Utes safety Cole Bishop is the first Utah player selected

BYU's Bishop and Kingsley Suamataia were removed from the board Friday.

Utah football fans had to watch and wait as the NFL Draft began on Thursday.

Now things are getting hot.

Utah's Cole Bishop and BYU's Kingsley Suamataia were both selected in the second round of the NFL Draft on Friday.

The Buffalo Bills took Bishop with the 60th overall selection, making the safety the Utes' highest-drafted defensive back since Jaylon Johnson (50th) in 2020.

A short time later, the Kansas City Chiefs moved up one spot and secured Suamataia with the 63rd overall pick.

Utah starter Jonah Elliss was selected in the third round with the 12th pick (76th overall).

Utah safety Cole Bishop, No. 60 to Buffalo Bills

He was a three-year starter and one of the best players in the Pac-12. Bishop was an incredibly willing tackler and made Utah's safety position the most active spot on the field. He led Utah in tackles in 2022 and finished his career with nearly 200.

Bishop had 60 tackles — including 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks — with two interceptions, a forced fumble and two recoveries for the Utes last season.

BYU lineman Kingsley Suamataia, No. 63 of the Kansas City Chiefs

With a height of almost 1.90 meters and a weight of 150 kilograms, Suamataia can run a 40-yard sprint in five seconds. He can also shoot a basketball and grew up boxing with his family. This fluidity carries over to the football field.

Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick called Suamataia one of the best athletes he's ever seen at the position. “I've never seen anything like it,” Roderick remarked in 2022.

“Kingsley is not only a great player with tremendous skill, but also a person that a great organization like the Chiefs, coach Andy Reid and the fans in Kansas City will love on and off the field,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said. “I’m just so proud and happy for him and the entire Suamataia family.”

The second-year student is still learning. He changed offensive line positions during his two years in Provo. He told the Salt Lake Tribune that he could play any position on the line except maybe center.

Utah picks Jonah Elliss, No. 76, against Denver Broncos

The Utes patiently waited for Elliss to develop in their system and were rewarded with an extremely productive 2023.

Elliss managed 12 sacks and 37 tackles last year. The junior played for his father – defensive ends coach Luther Elliss – and benefited from his size. He is 1.90 meters tall, but has the prototypical length for an NFL edge rusher.