Felix Anudike-Uzomah DRAFT PROFILE – 2023 NFL DRAFT
Felix Anudike-Uzomah NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT INTRODUCTION
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, was a 3-star recruit from Lee’s Summit High School. Upon graduating, he joined the Kansas State football team.
In his first year with the Wildcats, Anudike-Uzomah saw limited action, playing in only 6 games and recording just 2 tackles and 2 stops. However, he showed promise as a pass rusher, tallying 4 total pressures, including a sack.
The following year, as a sophomore, Anudike-Uzomah’s potential began to shine. He played in 13 games, participated in 523 snaps, and made significant contributions to the team’s defensive efforts. He recorded 31 tackles, 8 assists, and an impressive 13 sacks, showcasing his skills as a pass rusher.
In his junior year, Anudike-Uzomah continued to build on his previous success, playing in all 13 games and taking part in 624 snaps. He contributed 33 tackles, 6 assists, and 8 sacks while generating 43 total pressures and 27 QB hurries. He proved himself as a valuable asset to the team’s defense, demonstrating consistency and improvement.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah DRAFT PROFILE
Throughout his three-year career at Kansas State, Felix Anudike-Uzomah has been an impressive force on the football field, tallying 100 tackles, 20 sacks, and eight forced fumbles. His exceptional performance has not gone unnoticed, as he has received numerous accolades for his play, including being named the 2021-2022 Big-12 First-Team All-American, the 2022 Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year, and the 2022 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
Anudike-Uzomah’s success can be attributed to his unique set of skills as a player. He possesses an explosive first step, plus-level functional strength, and good lateral agility, all of which support his ability to be a productive edge rusher. While he has aligned in multiple positions along the defensive front, his best position appears to be on the outside shoulder of the tackle, where he has the freedom to run the arc around offensive tackles and get to the quarterback.
His in-depth pass-rush repertoire is impressive, and he has several moves in his arsenal that he can use to win. These include a two-hand swipe, jab-swipe bull rush, and his most effective and explosive move, the rip move, where he gets under tackles, showing good hip flexibility and balance to get to the quarterback.
Against the run, Anudike-Uzomah has good functional strength and can set the edge of a defense. He possesses plus-level length that, combined with his strength, allows him to show well against the run as a reliable edge defender.
While Anudike-Uzomah has played in multiple alignments at Kansas State, he should be viewed as an alignment-specific player. When reduced to an interior alignment, he loses some of his effectiveness as a player against both the run and the pass. Against the run, he appears to lack the strength to take on double teams and maintain the line of scrimmage. As a pass rusher at the interior defensive line position, he lacks the overall strength to overpower interior offensive linemen, and he struggles to collapse the pocket with a pure pass rush.
Overall, Anudike-Uzomah is a talented edge rusher who displays high-level pass-rush ability. However, his consistency as a player is dependent on his positional alignment, and he is best suited as an outside edge rusher. His ability to continue to develop his skills and maintain his effectiveness as a player will be a critical factor in his future success.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah 40 YARD DASH- 4.74 SECONDS
SCOUTING REPORT- STRENGTHS
Felix Anudike-Uzomah’s unique physical attributes have contributed significantly to his success as a football player. He possesses long arms and strong core strength, which allow him to power through blockers and slip off blocks with ease. As a run defender, he demonstrates impressive speed, enabling him to chase down ball carriers in pursuit.
Anudike-Uzomah’s versatility on the field is also notable, as he can rush from both a two-and three-point stance, and has the playing speed to stand up in space. He regularly displays his strength as a bull rusher and maintains high energy throughout the game, never plateauing in his performance.
His fluid footwork enables him to redirect his momentum and close on the ball with a burst, consistently being the first off the ball with excellent snap anticipation. Anudike-Uzomah can also win going speed-to-power, using his leg drive to push blockers back and create opportunities for himself.
Anudike-Uzomah’s flexibility to loop inside and get home on twists adds to his already impressive skillset. He has an innate ability to anticipate the movements of the offense, which allows him to make crucial plays at crucial times.
Overall, Anudike-Uzomah’s physical attributes, versatility, and impressive skillset make him a valuable asset to any team. His ability to power through blockers, slip off blocks, and chase down ball carriers in pursuit make him an excellent run defender. Additionally, his speed, strength, and footwork make him a formidable pass rusher. With the potential to continue developing his skills and maintain his energy on the field, Anudike-Uzomah is a player to watch out for in the coming years.
SCOUTING REPORT- WEAKNESSES
Felix Anudike-Uzomah’s playing style is characterized by his unique blend of length, effort, and short-area quickness, which allows him to apply pressure on the field. Although he is not always the first player off the snap, even when lined up over the ball, his ability to penetrate gaps and disrupt double teams makes him a valuable asset to his team’s defensive efforts.
One area where Anudike-Uzomah could improve is his hand usage as a pass rusher. He sometimes struggles to overcome longer edge blockers and get to the quarterback. However, his length and quickness make him a threat on the field, and with some work on his technique, he has the potential to become an even more effective pass rusher.
Anudike-Uzomah’s eagerness to get upfield and make plays can sometimes result in him neglecting his responsibilities against the run. However, his impressive speed and effort allow him to make up for this at times, chasing down ball carriers and preventing big plays.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah NFL DRAFT SUMMARY
Overall, Anudike-Uzomah’s unique blend of length, effort, and quickness make him a valuable player on the field. While he could improve his hand usage as a pass rusher and be more disciplined against the run, his potential to disrupt double teams and penetrate gaps makes him an asset to any defensive line. With continued development and improvement, Anudike-Uzomah has the potential to become a standout player in the future.
He’s our 50th ranked prospect on our draft big board.
Plus Side:
- Great leg strength
- Solid footwork
- Versatile; can rush from both a two-and three-point stance
Negatives:
- Needs to improve hand usage
- Not quick off the snap
- Neglects run defense occasionally