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4 Kansas City Chiefs rookies who proved they’re ready for NFL this preseason

Published

2 hours ago

August 26, 2024

4 Kansas City Chiefs rookies who proved they’re ready for NFL this preseason

Another preseason is in the books for the Kansas City Chiefs. While KC went 0-3 in the preseason, the game results matter far less than what we learned about the players who are fighting to make the 53-man roster or even fighting for a starting spot with the team. This preseason the Chiefs learned a lot about their rookie class. While time will tell on just how many rookies from this season will make an impact long-term, four of them stood out and made names for themselves this preseason.

Some of these rookies made big splash plays, while others displayed the skills or traits that the Chiefs drafted them for, but might have been wondering if they would transfer to the NFL. So let’s take a look at the four rookies who stood out in the preseason and what they proved going forward. We’ll start with the biggest surprise of the group.

Carson Steele is the one undrafted player on this list. While many college/draft experts had Steele on their radar and thought he was a nice UDFA signing for the Chiefs after the draft, I don’t think anyone expected Steele to take Chiefs Kingdom by storm the way he did. While the hype seemed too good to be true, Steele proved the hype was justified by the time the preseason came to a close.

Steele was K.C.’s leading rusher in the preseason, scored two short-yardage touchdowns, made a couple of amazing runs that went viral on social media, proved he could play on passing downs both with his hands and pass protection, proved he could play on special teams returning kicks and covering them, and was the talk of the internet when he revealed he had a pet alligator named Crocky J.

In other words, nobody had a better preseason and proved they deserved a spot on the roster more than Carson Steele.

The 2024 draft class didn’t have a clear-cut “best” safety. There were multiple different safeties that some draft experts thought were the best in the class, one of those being Jaden Hicks. So when Hicks fell to the Chiefs at the end of the fourth round it was universally labeled a “steal”.

Sometimes when that happens, NFL fans quickly find out there was a reason that particular player fell and that “steal” actually just meant that the player was overrated by the draft experts. Thankfully, that doesn’t seem to be the case with Hicks

With starting safety Justin Reid rehabbing an injury all through the preseason, Hicks got a lot of valuable experience and playing time with the first-string defense and he made the most of it. Sometimes you can see a rookie take the field and can tell they have “it”. That was the case with Hicks. From day one he was flying around making tackles and looking like he belonged in the NFL. Whether it was on defense or on special teams, Hicks looks like someone that will be a reliable part of the defense for years to come.

One of the biggest questions at the start of Chiefs training camp was if they even had their starting left tackle on the roster yet. Second-year man Wanya Morris and rookie second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia were given the opportunity to prove one of them could be trusted with the job or KC would have to go out and sign someone and Suamataia did just that. Morris was hampered by injuries most of training camp, but Suamataia didn’t just win by default. He showed he has it takes to be the long-term solution at left tackle for KC.

Suamataia stood out right away with his combination of size and athleticism. He doesn’t move like a man that is listed at 6-foot-4 and 326 pounds. That’s not to say that Kingsley won’t have some rookie mistakes. That’s bound to happen, but in his limited preseason playing time he showed both the power and movement skills to hold up against starting NFL defensive linemen. In fact, he showed that he’s far and away the most athletic tackle the Chiefs have had since Eric Fisher. As he gets more experience and improves his technique he should only continue to improve and that’s very encouraging for the Chiefs going forward.

There was never any doubt that Xavier Worthy could run fast. His NFL Combine record 4.21 second 40-yard dash time was proof of that. However, the history of the NFL is littered with players who could run a fast forty, but it didn’t translate to the field when the pads came on. Whether it was the numerous training camp highlights or a couple of splash plays in his limited preseason snaps, it was instantly clear that Worthy’s special speed is still going to be special in the NFL.

When a player comes along that can just blow by other NFL players that are usually considered elite athletes in their own right, it changes how teams have to defend them. Given KC’s wide receiver struggles last season, it allowed opposing defenses to clamp down on KC’s wideouts, but now they are going to have to go back to constantly protecting against the deep ball like they did when Tyreek Hill was a Chief. That’s not to say that Worthy has proven to be the all-around playmaker that Hill is, but the special speed is there and that alone will help the Chiefs offense this season.

So there you have it, Chiefs fans. Those are my four Kansas City Chiefs rookies who proved they belong in the preseason. There may be other rookies (possibly Jared Wiley) that could still contribute this season or in the future, but these four have already proven they have a clear place or role on this team. Do you agree with these picks? Did I leave anyone else out? I’d love to read your thoughts in the comments below.

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Police seek help to identify man pulled from lake in Kansas

Published

10 hours ago

August 26, 2024

Press Room

Police seek help to identify man pulled from lake in Kansas

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV/Gray News) – Investigators in Kansas are working to identify a deceased man who was pulled from a lake in Wyandotte County Lake.

