BYU in the NFL: Ziggy Ansah makes NFL Network's Top 100 players list

We're are in the middle of the NFL season, but good things are still happening for several of the former Cougars in the League, starting with every BYU fan’s favorite Ghanaian, Ziggy Ansah.

Ziggy Ansah was named to the NFL Network's list of the top 100 players in the NFL as voted on by the players themselves. Ansah comes in at number 43 on the list, wedged between Bengals' tight end Tyler Eifert and Cowboys' tackle Tyron Smith. This is the first time Ansah has made the list.

Ansah's 14.5 sacks were good enough for third in the NFL and first in the NFC. The third year defensive end was also one of the few bright spots in a disappointing year for the Detroit Lions. With those kind of numbers, 43 may be a little low.

You can watch the video on Ansah’s selection here.

Ansah's teammate Kyle Van Noy is also making some news in Detroit. Van Noy has had a lackluster first two seasons in the NFL that have been marred by injury, but is grabbing the attention of his coaches during this offseason.

According to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com, Lions' coach Jim Caldwell said that Van Noy came into OTAs "in the best shape he’s ever been in".

Twentyman also had this to say about Van Noy:

Van Noy is looking more comfortable playing off the ball. That will be a big factor in deciding if he wins the starting SAM spot next to Tahir Whitehead (MIKE) and DeAndre Levy (WILL).

Hopefully Van Noy will earn that starting spot on the Lions' and the upcoming season will be a breakout year for the former Cougar.

In some frivolous off-the-field news, two former Cougars got some attention for their involvement with ABC’s “The Bachelorette”. Brett Keisel made an appearance on the popular reality show, running the men vying for the current Bachelorette, JoJo Fletcher’s heart through some football drills.

Meanwhile Dennis Pitta tweeted out this photo of one of his weekly Bachelorette watch parties he hosts for his Ravens’ teammates. Pitta is apparently a big fan of the Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise and hopes to be invited to a taping of the show’s “The Men Tell All” episode.

Terenn Houk is getting a second chance with the Chicago Bears according to the Deseret News. Houk had a previous tryout with the Bears back in back in May, but the team asked him to put on weight and work on his blocking. Let’s hope Houk can find a home in Chicago.

Former Cougar, Mitch Mathews, who is fighting for a roster spot with the Kansas City Chiefs, took some time to encourage a young BYU fan named Dylan who is a much more important fight. Like Mitch, we wish Dylan the best and hope he kicks cancer’s butt.