Chiefs center Eric Kush prepares to fight for starting role

Eric Kush has continued to go about his business this offseason, even when he was suddenly thrust into contention to be the Chiefs’ starting center when last year’s starter, Rodney Hudson, bolted for Oakland during free agency.

“I talked to him and everything, and I was excited for him,” Kush said. “He’s going to have a great career. I’m excited for him.”

Kush, who is listed at 6 feet 4 and 313 pounds, should be excited for himself. Hudson’s departure leaves the 2013 sixth-round pick as the only center on the roster, and he says he learned plenty under Hudson the last two seasons.

“Preparation and how to be a really good professional,” Kush said. “Rodney is a good pro, and it was good to learn from him, be around him and everything. He just helped me be a professional.”

It remains to be seen if the Chiefs will entrust Kush with the job, but it’s safe to say the club will certainly give him some competition, whether it’s a free agent or a draft pick.

A number of centers in the draft could command the Chiefs’ attention. Florida State’s Cameron Erving is regarded as the only first-round worthy center in the draft, and ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay had him going to the Chiefs in his latest mock draft, released Wednesday.

And there are some later-round options that could catch the Chiefs’ fancy as well, including Ali Marpet of Hobart and William Smith College, Hroniss Grasu of Oregon, Andy Gallik of Boston College and Greg Mancz of Toledo, all of whom earned early-to-mid-round grades in The Star’s annual draft series.

But no matter what the Chiefs decide to do in the draft, Kush says it won’t change the way he has attacked this offseason.

“You prepare either way, train as hard as I can regardless and prepare for the 2015 season,” Kush said. “Regardless of what happens, I’m going to do my part and work as hard as I can to benefit the team as best I can.”

A big part of that, Kush said, is his offseason training he’s done in Kansas City with head strength coach Barry Rubin.

“(I’m) doing well — had a good offseason staying here getting my ‘Body by (strength & conditioning coach) Barry (Rubin),’” Kush said. “You take your strengths and make them stronger, and you take your weaknesses and make (them) strengths.”

Kush is happy with his athletic ability — he does move well for a big man — but knows he needs to continue to develop his strength so he can move, and not just wall off, bigger linemen.

“Barry does a great job of preparing you for everything,” Kush said. “We go through a total body workout — it’s not just one thing a time or one thing in an offseason. Barry Rubin does a great job with me and everybody else, and I enjoy working with him.”

Kush says he currently weighs around 305 pounds, which is what he played at last season.

And while he did not appear in a game last season — he did start one game in 2013, however, the season finale — he is confident that if he does get the call to start in 2015, he will be ready.

“Absolutely,” Kush said. “I’m going to keep preparing and be ready for whatever comes down the road and help the team out the best that I can.”

This story was originally published April 22, 2015 at 7:07 PM with the headline "Chiefs center Eric Kush prepares to fight for starting role."