The NFL took its annual draft on the road for the first time in 2015. After decades in New York City, where its headquarters are located, the draft moved to its teams' cities. Previous stops included Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Nashville, Cleveland, and Las Vegas. This year it's in Kansas City. Events have been going on all week in KC. The NFL draft continues a great year for the Chiefs. Kansas City won the Super Bowl in February, host the Draft this week, and will host the season-opening 2023 Kickoff game in September.
A handful of former Missouri high school track and field competitors and standouts are waiting for their names to be heard during the 7-round draft. If not, their draft hopes convert to hopes of finding the best deal and fit to sign as an undrafted free agent with a team.
The NFL constructed a gigantic structure at Kansas City's Union Station where the draft will take place, with a few hundred thousand people in attendance. The first round kicked off Thursday night, while rounds 2 and 3 are tonight, and rounds 4-7 Saturday.
Last year, former Cardinal Ritter College Prep state champion hurdler and elite sprinter Jameson Williams was expected to be a first-round pick at the draft in Las Vegas. Williams began his college career at Ohio State before transferring to Alabama for the 2021 season. Williams showed he was one of the country's best, earning All-America honors and helping the Crimson Tide to the national championship game. In the title game. Williams tore an ACL.
The fact he wouldn't be healthy and ready to play until the middle or late in his rookie season didn't prevent him from being projected as a first-round pick. Not only was the speedy receiver a first-round pick, but the Detroit Lions traded up 20 places to make him their second first-round pick at #12. Williams joined Ezekiel Elliott (John Burroughs School) as former Missouri prep track and field standouts to become 1st-round draft picks.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State Defensive End, Lee's Summit HS
Last night, it happened for the second time in two years. Kansas City native, Lee's Summit High School All-State triple jumper, and Kansas State University defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah heard his name announced in the first round. But it was better than just that. He was selected with the 31st and final first-round pick by his hometown and favorite team, the Kansas City Chiefs.
The NFL draft is where many dreams are realized, but this was 3-fold for Anudike-Uzomah. He was drafted in the first round, by his favorite team, and saw it go down at his home with family and friends before getting in a car today to start his career and put on his Chiefs jersey to go visit kids in the hospital.
Anudike-Uzomah (2020 LSHS graduate) has been part of the great horizontal jumps crew for Lee's Summit and jumps coach Johnny Brackins Sr. That group includes Johnny Brackins Jr (USC All-American), and Joshua Manning (Mizzou FB signee), this year's state leader in the long and triple jump. As a junior in 2019, Anudike-Uzomah earned a personal record (PR) in the triple jump of 46-7.5''/14.21m. Then at state at Battle High in Columbia, he placed 8th in the event with a best of 44-8.5''/13.63m. His senior season was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic
Anudike-Uzomah is 6-4 and 255 lbs. He totaled 46 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. He was the 2022 Big-12 Defensive Player of the Year and earned 2nd and 3rd-Team All-American honors from multiple organizations and outlets.
Anudike-Uzomah selection will keep a streak alive. After four years as a defensive tackle for the Chiefs, free agent Khaulen Saunders signed with the New Orleans Saints earlier in the offseason. The former 2nd-round draft pick out of Western Illinois was an All-State shot putter for Parkway Central. Felix will grow the streak of consecutive seasons with a Missouri All-State track and field athlete on the Chiefs' defensive line to five.
Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern Defensive End, North Kansas City HS
Also hoping to hear his name at the draft is North Kansas City High School and Northwestern University alum Adetomiwa Adebawore. Adebawore is a draft prospect after a four-year career as a defensive lineman at Northwestern. He's 6-2 and 280 lbs and very versatile, able to play inside or outside on the line. He was a 3rd-Team Big-10 selection.
Adebawore was a 4-time All-State performer for North Kansas City High School. He placed 4th in both the Class 5 shot put and discus at state as a junior in 2018. In 2019, Adebawore won the shot put. He joined elite company with a state-winning toss of 62-7.5/19.09m to not just break the 60-foot barrier, but the 62-foot barrier. In the discus, he took 2nd behind Jefferson City's Devin Roberson, who set the state record with a 215-foot bomb. Adebawore's 2nd-place finish came after a PR toss of 186-04/56.79m.