KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs have had 13 players from Southern Methodist University, the alma mater of chairman Clark Hunt. But many played during the franchise's early days as the Dallas Texans and only linebacker Justin Rogers, who got into one game in 2009, has done so in the past 20 years.
The Chiefs have another SMU candidate now in undrafted rookie Shak Randolph, who met Hunt at the recent rookie minicamp in Kansas City.
"We had a good talk," Randolph said. "We had a good talk about where the SMU program is going. I think it's back on the rise now. Coach [Chad] Morris is doing a great job of turning things around now."
Asked whether Hunt promised him a job because he played for the Mustangs, Randolph shook his head.
"I'm just an average Joe out here trying to have fun and make plays," he said.
If he's to get a roster spot, Randolph will have earned it by impressing Andy Reid and the defensive coaches. But Randolph is anything but an average Joe.
A defensive back, Randolph stands out for his size. The Chiefs have him listed at 6-3, though he says he's an inch taller, and 213 pounds.
That's big for a safety, where Randolph played during the rookie camp. But it's huge for a cornerback, where he played some at SMU. Interestingly, the Chiefs list him as a corner on their roster.
He's built a lot like Sean Smith, the long, slender starting cornerback from the past three seasons who moved on in March to the Oakland Raiders as a free agent.
"I have long arms so it's easy to get your hands on people," Randolph said. "Really, you can eliminate the fade route, easily. If they throw it up, I'm 6-4 and rangy and can jump, so that really eliminates a lot of things."
Randolph made an interception that way at rookie camp. One of the quarterbacks tried to force a fade pass but Randolph had it covered well.
General manager John Dorsey happened to be watching from the sideline near the spot where Randolph made his interception. Dorsey generally misses nothing at practice but in case he didn't see this particular play, Randolph rolled the ball to Dorsey, bowling-style.
Randolph already has the Chiefs' chairman on his side. It doesn't hurt to have the general manager there, either.
