Former Kansas City prep football standouts hope for homefield advantage at NFL Draft

Ikenna Enechukwu just may find his way to Union Station to take in the sights and sounds of the 2023 NFL Draft.

“Maybe take a selfie, to show the grand kids some day that I was there,” he said.

Wouldn’t it be cool, if while hanging out with the expected throngs of fans, he heard his named called by an NFL team?

It could happen. Enechukwu, a former standout defensive lineman at Ruskin High, made his fifth season at Rice his best and is considered a serious draft prospect. He’s among a handful of former Kansas City-area players whose NFL Draft dreams align with the event at Union Station.

The number of KC-area prospects drafted during the April 27-29 event could be on the high end. Two football players from area high schools have been taken in each of the past two drafts.

That number could at least double this year, and the hopefuls are largely part of two positions groups: defensive linemen and wide receivers.

The first area player to be drafted next week will likely be Felix Anudike-Uzomah. The Kansas State defensive end was the Big 12 defensive player of the year. Among local products, the former Lee’s Summit High standout owns the highest prospect grade at NFL.com.

Other defensive linemen who could hear their names called are Adetomiwa Adebawore, a defensive tackle who played at Northwestern and North Kansas City High, and Enechukwu, who also wrestled at Ruskin.

Top KC-area wide receivers include Michigan’s Ronnie Bell, the former basketball standout from Park Hill, and Mitchell Tinsley, who played one season at Lee’s Summit High before embarking upon a college career that took him to Hutchinson Community College, Western Kentucky and Penn State.

And Kobe Cummings, an All-MIAA safety from Missouri Western and formerly of Platte County High, declared for the Draft in February and has worked out for the Chiefs.

Running back Rachaad White — formerly of Arizona State and Kansas City’s Center High — was taken in the third round of last year’s draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Former Kansas State and Fort Osage quarterback Skylar Thompson was a seventh-round pick (Miami Dolphins).

In 2021, linebacker Jabril Cox (LSU, Raytown South) was selected in the fourth round by the Cowboys and William Bradley-King (Arkansas State, Hogan Prep) was drafted in Round 7 by Washington.

The most recent first-round pick from Kansas City was linebacker Isaiah Simmons, the No. 8 overall selection in 2021 by the Arizona Cardinals. Simmons went to Clemson and Olathe North.

But none of these recent NFL Draft picks heard his named called in KC. Next week’s draft ceremonies will take place at Union Station.

And wouldn’t that be something.

“I mean, I grew up right next to that place, like literally,” Adebawore told The Star at the NFL Scouting Combine in March.

Here’s a closer look at the draft prospects who played at Kansas City-area high schools, with a draft projection from multiple sources and each player’s possibility of being drafted by the Chiefs:

Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE, Lee’s Summit High, Kansas State

Draft projection: Round 2.

NFL.com says: “There is more polish needed, but Anudike-Uzomah’s NFL rush potential should eventually make him an NFL starter.”

Chiefs possibilities: Anudike-Uzomah was the Chiefs’ first-round selection in The Star’s first mock draft, authored by beat writer Herbie Teope. Anudike-Uzomah has shown up in other first-round mocks, too, but edge is a deep position in this draft. A stronger Chiefs draft possibility for him might be the second round.

Adetomiwa Adebawore, DT, North Kansas City High, Northwestern

Draft projection: Round 2.

NFL.com says: “He’s a powerful man who wins with force over fluidity.”

Chiefs possibilities: Adebawore’s stock soared at the combine, where he set a record for the 40-yard-dash for prospects who weigh more than 270 pounds (4.49 seconds). Defensive tackle is a position the Chiefs likely will address next week, looking for a candidate to play alongside Chris Jones and in rotation with Derrick Nnadi and Tershawn Wharton.

Ikenna Enechukwu, DE, Ruskin High, Rice

Draft projection: Round 6.

NFL.com says: “He flashes bull-rush potential and good upper-body strength to build on, but the skill-set needs further development for him to have a solid chance in the NFL.”

Chiefs possibilities: “That would be insane,” said Enechukwu, who attended a Chiefs game as a fan last season (their late-season contest against the Seahawks). “I missed both (Super Bowl championship) parades because I was in school. But if I go to a different team I might not like the Chiefs anymore. I might have to chase down Patrick Mahomes.”

Ronnie Bell, WR, Park Hill High, Michigan

Draft projection: Round 6.

NFL.com says: “True Michigan Man, displaying the competitive spirit and work ethic expected inside the program.”

Chiefs possibilities: Bell won the Simone Award as KC’s top prep football player in 2017 and signed to play basketball at Missouri State before changing course to play football at Michigan. A torn ACL cost Bell his 2021 campaign, but he came back strong last season with a team-best 62 receptions. And know this: The Chiefs are always looking for receivers. They’ve taken one in seven of the last eight drafts, and in five of those, they selected that receiver in Round 4 or later.

Mitchell Tinsley, WR, Lee’s Summit High, Penn State

Draft projection: Round 7.

NFL.com says: “Possession receiver lacking top-end speed and separation quickness but possessing quality ball skills.”

Chiefs possibilities: The last Kansas City-area high school player drafted by the Chiefs was offensive lineman Donald Stephenson, who played at Blue Springs High and Oklahoma. Stephenson was picked in the third round in 2012. Don’t bet against Tinsley. He went from high school to junior college to Western Kentucky and finished at Penn State.

Kobe Cummings, DB, Platte County High, Missouri Western

Draft projection: Round 7.

Chiefs possibilities: Cummings worked out for the Chiefs earlier this month. Even if he’s not selected next week, every NFL team signs undrafted players once the selection process ends. Last year, wide receiver Justyn Ross and practice squad players Jerrion Ealy (RB) and Jack Cochrane (LB) came to the Chiefs as undrafted free agents. There’s a chance Cummings could, too.