This prospect could be KU’s top NFL Draft pick this decade. He likes the Chiefs, too
Kansas offensive lineman Hakeem Adeniji says he’s been waiting his entire life for this weekend — that moment when an NFL team will call his cell phone, telling him he’s been selected in the 2020 NFL Draft.
For now, though ... he’s trying to keep his mind clear.
“I’ve kind of not been thinking about it, just because of all the anxiety that comes with it, but I’m ready,” Adeniji told The Star earlier this week. “I’m looking forward to it, and what happens ... enjoy that moment. It’s going to be probably one of the best moments that I’ve ever had.”
Adeniji, an all-Big 12 first-team selection in 2020 and NFL Scouting Combine invite, is projected as a mid-round pick as the NFL Draft takes place Thursday through Saturday.
So how soon will he be taken? Mock drafts give a wide range of outcomes.
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter has Adeniji going in the third round — 97th overall — to the Cleveland Browns. CBS Sports’ R.J. White has him at 127th to the Philadelphia Eagles, while ESPN’s Mel Kiper ranked him 264th on his big board.
Adeniji admits he’s “heard a lot of things” when it comes to his potential draft position, but said overall, he was “going to leave it up to God.”
“I know I’ve done everything that I could do to show everybody my abilities and my talents,” Adeniji said. “I’m proud of what I put out, and nothing else is in my control. So I’ll just wait, and whatever happens, I know that I’ll get my opportunity, and that’s the most important thing.”
Adeniji is not only waiting to learn about his future destination, but also a specific position. A four-year starter at left tackle for KU, Adeniji has been projected by some to be an interior lineman at the next level.
While Adeniji admits he’s most comfortable at left tackle, he’s prepared to shift if needed.
“I’m not really worried about it. I’m a football player. I’ve always been a football player. I’ve always been able to adjust, so if that happens, it happens,” Adeniji said. “I’m ready for it, and I’m going to perform at a high level regardless of where I play, because that’s what I’ve been training to do, and that’s what I’ve been working for my whole life.”
There’s at least a possibility that Kansas City could be interested in Adeniji, as he told The Star in March he was set to have a private workout with the Chiefs.
Adeniji attended a few Chiefs games in college, going up specifically during Chargers matchups to support friend and fellow Garland, Texas native Adrian Phillips.
As far as potentially playing at Arrowhead Stadium ... “That would be awesome,” Adeniji said this week. “Obviously being in Lawrence, and then with the organization that they have, and they have a great offensive line coach (Andy Heck), great coaches — just everything about the organization is first class, so who wouldn’t want to play for them?”
Adeniji’s draft plans were altered because of the recent Coronavirus pandemic. His brother, Moshood, had planned to fly in for Hakeem’s draft party in Texas, but that changed because of Moshood’s Air Force requirements that require him to stay in California.
As of now, Adeniji said the goal is to keep things simple this weekend, staying home in Garland with a few family friends, his mother, Joke, and girlfriend Kayla Stubblefield.
Adeniji vows to be patient while waiting for his moment. He said he’s likely to do something else during the early rounds, trying to keep his thoughts off what lies ahead.
If the optimistic projections are correct, he’ll set some recent KU history. No Jayhawk has been taken in the top 100 of the NFL Draft since Aqib Talib in 2008; he went 20th overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Adeniji has hopes of being the start of a pro pipeline from KU.
“I obviously want to go as high as I can. But I think the more important thing is just, with our program rebuilding and everything that’s going on, just showing guys there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and that you can come to the University of Kansas and play big time and get drafted high,” Adeniji said. “Everybody’s ultimate goal is to go to the NFL and be drafted and be high on boards and make that dream come true.”
Adeniji knows that reality, for him, is just a short time away.
“I’m excited,” he said. “It doesn’t even feel like it’s here.”
