Kansas State’s Felix Anudike-Uzomah Has What it Takes

Felix Anudike-Uzomah reminds me of Dallas Cowboys’ defensive end, DeMarcus Lawrence.

That was my first impression 10 seconds into my film study, and after watching him in three games in 2021, my mind was unchanged.

The Kansas State pass-rusher has everything an NFL team would want in a 4-3 defensive end (four defensive linemen and three linebackers).

He recorded four sacks and two forced fumbles against TCU, and that is what you want to see in a first-round prospect. You want to see someone who can take over a game.

A prospect has to look like a man amongst boys at the college level to be considered a first-round franchise-type player. He has to show rare and elite characteristics.

Even then, it can be a difficult transition.

First-Round Pick Kayvon Thibodeaux talked about what it’s like going from college to the NFL

A perfect illustration of how hard it can be going to the next level was perfectly capsulated by Thibodeaux. The No. 5 overall pick in 2022 had this to say after his debut against Dallas when he produced only one hurry and one tackle.

“I would say that you’re not superman,” Thibodeaux told reporters when asked what he learned. “There are times where you want to be the reason we win, there are times where you want to be the guy and you’ve got to realize that the game isn’t played like that. There are eleven people for a reason, it’s a team sport for a reason. So just making sure that you contribute as much as you can and to the best of your ability given the circumstances.

I still feel like I can make every play on the field. But it’s more of an understanding of how the game is played,” he said. “You’re not just going against the other players on the field, you’re going against a coordinator, you’re going against a team, you’re going against people who do this and have been doing this for a living. It’s understandable that there are schemes and ways to isolate players or take them out, to do whatever. So, just me understanding that it’s a lot bigger than it was before and it’s a lot more detailed and it’s a lot more time taken within the schemes of offenses and things like that.”

Keeping things in perspective with Anudike-Uzomah

While it’s a heck of an accomplishment what he produced in that TCU game, it goes without saying TCU is not like playing against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Considering the level of competition a prospect is going up against is an important part of the evaluating process.

The thing that is super encouraging is Anudike-Uzomah is showing all the characteristics it takes to be an elite pass rusher in the NFL.

#91 Felix Anudike-Uzomah 6-foot-4, 255 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Grade: First-Round – Early Fall 2022 Report

First Round Mock Big Board: TBD

Projected by 17.4% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of September 30, 2022 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2021 game film reviewed: Iowa State, Texas and TCU (click to watch games viewed to form this evaluation)

Level of competition: Moderate

2021 stats: 52 tackles (37 solo, 15 assists), 6 forced fumbles, 11.0 sacks (45 pressures pff.com)

NFL comparable: DeMarcus Lawrence, Jason Pierre-Paul

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report:

Chiseled, athletic, muscular, and lean-framed dynamic pass-rusher. A real handful who is high energy and passionate. Great effort. Tests both sides. Draws a lot of double teams. Can be a split-second slow off snap, but quickly gets into the offensive tackle. Brings it with hand quickness and awesome raw power to create needed separation to push and disrupt the pocket. Has great bend to get under pad level and the necessary speed to push through the back door. Displayed awesome spin back to the inside too. Can close fast, has burst and he is quarterback minded. Able to make cat-quick adjustments. Gets fired up. Against the run tended to play high and got handled too easily, but still able to fight through blocks or get into a gap occasionally to blow things up. Solid tackler. Has a knack for making plays.

What to watch for during the 2022 college football season:

1. Does he look slow off the snap?
2. What are his sack and pressure numbers?
3. Is he playing with lower pad level against the run?
4. Is he playing the run tougher?

Anudike-Uzomah is an elite-level NFL pass-rusher waiting to happen.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.