NFL camps are well underway and we are not far away from NFL preseason games beginning soon. Hey, it's football, no? There are several former Virignia Tech players in NFL camps looking to win a starting spot, earn a roster spot, or just make a team in some capacity.
One player who is squarely in the mix for a starting spot is former Hokies defensive back Mansoor Delane, who was picked sixth overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in April's draft. If there is one thing that Chiefs' head coach Andy Reid is learning and learning quickly, it's that he is finding out just how tough Delane is.
Former Virginia Tech standout Mansoor Delane is impressing with is toughness in Chiefs camp
Delane has been dealing with a shoulder injury, which limited him in minicamp and the start of training camp last week. This early in the preseason, there is no reason whatsoever for him to be out on the practice field banging around and risking a bigger injury to that shoulder. Delane was wearing a yellow non-contact jersey in practice on Monday, but he's making it hard for Reid and the medical staff to keep him out. He was spotted running on and off the field in team periods, according to Arrowhead Pride.
“He’s a tough nut,” Reid said. “A lot of guys probably wouldn’t go out there and play with what he’s got, but he wants to be out there; he wants to learn. That’s what he wants to do… we have to keep him out of contact. Right now, that’s important until that thing heals up. Footwork and all that is great; go do all of that, no problem, but we just have to wait until it’s healed up.”
Delane had an opportunity to head to the 2025 NFL Draft, but he opted to hit the Transfer Portal and landed at LSU for the 2025 season. He had a solid season for the Tigers, which saw head coach Brian Kelly fired before the season ended. It wasn't surprising that he raised his draft stock with LSU, as Kansas City traded up to pick him sixth overall in Pittsburgh three months ago.
It shouldn't come as a surprise that Delane is showing an awful lot of toughness in camp and is willing to learn and learn quickly. That should help him get on the field quicker once he's healthy.
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