• Not Getting Sued, Appreciation for Veggies and the NFL Draft

The Masters has the tagline “A Tradition Unlike Any Other” and far be it from me to argue with that. Mainly because I feel like they would sue me. Seriously, have you read the stories and seen the online posts about people trying to start something or even simply bring something into Augusta National that they shouldn’t? They get escorted out, banned, put in golf jail and all sorts of things. So, in speaking of my annual NFL Draft Party that I try and shepherd each year, it’s something similar to the Master’s tagline, but for the purposes of copyright infringement. It isn’t.

First of all, I’m not exactly sure what number this is for the Draft Party. I think it’s the 24th Annual Dahl E. Llama Draft Party but I didn’t set out for this to be a thing so I really don’t remember what year was the first. My bones, joints and overall digestive system remembers though. It’s been a long time. Back when I started, you would get banned from being invited the following year if you brought vegetables. Now, we’re all in our 40’s, 50’s and 60’s so it’s a good idea. Sugar? Better be in moderation now or at least gear your diet for the week around the party itself. Tailgate food and the like are still the standard and quite honestly, it’s pretty great. I make sure the TV works and provide the sarcastic comments and the homemade root beer and the real chefs and cooks do the rest. The good news for that is we’re all middle aged and even beyond so many of us have undergone “The Change” of our lives which means as men, we have studied smoked meats and marinades.

Anyway, a chance to hang out with family and friends is always a welcome thing to look forward to and this year’s Draft Party is no exception. I hope you all get to enjoy this oasis of football that is held at this time of year and that you get to enjoy the busting of chops and the jokes that accompany a room full of men prepping for retirement who still act like they’re in junior high.

Here’s a look at a few players from the area schools who could hear their name called.

University of Wyoming:  Caden Barnett (OL) and John Michael Gyllenborg (TE) –

Nicknamed the “Vanilla Gorilla”, Barnett has been interviewed by a few teams including the Broncos where former teammate Frank Crum is on the offensive line. I think he will hear his name at some point during the weekend. If not, he may do as Crum did and earn a job anyway as a free agent. Gyllenborg is the very definition of a gamble. He has the physical traits and measurables but he was rarely healthy in a UW uniform. Maybe fate has a pro career in store for him, but his availability is a huge red flag to those in the draft room.

BYU: Keanu Tanuvasa (DT), Jack Kelly (LB) and Chase Roberts (WR) –

Tanuvasa could go earlier rather than later in the draft and will likely hear his name on Friday. Kelly is a tough player who piqued the interest of coaches and scouts during the NFL Combine. Roberts was also invited to the Combine and had a solid career. It doesn’t hurt that BYU has a history of wide receivers in the league.

Utah: Spencer Fano (OT), Caleb Lomu (OT) and Dallen Bentley (TE) –

Fano is considered the second-best tackle prospect in the entire draft so he will almost certainly be a top-15 pick on Thursday next week. It’s possible he slides out of the teens but I wouldn’t bet on it. The Utes may have two linemen picked in the first round as Lomu is also among the top prospects and could be late first round or early second round material. As for Bentley, the production of former Utes at that position again doesn’t hurt.

Utah State: Ike Larsen (FS) – Larsen could have left last year and didn’t which makes it all the more disappointing he missed half the season due to a suspension for breaking team rules. That may or may not affect his draft position next week. I could imagine hearing his name or he could be the free agent type who beats out someone else. I’d be surprised if he’s not on an NFL roster in 2026.