Felix Anudike-Uzomah NFL Draft Overview
Position: Edge Defender
Height: 6′-3″
Weight: 255 pounds
School: Kansas State
2023 NFL Draft: Felix Anudike-Uzomah Scouting Report
After spending the past three seasons with Kansas State, Felix Anudike-Uzomah has decided to skip the remainder of his collegiate eligibility and declare for the 2023 NFL Draft. It’s hard to blame him for this decision, and Anudike-Uzomah enters the NFL Draft on the heels of a dominant season. In 2022, the edge defender recorded 46 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss, and 8.5 sacks during his 14 games of action.
Anudike-Uzomah, a Kansas City native, joined Kansas State prior to the start of the 2020 season. After a relatively quiet rookie season, the Anudike-Uzomah broke out in a big way during the 2021 campaign. Playing in 12 games, he finished the year with 50 tackles, 14.5 tackles-for-loss, and 11 sacks and earned First-Team All-Conference honors.
Strengths
- Fast off the snap with the speed to blow past tackles;
- Impressive strength – can win as a bull rusher as well as a speed guy;
- Advanced pass-rushing skillset for his age – already has multiple moves;
- Can get low to the ground without losing his footing;
- Impressive pursuit speed means he’s never out of a play;
- High-motor guy that never gives up until the whistle is blown.
Weaknesses
- Exclusively an edge – lacks the strength to play inside, even on passing downs;
- Pedestrian athleticism puts a cap on his ceiling;
- Gets knocked down more than you’d like trying to get too low in his rushes;
- Struggles to shed blocks in the run game;
- Can lose power in rushes with poor footwork.
NFL Comparison: Jabaal Sheard
Teams With Need at Position: Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks
Projection: Round 2
Bottom Line on Felix Anudike-Uzomah
Felix Anudike-Uzomah isn’t an All-Pro type of player, but that doesn’t mean he can’t start in the NFL. In fact, his college tape implies that he can be a multi-year starter in the league, even if he doesn’t have the highest ceiling. Anudike-Uzomah can win in a variety of ways, as he’s fast enough off the snap to get past slower tackles, and strong enough to push around weaker ones. While some prospects only have a handful of rushing moves entering the NFL Draft, Felix Anudike-Uzomah already has a variety of ways to get to the quarterback which should keep offensive tackles on their toes.
Anudike-Uzomah’s bend is both a blessing and a curse. Getting below offensive tackles is probably the fastest way to get after the quarterback, and the Kansas State product can get low while maintaining his speed and balance. However, if a lineman gets a good hit on him, he’s going down. This is largely due to his (relatively) pedestrian athleticism. While some players are physically gifted enough to recover when hit from such an unnatural position, Anudike-Uzomah is not one of them. He’s not a bad athlete by NFL standards, he’s just nothing special.
Athleticism is especially important for edge defenders, so Anudike-Uzomah’s lack of physical prowess means that he’s never going to be a superstar. This also limits him in terms of positional versatility, as he doesn’t have the size or strength to line up inside in pass-rushing situations. Basically, teams will know exactly where he’s lining up on every single play.
Ultimately, Felix Anudike-Uzomah’s lack of physical gifts will keep him out of the first round. However, his technical know-how and ability to get after the quarterback in a variety of ways ensure that he’ll be an early Day 2 pick. Look for the Kansas State product to compete for a starting job right out of the gate and put up 5-8 sacks per season.
Main Photo: Jerome Miron – USA Today Sports
