Kansas State Football: Byron Pringle interesting prospect for Chiefs

LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 4 : Byron Pringle #9 of the Kansas State Wildcats after scoring a touchdown against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the game on November 4, 2017 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Kansas State defeated Texas Tech 42-35 in overtime. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 4 : Byron Pringle #9 of the Kansas State Wildcats after scoring a touchdown against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the game on November 4, 2017 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Kansas State defeated Texas Tech 42-35 in overtime. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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Kansas State football had just one player taken in the 2018 NFL Draft and it wasn’t wide receiver Byron Pringle. Pringle later agreed to join the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent.

It was a bit surprising that Kansas State junior Byron Pringle opted to forego his senior season and enter the 2018 NFL Draft, but at the same time, he was 24 years old, so not exactly a young rookie. Pringle’s troubled childhood also could have propelled him into leaving school a year earlier.

Whatever the reasoning was, Pringle was probably a little shocked not to hear his name called in the later rounds. His teammate D.J. Reed went in the fifth round to the San Francisco 49ers, but Pringle didn’t find a team until after the draft was over.

His home, at least for the next few months, will be with the Kansas City Chiefs. Kansas City is about two and a half hours from Manhattan, where Pringle spent the last few years playing football.

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Pringle did well for the Wildcats even with quarterbacks that weren’t necessarily prolific passers. Last season he hauled in 30 receptions for 724 yards and six touchdowns and the year prior he caught 39 passes for 631 yards and four touchdowns.

Obviously Chiefs fans might be a bit biased toward Pringle and his abilities based on where he went to school, but he could be an interesting prospect in Kansas City. Pringle would need some time to develop and likely would never be a starter, but with the offense the Chiefs should have set in the stone this year, Pringle could be someone worth keeping around.

The Chiefs are heading into year one with Patrick Mahomes and the young quarterback has a slew of weapons at his disposal. Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins are options one and two with Demarcus Robinson and Chris Conley sprinkled in there as well.

Pringle will have his work cut out for him, but his stats at K-State in a run-heavy offense show that he has talent. Where I’d like to see the Chiefs give Pringle work this summer, however, is on special teams.

Pringle took two kick returns back for touchdowns during his collegiate career and was always a threat to take it to the house. The Chiefs have one of the best special teams units in the league, so that could be where Pringle shines this summer. It might be his best chance at making the team out of the preseason.