Kansas cornerback will have help with NFL’s Chargers
By Stan Unruh
Kansas football can be proud of the recent NFL success enjoyed by Jayhawk defensive backs. Brandon Stewart has what it takes to be just as successful.
Big 12 Conference football players had a tough time during the recently completed NFL draft.
Only 14 Big-12 players of the 250-plus drafted heard their name called. The NFL drafted nobody from the Kansas Football team.
Brandon Stewart doesn’t care. Last weekend he signed a free agent deal with a team in sunny southern California.
He is a member of the San Diego-now Los Angeles Chargers. How cool to go online and see your name listed on an NFL roster.
The 6-foot tall, 171-pound defensive back out of Trinity Valley Community has his work cut out for him.
The experts at NFL.com did not think the Chargers should focus on defensive secondary help in this year’s draft. They loaded up on offensive linemen.
During Saturday’s selections, the Bolts took safety Rayshawn Jenkins, Miami in the fourth round, and defensive back Desmond King, Iowa in the fifth.
Stewart will have help from a former Kansas football player on the roster.
The Chargers drafted Darrell Stuckey in the 4th round in 2010. The speedster is one of the most popular players on the team. Stuckey played during one of the Kansas football’s more successful times including the Orange Bowl victory under Mark Mangino.
Stewart will do well to pay close attention to Stuckey’s advice. There is nothing wrong with playing and leading special teams. Stuckey special team’s play is among the best in the league and has been voted Charger’s special team captain.
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Cracking the Chargers starting lineup will be difficult. But Stewart has what it takes to succeed playing special teams in the NFL.
He made 60 tackles in 22 Kansas football games for David Beaty the past two seasons. He also had three interceptions and blocked a field goal.