MOBILE, Ala. — Seven members of the BYU football team were named Wednesday to the Watch List for the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl, held annually for the past 74 years in Mobile, Alabama, following the conclusion of the college football season.
BYU quarterback Kedon Slovis, tight end Isaac Rex, offensive lineman Caleb Etienne, Ian Fitzgerald and Connor Pay, as well as linebackers Ben Bywater and Max Tooley were all selected to the prestigious watch list. The Senior Bowl showcases the best NFL Draft prospects and is considered one of the first steps in the NFL Draft process.
Slovis, from Scottdale, Arizona, transferred to BYU in the offseason after spending three years at USC and the 2022 season at Pitt. The senior signal caller started 37 of the 38 games he has played in over four years from 2019-22. His career passing yards of 9,973 ranks No. 13 among active quarterbacks in the FBS. Slovis was named first-team All-Pac 12 by the Associate Press and Phil Steele in 2020 after leading the nation in completions per game (29.5) and finishing sixth in passing yards per game (320.2), 13th in total offense (310.7) and 18th in completion percentage (.670). As a freshman in 2019, Slovis was the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and was named Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America and Pro Football Focus. In July 2023, Slovis was named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, presented annually to the outstanding player in college football.
A native of San Clemente, California, Rex was previously named to the 2023 watch lists for the John Mackey Award and the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award. In addition, he was selected to the 2023 Phil Steele Preseason All-Big 12 Fourth Team. The 6-6, 255-pound junior tight end has played in 40 games for the Cougars over the past four seasons and is currently tied for No. 2 all-time with former Consensus All-American Dennis Pitta at BYU in career touchdown receptions by a tight end with 21. Rex was named Phil Steele All-Independent First Team in 2020, 2021 and 2022 and was also selected to the College Football Network All-Independent Second Team in 2022.
Eteienne, a junior from New Orleans, transferred to BYU in the offseason after playing at Oklahoma State in 2022. The 6-8, 330-pound offensive lineman started 13 games at left tackle for the Cowboys last season and was named 2022 Academic All-Big 12 Second Team. Prior to OSU, Eteienne was a NJCAA All-American at Fort Scott Community College in 2019, where he was rated the No. 2 junior college offensive tackle by 247Sports.
A graduate transfer from Missouri State, Fitzgerald, arrived at BYU this offseason after starting 30 consecutive games for the Bears from 2018-22. Following the 2022 season, the 6-5, 299-pound right tackle from Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, was named Phil Steele MVFC Third Team. In 2020, Fitzgerald was a part of Missouri State’s first MVFC championship team in 30 years. In addition to the success on the field, Fitzgerald was named to the MVFC Honor Roll in 2018 and 2022 and to the MSU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll three times.
Pay, from Highland, Utah, was previously named to the 2023 Rimington Trophy preseason watchlist for a second consecutive year and was selected 2023 Pro Football Focus Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team and the Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big 12 Fourth Team. The 6-5, 305-pound junior started 12 of 13 games for the Cougars in 2022 and was named College Network All-Independent First Team. As a Covid freshman in 2021, Pay earned a starting role at right guard for the Cougars, before taking over the center position the final five games of the season for injured starter James Empey. Pay holds a 3.78 GPA in entrepreneurial management and was named CSC Academic All-District in November 2022.
Bywater, a 6-3, 235-pound junior from Salt Lake City was previously named to the watch lists for the Chuck Bednarik Award and Butkus Award and was also selected as a Lott IMPACT Trophy candidate for the second consecutive season. Bywater was named to the 2023 Phil Steele Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team as well as the Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big 12 Fourth Team. As a sophomore in 2022, Bywater led BYU in tackles with 98, becoming first player to lead the Cougars in tackles in back-to-back seasons since current San Francisco 49er All-Pro Fred Warner did so in 2016-17.
Bywater was the 2022 New Mexico Bowl Defensive MVP after recording his first career pick-six in a game-changing play that helped BYU defeat SMU 24-23. He was named 2022 Phil Steele All-Independent Second Team and was selected to the Associated Press All-Bowl Team for his outstanding play in the New Mexico Bowl.
A native of Bountiful, Utah, Tooley has played in 48 games for the Cougars from 2018-22. The 6-2, 225-pound senior linebacker was previously named to the Phil Steele 2023 Preseason All-Big 12 Fourth Team. Despite a season-ending injury in game eight, Tooley finished as BYU's fourth-leading tackler in 2022 and had three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. He has totaled 219 tackles (124 solo) and six interceptions in his BYU career.
The 2024 edition of the Senior Bowl will take place at South Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Stadium on Feb. 3 and will be broadcast live on NFL Network. More than 900 NFL personnel, including key decision-makers from all 32 teams, and over 1,100 media members from around the country were credentialed for the 2023 game. In each of the past three years, the Reese’s Senior Bowl has had 100 or more players drafted and over 40 percent of the entire draft class, which are both record-setting figures for any all-star game.