Kansas City Chiefs’ Felix Anudike-Uzomah hopes to continue this positive career trend

Chiefs defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah knows something about working his way to the top.

At Lee’s Summit High, he was a member of the freshman “B” team, and eventually became an all-state selection.

As a college recruit, Anudike-Uzomah was assigned two (of five) stars by Rivals.com when he signed with Kansas State. By the time he left college, Anudike-Uzomah was the Big 12 defensive player of the year.

Those powers of hard work and determination are required once again after an underwhelming rookie season with the Chiefs.

The team’s first round pick, No. 31 overall, Anudike-Uzomah logged single-digit defensive snaps in more than half of the regular-season games and was a healthy scratch for the first three playoff games.

The focus entering his second season is to become a regular part of the defensive end rotation that will be led by George Karlaftis and Mike Danna.

“Last year is last year,” Anudike-Uzomah said. “I’m focused on this season.”

An area of improvement has been a quicker first step, or get-off, at the snap.

“That’s what you’re seeing,” Andy Reid said. “(He’s) more comfortable with that. He’s getting himself upfield and moving. I think he’s more confident in what we’re doing and what he’s doing.”

Anudike-Uzomah joined Karlaftis in spending offseason time training with former Chiefs great Tamba Hali on just that, the burst to begin a play. Hali is a six-time Pro Bowl selection and one of the greatest pass rushers in Chiefs history with 89 1/2 career sacks. Not a bad mentor.

“With his knowledge of the game and how much success he had in his years with the Chiefs ... he’s been helping me and George get our game better, gets-offs and hand work and stuff like that,” Anudike-Uzomah said.

His NFL transition was made more difficult by a thumb injury suffered in the Big 12 Championship Game victory over TCU. Anudike-Uzomah was limited during OTAs.

Still, because Charles Omenihu was serving a six-game suspension to open the season, Anudike-Uzomah saw most of his playing time early and was credited with a 1/2 sack at Jacksonville in Week 2.

But as the season progressed, playing time decreased. Anudike-Uzomah got in a full day’s work with other reserves in the regular-season finale at the Los Angeles Chargers, but it took an injury to Omenihu to get him back on the field.

In the Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers, Anudike-Uzomah logged seven snaps — and turned in his best moment of the season. On the final play of the first quarter in a scoreless game, Anudike-Uzomah stuffed running back Christian McCaffrey for a 4-yard loss. The drive ended two plays later with a field goal.

“It was definitely a confidence-booster,” Anudike-Uzomah said. “It’s what you dream of your whole life, to do things at the biggest stage of your life.”

Anudike-Uzomah looks for more of those big moments in his second season, one that should be more productive than his first based on his career pattern.