AROUND THE SHIELD — Thursday night was a record night for offensive players in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, but not for running backs, and even less for players who played their high school or college football in the state of Utah.

For the first time since 2019, no player from Utah was selected in the draft's first round. There were a record 23 offensive players taken overall, topping the previous all-time high of 19, according to the Associated Press. But for the third time since 1967, no running backs were among that bunch.

In all, the 23 offensive draft picks included six quarterbacks, nine offensive linemen, a record-tying seven wide receivers and one tight end.

Among the "best available" prospects beginning with Friday night's second round (5 p.m. MDT, ESPN), Utah prospects rank close to the top. That includes two offensive linemen who played high school football on the Wasatch Front.

Here's a look at the best available local prospects to be selected Friday and Saturday.

Jackson Powers-Johnson, OC, Oregon/Corner Canyon HS

Rated the best available center by ESPN, Powers-Johnson can play all three interior offensive line positions and spent some time at defensive tackle in high school and his early days at Oregon.

But the reigning Outland Trophy winner given to the nation's top center only has the size, quickness and balance to play center at the next level, and ranks as the 10th-best available prospect by NFL.com, the fifth-best available player by Ralph Russo of the Associated Press, and No. 8 by CBS Sports, and selected No. 58 overall by the Green Bay Packers by Pro Football Focus.

Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU/Orem HS

Seven teams selected an offensive tackle in the first round, as early as the Los Angeles Chargers selecting Notre Dame's Joe Alt with the No. 5 overall pick.

That leaves Suamataia, the 6-foot-5, 326-pound tackle out of BYU and Orem High, as ESPN's third-best remaining tackle and 10th-best overall prospect available by CBS Sports. The Worldwide Leader's Steve Muench writes that Suamataia's tape is "inconsistent, but the flashes and ceiling are impressive."

Pro Football Focus projects him going to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 44 overall.

Suamataia played most left tackle at BYU, but spent time at right tackle when the Cougars had current Indianapolis Colts lineman Blake Freeland. The one-time Oregon transfer could play either side at the next level.

Cole Bishop, S, Utah

Rated the No. 22 available prospect in the draft by ESPN.com, Utah defensive coordinator and safeties coach Morgan Scalley should expect to watch another drafted pupil in Bishop.

The 6-foot-2, 206-pound junior plays with speed, size and range as the No. 3 available safety by ESPN.com, the No. 61 overall prospect by NFL.com, and a top-100 pick by PFF.

Kedon Slovis, QB, BYU

Six of the top-12 picks in the draft went to quarterbacks. That leaves the top available signal callers for two days and six rounds at South Carolina's Spencer Rattler, Tulane's Michael Pratt and BYU's Kedon Slovis, according to ESPN.com.

Slovis played at Southern California, Pitt and BYU, hasn't thrown for as many yards as he did as a freshman at USC, and he's coming off a season-ending injury with the Cougars after completing just 58% of his passes. But his experience and a 4.55 40-yard dash could prompt a team to use a pick on him over the next two days.

Sataoa Laumea, OG, Utah

Death, taxes and Utah offensive linemen in the NFL draft. Laumea shouldn't have to wait long to hear his name after starting 19 games at right guard and 25 at right tackle.

Projecting as a guard at the next level, ESPN rates the 6-foot-4, 319-pound right-side blocker as the No. 4 available guard.

Jonah Elliss, Edge, Utah

The son of former Utah All-American defensive tackle Luther Elliss is projected to follow his older brother Kaden into the NFL, as well. The 6-foot-2, 248-pound pass rusher totaled 12 sacks in 10 games in 2023 for the Utes, and projects as the fifth-best edge rusher overall by ESPN and a top-50 overall prospect by CBS Sports, going in the third round to the Washington Commanders by PFF.

Ryan Rehkow, P, BYU

When specialists start coming off the board — likely Saturday during rounds 4-7 — Rehkow should hear his name called early. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound field flipper who averaged 48.3 yards per punt (No. 3 in the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2023) is the second-highest graded punter in the draft behind Iowa's Tory Taylor.

Dallin Holker, TE, Colorado State/Lehi HS

Utah could see a late-round mini-run on tight ends, and Holker ranks among the best of them.

The 6-foot-3, 241-pound pass catcher from Lehi who played his final season at Colorado State after transferring from BYU was a unanimous All-American with the Rams, where he displayed big hands and long harms capable of making difficult catches — including catching two passes at once during an impressive appearance at the NFL draft combine.

He's currently the 12th-best tight end available, per ESPN, and No. 270 overall by CBS Sports.

Isaac Rex, TE, BYU

Just behind Holker on ESPN's big boards for tight ends is Rex, the 6-foot-6, 255-pound senior from San Clemente, California, who is rated No. 18 at his position by the Worldwide Leader and No. 257 overall by CBS Sports.

Thomas Yassmin, TE, Utah

The 6-foot-5, 251-pound tight end is the 21st-rated tight end available by ESPN.

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Keaton Bills, OG, Utah/Corner Canyon HS

The 6-foot-4, 316-pound interior lineman who started 36 of 45 games at left guard is the No. 158 remaining player by CBS Sports.

Sione Vaki, S, Utah

The 5-foot-11, 210-pound redshirt sophomore is the No. 20-rated safety in by ESPN and No. 208 overall remaining prospect by CBS Sports but also has potential as a running back. He ran a 4.62 40 with a 1.54 10-yard split, which ranks as the third-slowest among safeties at the combine.

Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah

The former walk-on is rated as the 24th-best available receiver in the draft by ESPN. With speed and a 6-foot-4, 203-pound frame, Vele is fast enough to be a vertical threat but big enough to rack up yards after the catch.

Winston Reid, LB, Weber State/Copper Hills HS

The 6-foto-1, 230-pound former walk-on from Copper Hills is the No. 27-rated available linebacker by ESPN.

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