Tag: Kehinde Oginni Hassan

Chiefs’ Chris Jones provides first impressions of rookie defensive linemen

#Chiefs DT Chris Jones only had a few days with them, but he has a pretty good idea of what rookies George Karlaftis and Kehinde Oginni Hassan are all about.

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When Kansas City Chiefs DT Chris Jones reported to mandatory minicamp earlier this month, he was greeted by some new faces in the locker room. Staying away during voluntary Organized Team Activities (OTAs) means that he’d yet to meet the newest rookies who had joined the team.

Speaking to reporters following the second day of the team’s mandatory minicamp, Jones shared his first impressions of two of the rookies in the defensive line room. He began with first-round draft pick George Karlaftis, whose energy and effort stood out to Jones right off the bat.

“He’s a high-energy guy,” Jones said of Karlaftis. “He’s willing to learn and always looking for ways to get better. That guy, I haven’t been around him long, it’s only my second day around him. From the looks of it, he’s a high-energy guy. He has a motor — he has a really good motor. He’s a hard worker.”

This tracks with everything that we’ve heard of Karlaftis to this point of the offseason program. It’s safe to say that he’ll be someone who can rival Jones’ energy on the field. He’s also someone who will be able to learn a lot from him.

Another player who will be able to learn a lot from Jones is developmental defensive lineman Kehinde Oginni Hassan. An international prospect who is making the transition from tight end, Hassan is someone who has caught Jones’ eye.

“He’s an interesting cat,” Jones said. “From Nigeria, right? Yeah, he’s interesting, but he’s a hard worker. I think within the process of being coached by Joe (Cullen), he’s going to be flat and round soon.”

Jones suspects that the coaching style of new defensive line coach Joe Cullen will have him ready to play sooner rather than later. He also thinks his athletic ability will translate and allow him to play the position in the NFL.

“1000 percent,” Jones said. “I don’t think the Chiefs would bring him in if he didn’t have any type of capabilities to play football.”

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Pair of Chiefs undrafted free agents poised for position changes

#Chiefs undrafted free agents Jerrion Ealy and Kehinde Oginni Hassan could end up playing new positions in Kansas City.

The Kansas City Chiefs could be gearing up to experiment with position changes for a pair of undrafted free agents recently signed to the roster.

On the Chiefs’ initial rookie minicamp roster, former Ole Miss RB Jerrion Ealy was listed at WR/RB. He’s since been listed on the team’s official roster at RB, suggesting he’ll play the position he played in college. There still is a little uncertainty surrounding where exactly he’ll play.

Following the conclusion of minicamp, Chiefs HC Andy Reid confirmed that they only worked Ealy at running back over the weekend. Reid didn’t rule out the possibility of using him as a receiver, complimenting his pass-catching skills.

“We had him at running back this camp here, and he’s pretty good at that,” Reid explained. “He did a nice job, but he does have good hands. He’s another one with big hands, too. He does a nice job.”

Ealy’s situation is certainly one to monitor with OTA’s and Phase 3 of the offseason program on the horizon.

Another player who appears to be heading for a position switch is Nigerian TE Kehinde Oginni Hassan. A participant in the NFL’s International Player Pathway program, Kehinde started off his athletic journey playing basketball. He was discovered by former NFL pass rusher Osi Umenyiora, at his Up Rise Academy, which helped Kehinde land a spot at the NFL International Combine.

Umenyiora won Super Bowl XLII with the New York Giants under the tutelage of now-Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo — a significant detail when you consider his position switch. While Kansas City originally listed Kehinde as a tight end on their rookie minicamp roster, he was assigned a jersey number ineligible for the tight end position. On the team’s official roster, he’s now listed as a defensive end.

Kehinde is also listed at 6-7 and 225 pounds, suggesting he’s far too light to play the defensive end position. That said, he has the frame to put on the weight and the raw athleticism to potentially develop into a contributor at the position.

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