Undrafted free agent Ekow Boye-Doe, from K-State, turning heads at Chiefs training camp

Ekow Boye-Doe said he didn’t spend any time considering why he wasn’t selected in the NFL Draft in April. The former Kansas State cornerback was on to the next thing immediately, signing with the Chiefs and taking the long-shot route to an NFL roster spot.

The path cleared a hurdle when the Chiefs signed Boye-Doe to a contract after a rookie minicamp tryout, and his upward trajectory has continued at training camp.

On Friday, Boye-Dow took all of his reps with the first team. Red zone play was emphasized, and Boye-Doe held his own with at least three pass breakups, including a beauty in the corner of the end zone to deny Marquez Valdes-Scantling a touchdown reception from Patrick Mahomes.

Throughout the workout, Boye-Doe started opposite Trent McDuffie with fellow rookie Nic Jones getting first-team reps in the slot.

“You know what? He’s doing a nice job, a really nice job,” Andy Reid said of Boye-Doe. “He’s been getting better every day.”

Reid’s only issue?

“He’s got to eat a little bit,” Reid said of the 6-0, 177-pound Boye-Doe. “He’s kinda thin. But he’s a heck of a competitor and he’s got good skill.”

Absences in the secondary helped provide Boye-Doe’s opportunity. L’Jarius Sneed has missed some workouts with a knee injury. Jaylen Watson missed Friday’s practice for a non-injury reason, Reid said. Also, Nazeeh Johnson suffered a season-ending ACL in practice last week.

But Boye-Doe was working with the first team ahead of Joshua Williams, who started four games as a rookie last season.

Two weeks ago as training camp was getting underway, Boye-Doe said he never doubted himself after the draft snub.

“I’m here now, and I’m here for a reason,” Boye-Doe said. “I have my opportunity and I just go out there every day and show them what I’m about.”

Four Wildcats were selected in the draft, including defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah, the Chiefs’ first-round pick at No. 31 overall. Boye-Doe, a native of Ghana whose family moved to the United States when he was 3, opened scouts’ eyes with he ran a sub-4.3 40-yard dash on Kansas State’s Pro Day.

Going undrafted and having to prove himself was a familiar refrain for Boye-Doe. He attended Lawrence High, picked rival Kansas State over hometown Kansas and wasn’t an impact player early in his career. Boye-Doe, who weighed 165 pounds, appeared in seven games, mostly on special teams as a redshirt freshman.

“I’ve always just had that underdog mentality ever since I was little,” Boye-Doe said. “They said I was too small, so I just have that chip on my shoulder, and it’s just always been that way.”

But he started eight games in 2020 and 27 over the next two years, establishing himself as one of the Wildcats’ top defenders. An interesting stat: Boye-Doe did not have an interception during his college career, but according to Pro Football Focus, quarterbacks completed fewer than 60% of their passes against him.

Boye-Doe also looks to contribute on special teams. Friday, he was working with gunners on punt coverage.

Versatility will help Boye-Doe in a quest for a roster spot. His comfort level grows by the day, and it’s never a bad thing to practice with the starters.