INDIANAPOLIS – Three draft hopefuls, representing three local colleges, went through the NFL Combine gauntlet at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis this week.
BYU’s Tyler Batty, Utah’s Junior Tafuna, and Utah State’s Jalen Royals all put their skills to the test in front of scouts and coaches from all 32 teams.
Three Locals Showcase Their Skills At NFL Combine
On Thursday, February 27, defensive linemen and linebackers took the stage. That meant that both Batty and Tafuna were up first.
Friday was for the defensive backs and tight ends. On Saturday, Royals was up alongside all of the other wide receivers, running backs, and quarterbacks.
Each prospect was able to participate in seven NFL Combine drills. These include bench press, 40-yard dash, 10-yard split, broad jump, vertical jump, 3-cone drill, and 20-yard shuttle.
The next generation of the league is on display 🔥
📺: 2025 #NFLCombine — Today at 3pm ET on @nflnetwork📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/bzhU5g0Oek
— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2025
Tyler Batty NFL Combine Recap
Batty was the only local to complete all seven tests.
He recorded a 4.78-second 40-yard dash, a 1.69-second 10-yard split, a 34-inch vertical jump, a 10-foot broad jump, a 7.21-second 3-cone drill, a 4.54-second 20-yard shuttle, and 27 bench press reps.
Batty’s best performances came in the 3-cone drill (5th), 20-yard shuttle (6th), and bench press (tied for 3rd).
NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein was tasked with breaking down the NFL combine participants and listing their strengths and weaknesses. Here’s what he wrote about Batty.
Batty has played standing on occasion, but he will be a 4-3, strong-side defensive end in the NFL. He’s densely muscled and plays with consistent aggression at the point. He hustles in pursuit, too. He has some snap in his initial punch but lacks the length and twitch quickness to get away from blocks quickly and will succumb to power from tackles. He creates pressure with hops and euro-steps to gain ground. He has strong hands to discard the punch but won’t beat most pro tackles with speed or power. He’s an older rookie and an effort player, but it’s not clear if he’ll have the physical gifts or skill level to become a “make it” prospect.
He finished with a total score of 67 which put him at 27th out of all edge rushers. Out of eight, Batty was given a 5.68 prospect grade.
that’s a wrap on Indy for our guy @Tyler_Batty2 🤙#NFLCombine on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/OWCwpyC0OF
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) February 28, 2025
Junior Tafuna NFL Combine Recap
Tafuna participated in four of the seven drills.
He recorded a 5.03-second 40-yard dash, a 1.8-second 10-yard split, a 28.5-inch vertical jump, and 24 bench press reps.
Amongst defensive tackles, Tafuna had the 8th-fastest 40-yard dash time and also the 8th-most bench press reps.
Zierlein wrote this about Tafuna.
Tafuna lacks the traits and production teams look for from interior defenders, but his athletic flashes might be enough to create intrigue. He’s gritty at the point of attack, fighting to neutralize double-teams and down blocks but has a smaller margin for error. He gets around with fluidity and good change of direction when he’s twisting and stunting. He can chase plays down the line. Tafuna is an early-down-only player with some rush qualities that could be developed, but his ceiling is limited.
He finished with a total score of 59 which put him at 37th out of all defensive tackles. Tafuna was given a 5.80 prospect grade.
Junior Tafuna showing off today!🏃💨#ProUtes | #NFLCombine https://t.co/ebln6jKdN1 pic.twitter.com/kxWH3Hn4P7
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) February 27, 2025
Jalen Royals NFL Combine Recap
Of course, it’s all relative to position. However, through only three drills, Royals may have had the best NFL Combine performance among locals.
He recorded a 4.42-second 40-yard dash, a 1.49-second 10-yard split, and 13 bench press reps.
He had the second-best 10-yard split time in the wide receivers pool and also put up the seventh-most reps on the bench.
Zierlein had notably high praise for the Aggie wideout.
Skilled and instinctive, Royals might lack the desired explosiveness, but he makes up for it with his body control and feel for the game. He has good size and is keenly aware of defenders around him, which allows him to adjust routes and improve his chances on contested catches. He’s a decent route-runner but doesn’t have the short-area foot quickness and burst to open wide windows for his quarterback. He’s excellent as a zone-beater and uses plus body control and play strength to bring in catches in traffic. Royals is a smooth athlete who can play inside or outside and is best suited for an offense that will value him as a possession target over the first two levels.
Royals finished with a total score of 82, good for seventh among all wide receivers. He was given a solid prospect grade of 6.27.
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Chandler Holt is a co-host of the Jazz Notes podcast, a Locals In The NFL Insider, and Digital Sports Producer for KSLSports.com. Follow Chandler on X for Utah Jazz and Locals In The NFL updates.
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