Julius Brents, Felix Anudike-Uzomah give K-State hope for Round 1 pick in NFL Draft
Every year when the NFL Draft rolls around you can usually count on Kansas State to send a handful of football players to the next level.
The Wildcats have produced at least one pick in 28 of the past 29 drafts, and they have celebrated multiple selections in the majority of those years.
But the excitement doesn’t tend to get going until Friday evening in EMAW country. That is because K-State has failed to produce a Round 1 draft pick sine Josh Freeman in 2009. The Wildcats have seen 18 players get selected since then, with four of them going in the second round. But the drought continues when it comes to first-round picks.
That could change later this week when the NFL Draft begins on Thursday at Union Station in Kansas City.
Two former K-State football players have Round 1 upside.
Fans will want to keep an eye on both Julius Brents and Felix Anudike-Uzomah near the end of Round 1 on Thursday. Both players are viewed as potential late selections in Round 1 or early selections in Round 2.
Brents might have the best odds of going in the first round, because his draft stock has rapidly climbed since he played his final game for the Wildcats. Most projected him only as a middle-round pick after he made 94 tackles and grabbed five interceptions over the course of two seasons in Manhattan. But then he showed off his length and athleticism at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Scouts have been raving about him ever since.
One thing that sets him apart is his height. At 6-foot-4 and 202 pounds, he is taller than most other cornerbacks and he has the ability to defend wide receivers and tight ends of all sizes.
“Those guys don’t grow on trees,” K-State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman said, “those 6-foot-4 guys that can run like that and are physical and are smart and willing to learn. I was so proud of what he did at the combine. It’s unfortunate that he wasn’t able to do some things at our pro day, because I think he probably could have ran a little bit better than he did in Indianapolis. But he has it. He will play a lot of years in the NFL because he loves football. He loves to work he’s not afraid to come in and do extra. He’s just a phenomenal individual. I can’t wait to see where he ends up.”
If he gets overlooked on Thursday night, perhaps Anudike-Uzomah will hear his name called. Or maybe they will both go in the first round. At worst, they should both be off the board by Friday.
Much like Brents, the experts are projecting Anudike-Uzomah as a borderline Round 1 selection.
The 6-foot-4, 255-pound defensive end from Kansas City has been on everyone’s radar since his sophomore season when he made 52 tackles and had 11 sacks. Then he followed that up with 46 tackles and 8.5 sacks as a junior. Everyone knew he would leave college a year early.
Any team in need of a pass rusher will be interested in him. Anudike-Uzomah says he has spoken with all 32 teams in the NFL leading up to the draft.
If he hears his name on Thursday, it will be a big deal for both him and K-State.
“It would be a dream,” Anudike-Uzomah said. “Honestly, I remember last year at around this time figuring out that it was going to be in Kansas City and I was just like, ‘OK, I need to get out. I need to show what I can do this season. I need to do the best I can in order to make a dream for me and my family to get drafted in Kansas City.’”
