Dyson, Smith Are Taken On First Day Of NFL Draft

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April 23, 2001

SALT LAKE CITY -

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The University of Utah football team was the only Mountain West Conference program to have players taken on the first day of the NFL Draft. Going in the second round to Tennessee as the No. 60 overall pick was Ute cornerback Andre Dyson. Steve Smith, a wide receiver and returner, was taken in the third round, No. 74 overall, by Carolina.

Dyson, a unanimous first-team all-conference defensive back by vote of the league's coaches and media, will join his brother, Kevin, at Tennessee. Kevin was drafted by the Titans in the spring of 1998 and started at wide receiver for Tennessee's 2000 Super Bowl team. He sat out last season with a knee injury.

The Titans have a distinctly Ute flavor. Former Ute defensive lineman Keith Embray also plays for the Titans and Kautai Olevao, a three-time first-team all-conference linebacker, signed as a free agent with Tennessee last weekend. Phil Glover began his NFL career with Tennessee, but now plays for Indianapolis.

Andre Dyson led the MWC in interceptions his junior and senior seasons, picking off six passes in 1999 and four in 2000. He tied the school record for most touchdowns off interceptions last fall, with three. He also scored on a fumble recovery. Dyson, who runs the 40 in 4.31 seconds, has a 34 inch vertical jump. He started his last three years at Utah and set the school record for most career pass breakups (43).

Smith, the school career record holder in yards per reception (20.6) and punt returns for touchdowns (4), made the all-MWC second-team as a receiver and returner in 1999 and was the first-team returner in 2000 (as well as a second-team receiver). He tied the NCAA record for touchdowns off punt returns in a game with two (70 and 52 yards) vs. New Mexico. In 1999, he ranked fifth in the NCAA in punt return average (17.1 yards). An electrifying player, Smith runs the 40 in 4.35 seconds and has a 38 inch vertical jump.

Three other Utes have signed as free agents: Olevao by Tennessee, defensive lineman Andy Bowers with Arizona and defensive back Jeff Ray with Cincinnati.

Utah has 20 total former players listed on NFL rosters. They are (year they were first drafted is in parentheses):

Scott Mitchell, Cincinnati (1989)Anthony Davis, Baltimore (1992)Keith Embray, Tennessee (1993, as free agent)Jamal Anderson, Atlanta (1994)Luther Elliss, Detroit, 1995Lance Scott, New England, 1995Barry Sims, Oakland (1997, as free agent)Kevin Dyson, Tennessee (1998)Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, Pittsburgh (1998)Phil Glover, Indianapolis (1999, as free agent)Pene Talamaivao, San Diego (1999, as free agent)John Frank, Philadelphia (2000)Mike Anderson, Denver (2000)Richard Seals, N.Y. Jets (2000)Omar Bacon, N.Y. Giants (2000, as free agent)Andre Dyson, Tennessee (2001)Steve Smith, Carolina (2001)Kautai Olevao, Tennessee (2001, as free agent)Andy Bowers, Arizona (2001, as free agent)Jeff Ray, Cincinnati (2001, as free agent)

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Upcoming Event: Football versus Arkansas on September 12, 2026

Upcoming Event: Football versus Utah State on September 19, 2026

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The University of Utah Athletics

Dyson, Smith Are Taken On First Day Of NFL Draft

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