According to a social media post, Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office says that around 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24, emergency crews were called to the Wyandotte County Lake with reports of a possible drowning.

When first responders arrived, they said they found an individual floating in the lake who had been unresponsive. The Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department helped remove the person from the lake.

Law enforcement officials pronounced the person deceased. Officials say the victim appears to be a Hispanic male in his 60s, however, investigators have not yet identified him.

Anyone with information about the incident should report it to the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

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Kansas State’s Avery Johnson Just Cracks Big 12’s Top-10 Quarterbacks

Published

17 hours ago

August 25, 2024

Press Room

Kansas State’s Avery Johnson Just Cracks Big 12’s Top-10 Quarterbacks

Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Avery Johnson is gearing up for his first full season at the helm.

Johnson assumed the starting job after QB Will Howard transferred to Ohio State late in the season. With a limited chance to prove himself, some are doubting his potential heading into their first matchup on Aug. 31.

PFF’s Dalton Wasserman is among those potentially underestimating the Wildcats QB. He released a ranking of the Big 12 quarterbacks, where Johnson placed No. 10 of 16.

The full list is as follows:

1. Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)
2. Noah Fifita (Arizona)
3. Garrett Greene (West Virginia)
4. Jalon Daniels (Kansas)
5. KJ Jefferson (UCF)
6. Cam Rising (Utah)
7. Rocco Becht (Iowa State)
8. Donovan Smith (Houston)
9. Alan Bowman (Oklahoma State)
10. Avery Johnson (K-State)
11. Dequan Finn (Baylor)
12. Josh Hoover (TCU)
13. Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati)
14. Behren Morton (Texas Tech)
15. Sam Leavitt (Arizona State)
16. Jake Retzlaff (BYU)

Big 12 Quarterback Rankings🎯
(Via: @PFF_Dalton) pic.twitter.com/mS6mnxGJ1w
— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 25, 2024

A full campaign under coach Chris Klieman is leading some to pick Johnson as their dark horse Heisman candidate. The rising sophomore passed for 301 yards and three touchdowns in his limited time on the field. He also made good use of his legs, rushing for 225 yards and six touchdowns.

Johnson’s weapon room is filled with talent, including DJ Giddens and Keagan Johnson, meaning there’s no reason he shouldn’t have a breakout season.

MORE K-STATE NEWS

Why Kansas State WR Keagan Johnson Is Primed For Breakout Campaign

National Writer Picks Kansas State To Make College Football Playoff

Anthony Pasciolla is a contributing writer to K-State On SI. He can be reached at ampasciolla@gmail.com or followed on X @AnthonyPasci.

Facebook: K-State On SI

Twitter: @KStateOnSI

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Here are 15 players to watch from Kansas, K-State and Mizzou this football season

Published

24 hours ago

August 25, 2024

Press Room

Here are 15 players to watch from Kansas, K-State and Mizzou this football season

Look around the local colleges — at Kansas, K-State and Missouri — and you’ll find no shortage of standouts who could earn all-conference or even All-America acclaim.

And possibly a spot in the upcoming NFL Draft.

It could be a historic year for the three power-conference teams, with the Jayhawks and Wildcats likely to battle near the top of the Big 12, and Missouri set to compete in an even-more-loaded SEC with the addition of Oklahoma and Texas.

To help get you ready for the 2024-25 season, here are 15 players to watch, five from each local school…

Kansas State Wildcats (Last Season: 9-4)

By Kellis Robinett

1. Avery Johnson, sophomore quarterback

It’s hard to imagine a sophomore quarterback entering his first season as a full-time starter with higher expectations than Avery Johnson. K-State fans think so much of him that they weren’t upset in the slightest when Will Howard decided to hit the transfer portal and leave for Ohio State.

Johnson is a dual-threat playmaker from Maize who led the Wildcats to a victory in the Pop-Tarts Bowl last season. Some are predicting him to win the Heisman Trophy. Can he live up that kind of hype? One thing is certain: He should be fun to watch.

2. DJ Giddens, junior running back

The Junction City product led K-State’s backfield with 1,549 total yards and 13 touchdowns last season. What will he do for an encore? Well, he says he wants to prove that he is a complete running back who can gain yards between the tackles and make defenders miss on the perimeter. He should be one of the best running backs in the Big 12.

3. Dylan Edwards, sophomore running back

Giddens isn’t the only talented running back on the K-State roster. Colorado transfer Dylan Edwards has returned to his home state to play for the Wildcats. His breakaway speed and shiftiness could make him a touchdown threat any time he touches the ball. It will be interesting to see how coaches work to get him the ball.

4. Austin Moore, senior linebacker

K-State coaches long ago gave Austin Moore a nickname. They like to call him “The Machine” because he is a fundamentally sound linebacker who never takes a play off.

