Chiefs select Kansas State defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah drafted in the first round
In spectacular fashion at Union Station in Kansas City to finish the first night of the NFL Draft off, the Kansas City Chiefs drafted Kansas State defensive Felix Anudike-Uzomah in the first round, which was met by a rousing ovation.
Josh Freeman, selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2009 NFL Draft, was the last K-State player to be drafted in the first round. Anudike-Uzomah also becomes the highest-drafted Kansas State defensive end ever.
Darren Howard held the previous honor when drafted No. 33 overall in 2000.
It is a special moment for the Lee’s Summit native to hear his name called in the first round of the NFL Draft in Kansas City. There was one point where he was not even going to play college football. That was two days before signing with Chris Klieman and K-State.
All that happened afterwards was a storybook career in Manhattan. He led a defense that improved each year and became one of the best in the conference, helped revitalize a culture in a great college town and was one of the best players on a Kansas State team that climbed the mountain and won the Big 12.
In his three seasons at K-State, Anudike-Uzomah was extremely productive.
He jumped onto the scene in 2021 with 50 tackles, 14.5 tackles for a loss and 11 sacks. He was named a third team All-American by Phil Steele that year and was the Big 12 Co-Defensive Lineman of the Year according to the coaches that season.
Following the 2021 season, the former two-star recruit had another sensational season in 2022. Despite battling injuries throughout the year, he totaled 46 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss and 8.5 sacks.
Anudike-Uzomah also tallied more awards after the 2022 season. He was the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year by the coaches for the second year in a row and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year by the coaches and the Associated Press.
Not only did he stack Big 12 awards, but he was also a third team All-American by the AP and a second team All-American by Walter Camp, the FWAA, the AFCA and CBS Sports.
Anudike-Uzomah is the third defensive end drafted from Kansas State since 2017. Jordan Willis was selected in the third round in 2017 and Wyatt Hubert was picked in the seventh round in 2021.
