VDT: Kansas State EDGE Felix Anudike-Uzomah Has an Endless Motor against the Pass
Josh Frey
|
A sneaky position of need for the Vikings by the time they are on the clock with the 23rd overall pick could be EDGE. They signed Marcus Davenport in free agency, but they also have Za’Darius Smith who requested to be released earlier this offseason. And then there’s Danielle Hunter, who will need a new contract in order to remain with the team in 2024.
That brings us to Kansas State EDGE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who is the focus of today’s edition of the Vikings Draft Thermometer series, PurplePTSD’s one-stop shop for all your 2023 NFL Draft needs.
Throughout this series, we have examined a number of prospects ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft, analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, what exactly their role could be at the NFL level, and most importantly, whether or not they could end up playing their first NFL snaps in a Vikings uniform.
Background
- Height: 6’3
- Weight: 255 pounds
- Arm Length: 33 1/2″
- Hand Size: 9 5/8″
- Broad Jump: 10′ 4″
- 3-Cone: 6.94 seconds
- Shuttle: 4.34 seconds
- School: Kansas State
- Games Watched: Oklahoma State (2022), Texas (2022), TCU (2022), Alabama (2022)
Statistics
- 2020: 1 tackle, 1 TFL, 1 sack (1 game)
- 2021: 50 tackles, 14.5 TFLs, 11 sacks, 6 forced fumbles (12 games)
- 2022: 46 tackles, 11 TFLs, 8.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 PD (14 games)
Strengths
Since earning a starting role at Kansas State in 2021, Felix Anudike-Uzomah has done a ton of work refining his pass-rushing technique, and he turned into one of the most fearsome defenders in all the Big 12 in 2022, with his 8.5 sacks ranking second in the conference behind only Dylan Horton of TCU.
He has outstanding agility and athleticism (showcased in his 3-cone and shuttle), which is always going to be the base of his success as a pass-rusher, but his energy and motor on every snap is equally impressive. In addition, he can win with power due to his terrific length despite being a smaller player.
Weaknesses
Audike-Uzomah has two years of starting experience under his belt in college, but some inexperience still pops up, and he needs to be more disciplined at times. Occasionally the urgency on snaps can turn into a negative rather than a positive.
Especially in run defense, he can find himself picking the wrong lane of attack, but there are instances where he gets away with making plays at tough angles due to his length advantage.
Finally, injuries have popped up in recent months that could cause some teams to worry. He didn’t test at the Combine due to a foot injury, and there were rumors at his pro day that a groin injury had been nagging him as well. Even still, he put up strong marks at the pro day, so this shouldn’t be a reason for him to take a massive tumble down draft boards.
NFL Projection
- Draft Round: Late First-Mid Second
- Immediate Role: Rotational EDGE on passing downs
- Best-Case Scenario: Leonard Little
- Vikings Draft Temperature: 20
EDGE could be a position that the Vikings target at some point, and if they are one of the teams concerned with this WR class, perhaps a trade down opens the door to taking Anudike-Uzomah. If the Kansas State EDGE can develop further as a run-stopper and fill out his frame, he has the potential to be a consistent starter in the NFL for years to come.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.