Former Aggies receive opportunities with professional football teams

With the NFL draft behind us and summer camps starting up across the NFL, we now have a better understanding of where some former Aggies will continue their football careers. While USU did not have any players drafted this year, seven players were given opportunities with NFL teams and multiple players signed with Canadian Football League teams. 

Two former Aggies signed contracts as undrafted free agents shortly following the NFL draft: wide receiver Brady Boyd with the Jacksonville Jaguars and defensive back Noah Avinger with the Los Angeles Chargers.  

JACK LEWIS BURTON

USU’s Noah Avinger, 1, takes down UNLV’s Laterrance Welch, 0, at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 15.

Boyd tallied 46 catches and 742 yards last season for the Aggies, while also receiving an All-Mountain West honorable mention. He will be joining a crowded wide receiver room led by Brian Thomas Jr., 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and veteran Jakobi Meyers.  

Avinger, who received first-team All-Mountain West honors last season, will be joining a defense that was in the top five last season for yards allowed per game. Avinger finished the season with 84 tackles, 1.0 sack and 3.5 tackles for loss.  

Running back Miles Davis signed with the Carolina Panthers following minicamps. He was invited to attend the Seattle Seahawks minicamp as well. Davis totaled 731 rushing yards with 11 touchdowns during the 2026 season, with an additional 201 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. Davis will find himself competing for a spot in a crowded running back room in Carolina, featuring recently extended Chuba Hubbard, veteran AJ Dillon, and their 2024 second-round pick Jonathon Brooks. 

© Dane Johnson

USU running back Miles Davis runs the ball for a touchdown at Maverik Stadium on Sept 20 as USU hosts McNeese State. (Dane Johnson/The Utah Statesman)

In addition, quarterback Bryson Barnes, tight end Broc Lane, linebacker John Miller and cornerback Bryson Taylor all received minicamp invites.  

Barnes attended the Cleveland Browns minicamp but has since signed with the Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL. Barnes received second-team All-Mountain West honors for the 2025 season, passing for 2,803 yards and 18 touchdowns, while adding another 740 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. 

© Dane Johnson

USU starting quarterback #16 Bryson Barnes stands on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium before the Utah State vs McNeese State football game on Sept 20. (Dane Johnson/The Utah Statesman)

Lane received invites from the Tennessee Titans as well as the Indianapolis Colts. Linebacker John Miller received an invite from the Denver Broncos, and cornerback Bryson Taylor received an invite from the Atlanta Falcons. 

Despite not receiving any NFL minicamp invites, safety Ike Larsen signed a contract with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL as well. Larsen spent all four years of his collegiate career with the Aggies, starting in 36 games and appearing in 45 for USU. Larsen received second-team All-Mountain West honors as a freshman and first-team All-Mountain West honors as a sophomore. In the 2025 season, Larsen appeared in eight games for the Aggies, with 56 total tackles, three tackles for loss and one interception. 

Ike Larsen, 18, kneels on field at Allegiant Stadium after USU loses to UNLV on Nov. 15.

While multiple players have already signed contracts, this does not necessarily mean we will see them playing on Sundays this upcoming season, but it does allow them to prove themselves before then. Many players will also spend time on practice squads or bounce between teams as the season progresses. 

As for the players who have signed with CFL teams, the CFL season began on June 4th, but neither Larsen nor Barnes made appearances in the games.