Kansas City Chiefs: Intriguing smaller school prospects for 2020 NFL Draft

BOISE, ID - SEPTEMBER 08: Boise State Broncos wide receiver John Hightower (16) outruns Connecticut Huskies defensive back Ryan Carroll (39) and Connecticut Huskies linebacker Omar Fortt (27) for a touchdown during the game between the Connecticut Huskies vs the Boise Broncos on Saturday, September 8, 2018, at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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Michael Warren II #3 of the Cincinnati Bearcats (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

It’s never too early to start talking about the next NFL Draft! There are several prospects on offense that are not well known currently that could interest the Kansas City Chiefs come April.

Even though the NFL regular season hasn’t started yet, it’s never too early to start talking about who the Kansas City Chiefs should be keeping an eye on during this college football season.

Every year, football prospects come off the radar to out of nowhere to become household names by the time the NFL Draft rolls around. Players under recruited out of high school that landed at colleges and universities outside of the Power 5 that hope to have long careers in the NFL.

Eric Fisher from Central Michigan, Tanoh Kpassagnon from Villanova, Tremon Smith of Central Arkansas, Khalen Saunders of Western Illinois and Travis Kelce from Cincinnati highlights players with the Chiefs that didn’t play at a top Power 5 school.

Highlighted are some prospects on offense from smaller schools that could interest the Chiefs come draft time.

The 2020 NFL Draft could yield more running back assets for Chiefs

All things considered, it certainly appears the Chiefs favor wide receivers who can fly up the field and running backs with size and physicality but also the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. With Carlos Hyde a free agent after the season (if he even makes the team) and Damien Williams being much cheaper to cut than keep, the Chiefs could be looking for a back capable of moving the chains.

MICHAEL WARREN (CINCINNATI)

Michael Warren II could certainly fit that bill. Standing 5’11” and 222 pounds, Warren is more powerful than speedy, in a play-style for Chiefs fans perhaps similar to Kareem Hunt (Warren isn’t quite as able to run through tackles as Hunt). However, in two seasons at Cincinnati, Warren has averaged 5.5 yards per carry and 9.6 yards per reception.

With likely multiple running backs leaving after or before the end of the 2019 season, Warren could be an intriguing name to watch in the middle rounds of the draft. A combination of him with Darwin Thompson could be an interesting (and very cost effective) backfield for seasons to come.

LEVANTE BELLAMY (WESTERN MICHIGAN)

Similar in stature and play-style to sixth round pick Darwin Thompson, LeVante Bellamy is a ball of speed out of the backfield. He’s at his best when asked to plant and go and doesn’t quite have the wiggle or vision you need out of smaller backs. Bellamy would like need help from scheme to get him open and in the open field. However, once he’s in the open field, he’s difficult to catch.

Injuries are a concern for Bellamy, as he took a medical redshirt in his sophomore season in 2016 and then missed six games in 2017 due to injury as well. He began his career as a wide receiver, and with the Chiefs’ affinity for fast wide receivers, he could be an intriguing name late in the draft as a developmental type player.

Western Michigan indicates Bellamy clocked a 4.29 40 yard dash this summer.

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