His tenacity has led to 172 tackles during his college football career. Expect him to add another 75 or so this season. He is the quarterback of this defense.

5. Keenan Garber, senior cornerback

The Wildcats wisely moved Keenan Garber from wide receiver to cornerback in 2022. Turns out, he was always supposed to play on defense. Giddens made 22 tackles and grabbed one interception as a stater last season. He should only get better now that he has more experience on that side of the ball.

Kansas Jayhawks (Last Season: 9-4)

By Shreyas Laddha

1. Jalon Daniels, senior quarterback

There’s no denying Jalon Daniels’ talent, but the biggest question is whether he can stay healthy. Although he only played three games in the 2023 season, Daniels had a memorable 2022 season. He threw for 2,014 passing yards with 18 passing touchdowns and four interceptions while running for 425 yards and seven more touchdowns.

Under new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, Daniels could take another leap. If he stays healthy, it could be the makings of a special season.

2. Devin Neal, senior running back

After many thought he would leave for the NFL, Neal returned for his senior season. As long as he stays healthy, Neal is on pace to break multiple Kansas records and leave a Jayhawk legend.

Last season, he ran for 1,280 yards on 203 carries, averaging 6.3 yards per carry with 17 touchdowns, which earned him All-Big 12 second-team honors.

3. Mello Dotson, senior cornerback

In the dynamic corner duo of Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson, Dotson goes a little under the radar. Even though he’s a bit underrated, he has plenty of skill. Last season, he had 48 tackles, three tackles for loss, 15 pass breakups and four interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns.

Dotson told The Star his focus is on improving his coverage even further as he chases his NFL aspirations. Let’s see if he can take another step forward this year.

4. JB Brown, senior linebacker

After the departure of Rich Miller, there are big shoes to fill in KU’s linebacker room. Luckily for the Jayhawks, senior JB Brown is the perfect player for the job. Brown played in all 13 games in 2023, finishing with 57 tackles and two forced fumbles.

Coach Lance Leipold even raved about his fall camp performance.

“The guy that’s really stood out and playing some good football is JB Brown,” Leipold said. “He’s playing fast and confident. You can tell he’s really comfortable with what he’s supposed to be doing with our defense and he keeps showing up.”

5. DJ Warner, freshman defensive end

The hype around DJ Warner continues to build. Recently, Leipold said Warner and Dakyus Brinkley could see snaps this season despite being freshmen. Multiple Jayhawks raved about Warner’s play to The Star at KU’s media day. He could also help alleviate some of KU’s pass rushing concerns.

Mizzou Tigers (Last season: 11-2)

By Maddie Hartley

1. Luther Burden III, junior wide receiver

It’ll be roughly this time next year that we’ll be hearing Burden’s name talked about on Sundays, but until then, we’ll look forward to seeing how he capitalizes off a star-studded sophomore campaign.

Burden is already landing across various 2025 mock drafts as a first rounder. He recorded 1,212 yards across 86 receptions and nine touchdowns for the Tigers last season, and will be QB Brady Cook’s No. 1 target once again.

2. Brady Cook, senior quarterback

On the topic of Burden, someone will have to be there to throw it to him.

And it’s going to be Brady Cook.

As Cook prepares for his senior season, he’s under the highest expectations he’s seen in the black and gold. After leading a Mizzou squad that was projected near the bottom of the SEC to an 11-2 record and Cotton Bowl win with his 3,317 passing yards and 21 TDs, the St. Louis native will be in charge of getting the Tigers to a potential College Football Playoff Spot.

3. Marcus Carroll, senior running back

The Tigers had large shoes to fill with Cody Schrader’s departure, and head coach Eli Drinkwitz hit the portal to find an answer in Georgia State transfer Marcus Carroll. Carroll ran for 1,350 yards across 274 carries for the Panthers last season, both marks ranking second in the Sun Belt.

4. Brett Norfleet, sophomore tight end

Norfleet, a member of last year’s SEC All-Freshman team, started the last seven contests for the Tigers and enters his sophomore season as the starter for the Tigers.

Schrader even said at the NFL Combine in March he expects Norfleet to be the best tight end in college football, expecting another great season out of the true sophomore.

“He’s one of the most physical, gifted tight ends I’ve seen,” Schrader said.

Norfleet recorded 197 yards on 18 receptions last year, including three TDs.

5. Blake Craig, redshirt-freshman kicker

Harrison Mevis is the program’s all-time scoring leader, finishing his college career with 415 points. He’s also Mizzou’s all-time leader in field goals by a mile with 86 (second on the list is Andrew Baggett with 66).

That’s a lot for Craig to live up to, but this KC native (Liberty North) was a top-10 kicking recruit in the country and currently holds the MSHSAA records for field goals in a season (17), career (45) and career points by a kicker (335). It’ll be interesting to see how he makes his own name in the absence of Mevis.

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