FEATURE STORIES

Draft Choices Will Try to Make an Impact

By Jennifer Pengra
UWRF Public Affairs

Many great additions have been added to the Chiefs roster and with this new class of players Super Bowl XVII is in sight.

Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe was a first-round draft choice (23rd overall). Bowe had a successful college career at Louisiana State University. He was named to the All-American third-team by the NFL Draft Report and Rivals.com. Bowe was also a first-team All-SEC by the league's coaches, adding second-team honors from the Associated Press. He also made the Biletnikoff Award Watch list, an award only presented to the nation's top receivers.

"He fits the mold of what we want in a football player: he's a tough, physical wide receiver. Big, strong, good in the blocking game, can catch the ball when he's covered. He has a big body and can run. He brings energy; he brings a lot of energy when you watch him play. You need that," said Coach Herm Edwards in an article on the Chiefs' website.   "He's a guy that can make a lot of plays: he can go over defenders and make the touch catch, or go inside. All those things kind of contribute when I look at a wide receiver.   You want a guy who's willing to block in the run game, will go across the middle and take the big hits and break tackles. That's what this guy is."

Turk Mcbride a second-round draft pick (54th overall) and a defensive end from the University of Tennessee is a great addition to the roster.

"No doubt he's in the rotation right now.   He has the ability at this point with our situation and he could be the started end. On third down you want your best players rushing and you have Jared (Allen), Tamba Hali and this guy along with other players who have the potential to put pressure on the quarterback because they can beat one-on-one blocks," said Edwards in an article on the Chiefs website.

Third round draft selection (82nd overall) was Demarcus "Tank" Tyler. He was North Carolina State's team captain and the recipient of the Carl Brebaker Award, given to the team's Most Valuable Defensive Lineman. He started 11 of 12 games.

"Now, this guy is a no-nonsense guy. He's going to come to work. This guy is coming in here to win a job. That's his makeup. That's what he believes in. He's about business and about football and about playing at a high, high level. He's very, very strong," said Edwards in an article on the Chiefs website.

Kolby Smith a running back from Louisville was a fifth round pick (148th overall). He made the All-Big East Conference second team by the NFL Draft Report and led the team with a career high 780 yards on 138 carries with seven touchdowns.

In an article on the Chiefs website, when asked what Smith thought he needed to do to get on the field and show the coaches what he could do, Smith said, "first and foremost I need to show them that I am an unselfish player and to go out there and just do all that they ask of me. Being drafted is a great honor and now I have to show them that I have the courage and will do anything that they ask of me whether it is play on the special teams or running back."

Justin Medlock, a fifth round draft selection (160 th overall), is a kicker from UCLA who will contribute to the lineup.

While at UCLA Medlock was named to the All-American first team by the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association College Football News and the Sporting News, adding second-team honors from The NFL Draft Report. Smith was also named Special Teams Player of the Year by the Pac-Ten coaches.

Herb Taylor, an athletic offensive tackle from Texas Christian University, is a tough and vocal leader on the field and playing both right and left tackle gives him the versatility to help the Chiefs.  

Taylor was a sixth round draft pick (196th overall). He started in 48 consecutive games, the most in TCU history. Taylor was also a two-time All-American West Conference selection and received 2006 pre-season All-American honors from Athlon and NationalChamps.net.

Michael Allan a seventh round draft selection (231st overall) and a tight end from Whitworth University will be joining the Chiefs.

"Michael Allan is a gifted kid," said Edwards. "When you watch this guy play he didn't look out of place in the All-Star game or in the (scouting) combine. He's a big athletic guy who's 6-6, almost 260 who can run."