Kwamie Lassiter II is focused on himself, as his NFL rookie minicamp with Cincinnati nears
LAWRENCE — As the NFL draft approached in April, Kwamie Lassiter II didn’t have any idea where he might end up.
Lassiter, reflecting Monday, said he thinks that’s the nature of the draft for the vast majority of athletes. Lassiter, who played in college at Kansas from 2016-2021, may have talked to a few teams in the lead-up to the draft. He just didn’t know where those conversations might take him.
But while Lassiter wound up never hearing his name called across those three days of the draft, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t receive an opportunity from a NFL franchise. Lassiter earned an undrafted free agent deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. And soon this week, he’ll have a chance to showcase his skillset during Cincinnati’s rookie minicamp.
“I’m not personally worried about anybody else but what I can control,” said Lassiter, a wide receiver who led the Jayhawks in receptions and receiving yards this past season. “I can only control a certain amount of things, so I’m going to just go in there and play football and I think the way I play football can handle the rest.”
►RELATED: Why Deondre Doiron thinks former Buffalo players are reuniting with Lance Leipold at Kansas
Lassiter, who’s continued to train after the completion of the draft, said he began to hear from teams around the fifth or sixth round about the potential that he’d be brought in as an undrafted prospect. So, instead of being stressed or upset, he knew how the day would play out and knew he’d have a foot in the door somewhere. He’d talked to the Bengals the most, and added that played a part in why he decided to start his professional career in Cincinnati.
Lassiter may have been left thinking after the draft that, “I guess people think there’s 28 receivers better than me,” because that’s how many were drafted those three days at the end of April. While he had hung out with his girlfriend, friends and family members across the first two days of the draft and kept his mind off of it, he did lock in to the draft the last day because he thought he might be picked up. But, in the end, he’s glad and feels blessed to have the opportunity he has with the Bengals and is eager to get started.
“It seems like they have a good staff over there,” said Lassiter, speaking to his interest in Cincinnati. “… Of course, they’re a great team. They’re coming off a great year, so that’s something that I want to be a part of, of course. The opportunity for me to play offense, special teams, of course return kicks or punts, and that’s kind of what I looked at … going in and I feel like that was the best place.”
►RELATED: Kansas Board of Regents set to assess renovation plans concerning Kansas Athletics later in May
Lassiter, seventh in the Big 12 Conference in receptions this past season and ninth in receiving yards, said he doesn’t have any expectations for the Bengals’ rookie minicamp. He’s talked to people he knows, and a friend who went through one last year who provided some insight, but feels that at the end of the day it’s just football. Watching film, practicing and being in meetings, it’s all part of everything that made him fall in love with football.
More: Why the Philadelphia Eagles wanted to select Kansas’ Kyron Johnson in the 2022 NFL Draft
Lassiter wouldn’t say that this whole process has been surreal, that after everything he now has this NFL chance in front of him. It’s always felt real to him, he said. Now, it’s just a matter of doing his job.
“Proud of you, (Lassiter), for signing with the (Bengals)!” Kansas coach Lance Leipold tweeted April 30, in part. “You’ve earned it! Good luck at the next level.”
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Where Kwamie Lassiter II's focus is as Bengals rookie minicamp nears
