Get to know four NFL players with ties to Utah
SAINT GEORGE, Utah — As this NFL season continues, I鈥檓 following the careers of 4 players with Utah ties who have worked hard to get where they are in their lives now. None of them were high draft picks, but when given the chance to compete, they all have shown something in common 鈥� confidence in their own abilities and a belief that they belonged. They are:
Chase Hansen 鈥� 4th yr. LB with the New Orleans Saints (#40, 29 yrs. old, 6鈥�3鈥� & 230 lbs)
Dax Milne 鈥� 2nd yr. WR with the Washington Commanders (#15, 23 yrs. old, 6鈥�0鈥� & 190 lbs)
Braxton Jones 鈥� Rookie OL-Left Tackle with the Chicago Bears (#70, 23 yrs. old, 6鈥�5鈥� & 310 lbs)
Britain Covey 鈥� Rookie WR/PR/KR with the Philadelphia Eagles (#41, 24 yrs. old, 5鈥�8鈥� & 173 lbs)
CHASE (college- UTAH) 鈥� After being selected as the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2018, he went undrafted due to injury reports, but the NO Saints saw his potential and signed him as a free agent in 2019. His promising career has been interrupted by nagging injuries (Back/hip/etc.), and he has only played sparingly up to this year. But The Saints have stuck with him, and Chase has never given up on his dream. This season he is finally 100% again. In the 1st pre-season game this year, he intercepted a pass and returned in 40 yds. and had several tackles. Chase is ready this year to show that he belongs. (Stay healthy!). Chase鈥檚 parents moved here to the Southern Utah area two years ago, and Chase will soon be an area resident, as his family is also building a home here now.
DAX (college- BYU) 鈥� was one of the last players selected in the 2021 NFL draft in the 7th (final) round at #258 by the Washington Commanders. The chances that a 7th rounder makes the final 53-man roster of an NFL team are generally slim, but Dax impressed coach Ron Rivera and earned a spot last year. He had nine receptions for 83 yds. (9.2 yds. avg.) while playing sparingly in 2021, but this yr., he is listed as a #2 WR, and I expect he鈥檒l be seeing a lot more action. Dax has a history of overcoming the odds, starting when he passed on a full scholarship to Weber State to attend BYU as a preferred walk-on football player. There was no guarantee of a scholarship, and finances were tight, but he played so well as a freshman that he was given a scholarship that year. He went on to be one of BYU鈥檚 best career receivers. He says, 鈥淚 kinda bet on myself…and won.鈥�
BRAXTON 鈥� (college- Southern Utah (SUU)) 鈥� was considered a potential 鈥渄iamond in the rough,鈥� coming from a smaller college program, so was drafted in the 5th round of the 2022 NFL draft at #168 by the Chicago Bears. He came into rookie training camp with a great sense of confidence but also humility, knowing that his dream to play in the NFL could become a reality if he would work hard to be the best that he could be and try to improve himself every day if even just 1%. He listens to the veterans, asks them questions, and learns from them. Before the regular season began, he found himself taking most of his reps with the 1st team offense. Bears Offensive Coordinator, Luke Getsy, said, 鈥淏raxton has 鈥渁nswered the bell鈥� while competing and has great athleticism.鈥� Hopefully, now he鈥檚 out there on Sundays pushing defensive linemen around.
BRITAIN 鈥� (college- Utah) 鈥� overlooked by BYU, probably because he was 鈥渢oo small,鈥� he accepted a scholarship to play for the Utes and had a great college career there as a WR and PR/KR. (I consider BYU not offering him a scholarship as one of their big mistakes, as BYU hasn鈥檛 had any meaningful production from its kickoff & punt returners in years). At the UofU in his last season in 2021, Britain had 579 return yds. and two punt return TD鈥檚, as well as good receiving yardage too. When the 2022 NFL draft came in April, he hadn鈥檛 been selected through the 1st five rounds. That鈥檚 when the Philadelphia Eagles organization (who he had worked out for) called him, saying they wanted to sign him, but as an undrafted free agent, since they had no more draft picks to use. After a discussion with his Agent, Britain decided to go with the Eagles. He was very impressive in training camp, and I鈥檓 assuming here that he has made the 53-man roster. The coaches said that he was not lightning fast but super quick and had sure hands as a Returner. Britain says, 鈥淚 love to have the ball in my hands. You don鈥檛 have to be tall or super big; once you have the ball in your hands, it’s a matter of who can tackle you… it鈥檚 kind of a God-given natural skill I have, not learned.鈥� Responding to his small stature, his motto is 鈥淏uild on your strengths, then organize to make weaknesses become irrelevant,鈥�… a quote from his late grandfather, Stephen A. Covey.
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.