Nov. 7, 2015; Austin, TX; Texas defensive tackle Desmond Jackson sacks Kansas quarterback Ryan Willis at Darrell K. Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Thirty-nine players on a tryout basis are present on the first day of Chiefs rookie minicamp
Twenty-one of the tryouts are on offense: Missouri Western quarterback Travis Partridge, East Stroudsburg quarterback Matt Soltes, East Carolina running back Chris Hairston, Iowa running back Jordan Canzeri, Jacksonville State-AL running back Troymaine Pope, Akron running back Donnell Alexander, Alabama fullback Michael Nysewander, Stillman wide receiver Jeff Henderson, Citadel wide receiver Brandon Eakins, William & Mary wide receiver Christian Reeves, Pittsburg State wide receiver Marquise Cushon, Michigan State wide receiver AJ Troup, Bryant tight end John Lavin, UNLV tight end Jake Phillips, Boise State tight end Tyler Horn, Air Force tight end Garrett Griffin, West Alabama tackle Kennedy Estelle, Azusa Pacific tackle Paul Flores, Nebraska tackle Zach Sterup, Fordham guard Garrick Mayweather and Utah center Siaosi Aiono.
The Chiefs invited 14 defensive players: Texas defensive tackle Desmond “Tank” Jackson, Michigan Tech defensive tackle Tanner Agen, Idaho nose tackle Ryan Edwards, Purdue nose tackle Michael Rouse, Cortland State defensive end Jake Ceresna, Kent State defensive end Nate Terhune, Minnesota State-Mankato outside linebacker Josh Gordon, Virginia Tech outside linebacker Chase Williams, South Dakota inside linebacker Keyen Lage, Duquesne cornerback Trenton Coles, Fresno State cornerback Shannon Edwards, Georgia State cornerback Bruce Dukes, Montana safety Herbert Gamboa and Samford safety Trey Wesley.
Four specialists round out the tryout players: Penn State kicker Sam Ficken, Baylor punter Spencer Roth, Fresno State long snapper Dylan Detwiler and Northern Illinois long snapper Boomer Mays.
While tryout players have a steep obstacle to overcome, it isn’t uncommon for a player or players to stick with the Chiefs leading to training camp.
For example, the Chiefs last year signed running back Keshawn Hill, guard Melvin Meggs, center Daniel Munyer and offensive tackle Kelvin Palmer to contract following successful tryouts during rookie minicamp.
Munyer was eventually signed to the practice squad and elevated to the active 53-man roster.
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Herbie Teope is the lead Chiefs beat writer for The Topeka Capital-Journal and ChiefsDigest.com. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @HerbieTeope.
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