Where did Patrick Mahomes play college football? When was he drafted?

The Kansas City Chiefs entered the NFL playoffs as formidable contenders, boasting a potent side led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes. With a talented roster and solid coaching, they made it again to the Super Bowl this year. Chiefs’ fans anticipate a thrilling performance, anticipating another championship as they strive for glory in 2024.

But did you know that Patrick Mahomes played college baseball? He was good, too. Mahomes was a top prospect in the 2014 MLB draft and selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 37th round. He didn’t end up going that route, as we now know, because he was committed to Texas Tech University, where he would play both college baseball and college Football. I don’t know if his pitching helped train his Football arm, but the path that led him to where he is today - a two-time Super Bowl champion and record-setting quarterback in the NFL - began in West Texas at Texas Tech University.

Mahomes’ humble Texas beginnings

Mahomes grew up in Tyler, Texas and played football, baseball, and basketball in high school. In fact, he nearly gave up football in favor of baseball, but (thankfully for all Texas Tech college football and Chiefs fans) his mother actually convinced him to stick with it. It was his junior year in high school when he had a huge game while a Texas Tech assistant was sitting in the audience watching. From there, it was destiny. He was committed to attending Texas Tech University, splitting time between football and baseball.

In 2014, Mahomes started as the backup quarterback to Davis Webb until Webb suffered a season-ending injury and Mahomes replaced him as a true freshman. Under head coach and former Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury, Mahomes would keep the starting job the following year and Webb would be the backup.

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Mahomes decides to focus on football

Mahomes’ football success grew, but his baseball career was suffering. He finished the 2015 football season with 4,653 yards, 36 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. He finished that same baseball season having only appeared in three games with no hits in two at bats, and allowed three runs as pitcher. It was clear where his focus was, and by his junior year, he had given up baseball for good to focus on football.

That same year, in 2016, Mahomes would set several records in the NCAA, the Big 12 conference, and Texas Tech in a single game against Oklahoma University: single-game yards total offense - 819 and single-game yards passing - 734.

He finished that year leading the whole country in nearly every statistic - yards per game (421), passing yards (5,052), total offense (5,312), points responsible (318), and touchdowns (53).

In what round was Mahomes drafted?

In 2017, Mahomes was eligible to enter the NFL draft, and decided to do so instead of finishing his senior year as a Red Raider at Texas Tech. Despite foregoing his senior season, he still managed to finish his college career ranked third in passing yards (11,252), touchdown passes (93), attempts (1,349), and completions (857), and the second Red Raider quarterback of all time with 22 rushing touchdowns and second in touchdowns responsible (115).

It’s no wonder that Mahomes was selected in the first round and 10th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. Since his college days, Mahomes’ achievements are well-known. From setting a record and becoming MVP in his first season as starting quarterback, to three Super Bowl runs including two Super Bowl championship and being named Super Bowl MVP (the youngest quarterback to ever earn the award) twice, Mahomes’ time in Texas and especially at Texas Tech molded him into the successful player he is today.

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