Kansas City Chiefs rookie offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad is taking it all in. While speaking to reporters over the weekend, the former Penn State star asked about arriving at the team facility for the first time.
“It’s pretty surreal,” Nourzad said. “You try to prepare yourself as best as possible during the process, but you really have no idea where you’re going to go. Once the bus rolled up the road and we saw the stadium and the facility, it’s really breathtaking. It’s really an incredible experience that I feel truly blessed to be able to experience. It’s just unbelievable.”
Nourzad was selected in the fifth round of the draft. The 23-year-old from Marietta, Georgia spent four seasons at Cornell before transferring to Penn State. Last season, Nourzad was selected to the All-Big Ten Second Team and was invited to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl.
During the press conference, Nourzad talked about getting back to football instead of school. “I think it’s more a sense of excitement rather than freedom because football is the only thing I really love,” Nourzad continued. “Being able to just go back to that, being completely focused on, like you said, learning my playbook, getting to meet my teammates, getting out and doing drills and getting better. It’s really relieving.”
Hunter Nourzad could make immediate impact with Chiefs
Before the draft Lance Zierlein of NFL.com said Nourzad has the ability to start in the NFL quickly. “Broad and powerful with thick hips and adequate length for the position,” Zierlein wrote. “The Cornell transfer not only possesses NFL-caliber core strength, technique and body control, he also had quality performances against his toughest Big Ten competition. Nourzad has the feel and footwork for all run-blocking schemes and is strong enough to deal with a 0-technique lined up over him.
“While he’s strong on impact, he needs to be careful about playing too far out over his skis in order to keep from whiffing. His punch and anchor are where they need to be, but the Ohio State game showed he has work to do with twist recognition and response. Nourzad has early starter ability at center.”
Nourzad joins a Chiefs team that has won the last two Super Bowls. If he becomes the starting center, he will be snapping the ball to Patrick Mahomes who is a two-time NFL MVP and three time Super Bowl MVP.
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