Chiefs draft former Central standout Rakeem Nunez-Roches in sixth round

Former Central standout Rakeem Nunez-Roches was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs as a defensive lineman on Saturday in the sixth round.

Nunez-Roches, who played the past four seasons with Southern Miss., was taken with the 41st pick in the sixth round, the 217th selection overall.

"When you cut on the Alabama tape, you can see his motor, his explosiveness," Chiefs area scout Dom Green said.

Green said Nunez-Roches needed coaching to help with his technique, but that defensive line coach Tommy Brasher would be able to help him in that area.

Nunez-Roches, 6-foot-2, 307 pounds, played for Woodrow Lowe at Central. Nunez-Roches' final high school season was 2010.

He helped the Red Devils to a 9-2 record and the Class 6A Region 3 championship.

Nunez-Roches, a native of Belize who moved to the U.S. in 2000 with his mother, finished with 132 tackles with 17 sacks and four forced fumbles in his career.

He played in six games as a freshman for Southern Miss and earned Conference USA All-Freshman team honors. Nunez-Roches started 11 games as a sophomore and played in all 12. He made the All-Conference USA honorable mention.

As a junior in 2013, he started and played in just the first two games before suffering a season-ening knee injury. He received a medical redshirt, so he was still a junior in 2014.

He earned All-Conference USA first team honors with 58 tackles, including 32 solo and 14 tackles for loss.

Nunez-Roches was projected as a third- or fourth-round pick, according to cbssports.com. Dane Brugler wrote "Adequate size and length for the position with packed-on muscle. Needs to continue and develop his functional strength. Quick-footed penetrater who is at his best shooting gaps or using his quick extension to attack and drive blockers backwards."

Nunez-Roches joins former Hardaway standout Kelcie McCray with the Chiefs.

This story was originally published May 2, 2015 at 7:16 PM with the headline "Chiefs draft former Central standout Rakeem Nunez-Roches in sixth round ."