Long Drafted By Chiefs
4/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 24, 2005
Baylor senior defensive end Khari Long was selected in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft Sunday afternoon by the Kansas City Chiefs. A native of Wichita Falls, Texas, Long was the 199th player selected in the draft.
The first Bear drafted since DT Ethan Kelley was taken in the seventh round of the 2003 draft by the New England Patriots, Long is only the third Baylor player chosen in the last six NFL drafts, following in the footsteps of Kelley and defensive back Gary Baxter, a second-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2001.
Long, who earned his communications degree from Baylor in Aug., 2004, finished fourth on the team in tackles (tops among Baylor d-linemen) with 58 stops. He led the squad in quarterback hurries (eight), was tied for second in sacks (2) and No. 3 in tackles for loss with eight.
A participant in the 2005 Hula Bowl, Long recorded a 38.5-inch vertical jump at the 2005 NFL draft combine, where he also clocked a 4.69 40-yard dash time. He finished among the top five at his position in every category NFL teams charted at the draft combine back in Feb.
"We are thrilled for Khari (Long),"said third-year Baylor coach Guy Morriss. "He has good strength and I believe he'll have a chance to blossom in Kansas City."
Long is only the third Baylor player drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs, and the first since defensive back Gary Green was selected in the first round of the 1977 draft with the 10th pick.
