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Pitt DL Calijah Kancey Mocked to Chiefs in First Round

Pitt Panthers defensive tackle goes in the first round of another mock draft.
Stephen Thompson|
Pitt DL Calijah Kancey Mocked to Chiefs in First Round
Pitt DL Calijah Kancey Mocked to Chiefs in First Round

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Pittsburgh PanthersKansas City Chiefs

PITTSBURGH -- Pitt Panthers defensive lineman Calijah Kancey continues to carry first-round expectations as the NFL Draft nears. Less than two weeks out from draft night, Kancey has yet again been mocked in the first round. 

CBS Sports draft analyst Kyle Stackpole predicts Kancey will be selected by the defending Super Bowl Champions, the Kansas City Cheifs, with their only selection of the first round at pick No. 31. He believes Kancey will be a valuable addition opposite star rusher, Chris Jones. 

"Chris Jones needs some help in the middle of the defensive line," Stackpole wrote. "The undersized yet explosive Calijah Kancey will find his way into the opposing backfield."

Kancey has cracked the top 10 in some previous mock drafts from major outlets, but has consistently found himself in the first round. He is pegged as the fourth-best prospect at his position, per CBS Sports. In a projected first round mock that was heavy on the trenches, Kancey was the ninth defensive lineman taken and just the third interior lineman selected. 

Before he shattered all-time records with his speed and quickness at the NFL Combine and Pitt's Pro Day, Kancey was a unanimous All-American and ACC Defensive Player of the Year this past season after recording 31 tackles, 14.5 for a loss and 7.5 sacks in 11 games this year. He suffered a shoulder injury that kept him out of the regular season finale and will sideline him for the Sun Bowl against No. 18 UCLA, but Kancey still led the country's interior defensive linemen in tackles for loss.

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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