round pick. 

Hall’s former teammate, All-American running back Tyler Allgeier, was the last BYU player taken in the fifth round, going to Atlanta in last year’s draft on his way to a 1,000-yard first season with the Falcons. In addition to Hall and Allgeier, some other BYU fifth-round picks have included offensive lineman Scott Young (2005, Eagles), quarterback Brandon Doman (2002, 49ers) and offensive lineman Matt Johnson (2000, Colts).

Another teammate of Hall's at BYU, defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga, currently plays for the Vikings. Tonga, a seventh-round draft choice in 2021 by the Chicago Bears, is entering his second year in Minnesota in 2023.

BYU in the NFL Draft

With Hall being BYU's second selection in 2023, BYU has now had 36 drafts with multiple selections, including 27 drafts with multiple picks in the first seven rounds. The last draft with multiple selections was in 2021 when BYU had five players drafted, including No. 2 overall quarterback Zach Wilson to the Jets.

The Cougars have been represented in 51 of the last 56 drafts and in 68 of the 88 drafts conducted overall. With Hall's selection, NFL teams have now drafted a former BYU player 151 times since the team’s first draft choice in 1938 (John Stringham, Back, ninth round). Entering this year’s post-draft free agency signings, 205 additional Cougars have received NFL deals as free agents following the annual draft.  

BYU Quarterbacks in the Draft

Each of BYU’s last two starting quarterbacks—Jaren Hall and Zach Wilson—have been drafted after declaring early for the annual draft. Hall is the 14th BYU quarterback to be drafted overall in the history of the draft. Others include Wilson (2020, first round–No. 2 overall, Jets), John Beck (2007, second round, Dolphins), Brandon Doman (2002, fifth round, 49ers), John Walsh (1994, seventh round, Bengals), Ty Detmer (1992, ninth round, Packers), Robbie Bosco (1986, third round, Packers), Steve Young (1984, first round NFL Supplement of USFL/CFL players–No. 1 overall, Buccaneers), Jim McMahon (1982, first round–No. 5 overall, Bears), Marc Wilson (1980, first round–No. 15 overall, Raiders), Gifford Nielsen (1978, third round, Oilers), Gary Sheide (1975, third round, Bengals), Virgil Carter (1968, sixth round, Bears), Dee Chipman (1942, 16th round, Washington).

Jaren Hall at BYU

Hall, who played quarterback at BYU from 2018-2022 and appeared in 31 games with 25 starts, finished his college career No. 1 at BYU in all-time interception avoidance percentage with 52 touchdowns to 11 interceptions and a pass efficiency rating of 65.2 percent (tied with Steve Young for No. 4 all-time at BYU).

Hall racked up 6,174 total passing yards and as dual-threat quarterback, registered 796 yards on the ground with 181 carries and nine touchdowns.

Hall won many awards for his performance on the field, including Independent Offensive Player of the Year, Independent Quarterback of the Year and All-Independent First Team by College Football Network (2022), Phil Steele All-Independent First Team (2021, 2022) and Pro Football Network Independent Quarterback of the Year (2021).

As a Junior in 2022, Hall threw for 3,171 yards with a 66 percent completion rate (No. 8 all-time at BYU) and 31 touchdowns to six interceptions. His pass efficiency rating of 160.8 was good for No. 8 all-time at BYU and his interception avoidance percentage (1.6%) was No. 2 all-time at BYU in a single season.

He also tallied 346 yards rushing on 86 carries and three touchdowns. Hall was one of just three FBS quarterbacks with 3000+ passing yards, 65%+ completion rate, 160+ pass efficiency rating, 30+ touchdown passes and fewer than 10 interceptions with 300+ rushing yards. Others were Caleb Williams (USC) and Drake Maye (North Carolina).

In his first year as the full-time starter in 2021, Hall started 10 games with an 8-2 record and finished the season 189 of 296 (64%) for 2,583 yards and 20 touchdowns to only five interceptions.

His efficiency rating of 156.1 led BYU's offense to average 33 points per game, 452 yards of total offense per game, a 46% third down conversion rate and 89% of red zone trips leading to scores (49 of 55)—75% of those (41) were touchdowns.

He also received the Davey O'Brien Award's Great 8 recognition for his performance in BYU's 26-17 win over No. 21 Utah in 2021, ending the Utes winning streak over the Cougars since 2009.

A two-sport athlete, Hall also played baseball in 2019 and 2020 at BYU before concentrating exclusively on football.

Personal Information

Hall served a two-year full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Roseville, California from 2016-18. His parents, Kalin and Hollie Hall, both competed as athletes at BYU. Kalin played running back from 1992-93 while Hollie was a gymnast in 1993. 

Hall is married to former Utah Valley soccer player Breanna McCarter (2014-18) and they have a baby daughter Jayda born in 2021.