Utah wide receiver and returner Britain Covey, who has been at the program since 2015, announced he's foregoing his final year of college football eligibility and declaring for the 2022 NFL draft.
"Many people reading this are probably thinking, "Wait, you're telling me this guy has another year of eligibility? The answer is yes,'" Covey wrote in his goodbye message on Twitter. "And while it sounds fun to drag out my college career until I collect social security, I'm ready for my next chapter."
The 24-year-old Covey recorded 579 return yards and two punt return touchdowns, as well as 480 receiving yards and two touchdowns, this season. He is the No. 4-ranked returner prospect in ESPN's Mel Kiper's draft position rankings.
After starting his college career in 2015 as a freshman from Timpview High School in Provo, Utah, Covey took a two-year break to go on a Mormon mission in Chile. He returned in 2018 and had his most productive season as a receiver.
During his five seasons in Salt Lake City, Covey has shown his versatility, totaling more than 1,700 combined return yards on kickoffs and punts, nearly 2,000 receiving yards with 10 touchdowns and more than 300 rushing yards. He even recorded two touchdown passes in 2018.
Because of last season's shortened year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Covey was allowed one more year of eligibility, but after helping Utah claim a Pac-12 championship this season, Covey wrote that he's "perfectly content" ending his college career on that note. He said he still plans to play in Utah's upcoming Rose Bowl matchup against Ohio State.
