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NFL Draft: Weber State’s Rashid Shaheed signs free agent deal with Saints; BYU’s Allgeier drafted in 5th round by Falcons

By Brett Hein - | Apr 30, 2022

Rick Bowmer, Associated Press

Weber State wide receiver Rashid Shaheed looks at the scoreboard after returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Utah on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City.

Almost instantaneous to the conclusion of the 2022 NFL draft on Saturday evening, NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero reported that Weber State receiver and kick returner Rashid Shaheed had signed a free-agent contract with the New Orleans Saints.

Not long after, Shaheed himself tweeted the news and one of WSU’s all-time greats — the best kick returner in FCS history — is headed to the Big Easy to try and land a roster spot.

Amie Just of NOLA.com reports Shaheed has signed for a fully guaranteed $220,000, which is a substantial sum and appears to be among the best among undrafted free-agent signings across the NFL.

Shaheed’s two kickoff returns for touchdowns in 2021 gave him seven in his career, which put him alone at the top of the list in FCS football for all-time kick returns. It also tied the FBS kick-return TD record. So, in other words, nobody in the history of Division I football has returned more kickoffs for touchdowns than Shaheed.

During his senior season, Shaheed was eighth in the nation in all-purpose yards with 1,503. That includes being ninth in the nation in kickoff return average and leading the Wildcats with 39 receptions for 700 yards and four touchdowns.

Shaheed finished his career ranked third in WSU history in all-purpose yards with 5,478. He is also seventh in career receiving yards with 2,164 yards and 10th in career receptions with 146. He had 18 career receiving touchdowns. He played in 53 career games at Weber State and was part of the group of Wildcats that won four straight Big Sky titles.

Sunday, WSU linebackers coach Matty Ah You tweeted that linebacker Sherwin Lavaka had received a mini-camp invite from the Kansas City Chiefs.

Following the expected high draft selection of Utah star linebacker Devin Lloyd, who went 27th overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round Thursday night, two other Utah college products heard their names called Saturday as the draft concluded.

The Atlanta Falcons selected BYU running back Tyler Allgeier with the 151st pick, early in the fifth round. Allgeier was fourth nationally in rushing yards (1,601) last season and led the country in rushing touchdowns (23).

“The Falcons are getting a fantastic football player and an incredibly humble and hardworking teammate with the physical versatility and football IQ to contribute in many different ways,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said in a news release. “He is the kind of person who will always succeed and improve. I am excited for Tyler. I look forward to following his NFL career.”

Not too much later, Southern Utah offensive tackle Braxton Jones was taken 168th overall, late in the fifth round, by the Chicago Bears.

Notably around the Big Sky, the Falcons selected Montana State running back-turned-quarterback-turned linebacker Troy Andersen, who wowed scouts at workouts and the combine, with the 58th overall pick, late in the second round. The Rams took MSU linebacker Daniel Hardy in the seventh round with the 235th pick.

After the draft, the following Utah college players were reported to have signed free-agent deals with the following teams:

BYU: Center James Empey (Cowboys), receiver Samson Nacua (Colts), receiver Neil Pau’u (Bills)

Utah: Receiver/kick returner Britain Covey (Eagles), tight end Cole Fotheringham (Raiders), offensive lineman Nick Ford (Jaguars), offensive lineman Bam Olaseni (Raiders), defensive tackle Hauati Pututau (Packers), linebacker Nephi Sewell (Saints), defensive end Mika Tafua (Cowboys)

Utah State: Receiver/kick returner Savon Scarver (Bears), receiver Deven Thompkins (Buccaneers), receiver Derek Wright (Panthers)

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