KANSAS CITY, Mo. — For those unfamiliar with Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah, a quick introduction: muscle-bound, 6-feet-5 inches tall, 278 pounds, regularly described by teammates as an athletic freak, probable inhabitant of quarterback nightmares. Most people – not to mention individuals with lucrative careers that hinge on their physical abilities – would not challenge this man. Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith …
Austin Willis is wearing shorts, sneakers and a windbreaker jacket – the Emporia State logo over his heart offering a hint of his identity – while waiting in the lobby of an IHOP restaurant in Emporia, Kan. He rises and smiles upon greetings, extending a warm handshake before a hostess leads a party of two to the privacy of a …
From a teenager to a young man, Randall Evans has grown a lot since leaving Miami five years ago in pursuit of NFL dreams that landed him in Manhattan, Kan. The 23-year-old’s firm hand shake and body language reflect confidence; his eyes display maturity and intelligence; the words flow from his mouth in articulate fashion; and his memory is a bottomless …
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The months since the 2014 regular season ended have been virtually nonstop for former Kansas Jayhawks inside linebacker Ben Heeney. The native of Hutchinson, Kan., played in the East-West Shrine Game, attended the NFL Scouting Combine, and then capped it off Wednesday with Kansas’ Pro Day. Heeney was among 15 former Jayhawk players working out in front …
Former Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett proved records are made to be broken. The dual-threat Lockett, a native of Tulsa, Okla., established a whopping 17 school records by the time he concluded an accomplished four-year career in Manhattan, Kan. Among the records set by Lockett include receptions (249), yards receiving (3,710), receiving touchdowns (29), 100-yard receiving games (17), kickoff-return …