In the words of ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky, former Wisconsin Badgers and current Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal is ‘a star in the making.’
He was reacting to Chenal’s all-around dominance against the Baltimore Ravens in Thursday night’s NFL season opener.
Related: Every former Wisconsin Badger to make an NFL 53-man roster entering 2024 regular season
Chenal finished the contest with seven tackles, one tackle for loss and two pass deflections. He was an x-factor for the Chiefs’ defense as it worked to corral Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson. While the linebacker did not register any sacks or turnovers, he made a visible impact on nearly every snap.
In the words of many on X watching the game on Thursday, Chenal was ‘everywhere.’
Leo Chenal is a STAR in the making for @Chiefs
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) September 6, 2024
It’ll get lost to time, but:
Look at this pass rush from Leo Chenal lmfao https://t.co/aybCisn3wu
— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) September 6, 2024
#Chiefs HC Andy Reid: "Leo Chenal was all over the place. We had him spying the quarterback and that's a challenge in and of itself. He's a really good player. He moves around well."
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) September 6, 2024
Leo Chenal has been everywhere
— Daniel Harms🏈 (@InHarmsWay19) September 6, 2024
Chenal is off to an impressive start to his professional career. His two years in the NFL have already included two Super Bowl titles, the latter he played a significant role in winning. The Chiefs seem to have found a gem after selecting him in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft. While NFL fans may be surprised at his rapid ascension, Wisconsin fans could have seen this coming.
Wisconsin’s record-setting 2021 defense currently has six of 11 starters playing in the NFL: DL Keeanu Benton, DL Matt Henningsen (practice squad), OLB Nick Herbig, LB Leo Chenal, LB Jack Sanborn and CB Faion Hicks (practice squad).
Its leaders, Chenal and Sanborn, are unsurprisingly both on their way to being some of the NFL’s best at their respective positions.
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