Kansas City Chiefs select Felix Anudike-Uzomah in first round of 2023 NFL Draft
After becoming a star pass-rusher and wrecking defenses for the Kansas State Wildcats, Felix Anudike-Uzomah knows where he will be continuing his football career. Anudike-Uzomah has been selected by Kansas City Chiefs with the No. 31 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Anudike-Uzomah was a three-star prospect by the On3 Industry ratings but ranked barely inside the top 200 at his position coming out of Lee’s Summit (MO.) High School. Anudike-Uzomah elevated his game to another level once he got to college, though and became a legendary pass-rusher for the Wildcats.
Anudike-Uzomah finishes his K-State career with 97 tackles, 26.5 of which were for loss, and 20.5 sacks in three years. Anudike-Uzomah was a two-time Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year, two-time All-Big 12 First Team pick, a Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-American.
“I’ve believed in myself since the day, the beginning. Basically, I came to K-State with opportunity,” Anudike-Uzomah said before Kansas State’s Sugar Bowl appearance. “I knew I had full advantage because nobody really believed in me that much. And I just had a couple of followers, like my family, who believed in me, and I just took that to my advantage. I took all the things that — I took all my opportunities to my advantage and made the most of it.”
What NFL Draft Analysts are saying about Felix Anudike-Uzomah
Despite not being a top prospect entering college, Anudike-Uzomah grew as a prospect throughout his college days and impressed NFL scouts everywhere. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein provided the following analysis of Anudike-Uzomah, while also comparing him to Dallas Cowboys defensive end Dante Fowler.
“A hard-charging edge prospect, Anudike-Uzomah has good strength and a long frame that should continue to fill out,” Zierlein wrote. “His run defense is unrefined and in need of better fundamentals, but he’s clearly gone to school on his pass-rush approach, adding several new wrinkles to his attack in 2022. His urgency leads to playmaking opportunities, but he will need to harness that energy and play with better control to become a more efficient defender. There is more polish needed, but Anudike-Uzomah’s NFL rush potential should eventually make him an NFL starter.”