Deneric Prince is UDFA to keep an eye on for KC Chiefs

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TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 23: Deneric Prince #8 of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane runs in a 62-yard touchdown during the second half against the South Florida Bulls at Raymond James Stadium on October 23, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

Deneric Prince vs. Temple

In a second quarter drive, Prince leaps off of the screen darting his way through traffic on several runs. When he’s decisive, he can create chunk plays with his legs. I noted three plays where he cut once and got upfield in a hurry. He doesn’t look to be a burner on tape, despite recording a 4.41 40-time at the NFL Combine, but he has good burst and can explode through a hole when necessary.

The key play on that drive was an 18-yard reception for a touchdown. Prince caught a swing pass and evaded two defenders near the boundary to lunge into the end zone. For a guy his size, he’s surprisingly more nimble than you’d expect. Prince was not asked to be a receiver very often at Tulsa, but this play demonstrated that he has the ability to catch the ball, turn and run with little wasted motion. That will serve him well in an Andy Reid offense where he’s masterful at getting ballcarriers into open space.

Midway through the second quarter, Prince ripped off a 29-yard run. To be fair, this play was blocked immaculately up front. The senior for the Golden Hurricanes was practically untouched until he got to midfield, but this play did prove that he’s capable of exploiting space for big chunks. Prince was one defender from making a house call on the play.

Prince demonstrated how dynamic he can be on a late-third quarter drive into Temple territory. He got skinny in tight quarters and exploded into the second level. It would ultimately end in a negative play as Prince would turn the ball over in a pile of Temple defenders, but he showed excellent contact balance and the ability to run through a defender when necessary.

Prince would cap off the night with an 84-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. He took the handoff at his own 10-yard line and it looked like he’d been shot out of a cannon as he raced through the middle of Temple’s defense past four defenders. That kind of explosiveness in an offense that also has a speedster in Isiah Pacheco is exciting to think about.

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