The AFC Championship matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium will feature a surprising number of players that flew under the radar when it came to recruiting. The teams have a combined 30 players who weren't rated coming out of his high school.
Josh Allen and Dion Dawkins were the only players from Buffalo selected to the Pro Bowl and were both unranked coming out of high school.
Dalton Kincaid, Christian Benford, Rasul Douglas, Taron Johnson, Spencer Brown and Mack Hollins join Allen and Dawkins as eight players that started last week's 27-25 win over Baltimore in the AFC Divisional Round that were not ranked.
The Bills had the most players unranked out of any of the four remaining teams with 16.
Kansas City wasn't far behind with 14. Some notable names include Hollywood Brown, Bryan Cook, Tershawn Wharton and Carson Steele.
The Chiefs had the second-most five-stars out of the four remaining teams with five led by Chris Jones and Trey Smith.
Ed Oliver and A.J. Epenesa were the only five-stars on Buffalo.
Trent McDuffie, Creed Humphrey, Xavier Worthy and DeAndre Hopkins headline the 13 four-stars on Kansas City.
James Cook, Khalil Shakir, Amari Cooper and Keon Coleman were among the 12 four-stars on Buffalo.
Patrick Mahomes was a three-star recruit coming out of
Whitehouse (Texas). He was the 389th-rated player overall and No. 22 quarterback in the Class of 2014. Over his final two years of high school he threw for 8,458 yards and 96 touchdowns. Mahomes was also a standout baseball and basketball player, earning
2013-14 MaxPreps Male National Athlete of the Year.
His favorite target — Travis Kelce — was a two-star recruit. He was the 85th-rated tight end coming out of
Cleveland Heights (Ohio) in 2008. He played quarterback in high school and during his senior season he accounted for 2,539 yards of total offense and 31 touchdowns.
Buffalo Bills Pro Bowler Dion Dawkins in action during a 2011 game while at Rahway. (PHOTO: Vincent Carchietta)
Quarterbacks (3)
Running backs (3)
Fullback (1)
Stars: 0 | Class: 2015
Overall rank: N/A | Position rank: N/A
Stars: 4 |
Class: 2012
Overall rank: 45 |
Position rank: 5
Keon Coleman, Opelousas Catholic (Opelousas, La.)
Stars: 4 |
Class: 2021
Overall rank: 377 |
Position rank: 61
Mack Hollins, Wootton (Rockville, Md.)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2009
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Curtis Samuel, Erasmus Hall (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Stars: 4 |
Class: 2014
Overall rank: 56 |
Position rank: 7 (athlete)
Tight end (3)
Dalton Kincaid, Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2018
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Dawson Knox, Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tenn.)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2015
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Quintin Morris, George Ranch (Richmond, Texas)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2017
Overall rank: 1,916 |
Position rank: 272 (wide receiver)
Offensive line (8)
Dion Dawkins, Rahway (N.J.)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2012
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
David Edwards, Downers Grove North (Downers Grove, Ill.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2015
Overall rank: 639 |
Position rank: 21 (tight end)
Connor McGovern, Lake-Lehman (Lehman, Pa.)
Stars: 4 |
Class: 2016
Overall rank: 259 |
Position rank: 3
O'Cyrus Torrence, St. Helena College and Career Academy (Greensburg, La.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2019
Overall rank: 1,617 |
Position rank: 140
Spencer Brown, Lenox (Iowa)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2016
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Ryan Van Demark, Hun (Princeton, N.J.)
Stars: 2 |
Class: 2017
Overall rank: 3,114 |
Position rank: 260
Alec Anderson, Etiwanda (Calif.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2018
Overall rank: 778 |
Position rank: 59
Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Warren Easton (New Orleans)
Stars: 4 |
Class: 2020
Overall rank: 60 |
Position rank: 1
Tylan Grable, Wilkinson County (Irwinton, Ga.)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2018
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Defensive line (11)Greg Rousseau, Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah, Fla.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2018
Overall rank: 485 |
Position rank: 27
DaQuan Jones, Johnson City (N.Y.)
Stars: 4 |
Class: 2010
Overall rank: 329 |
Position rank: 26
Ed Oliver, Westfield (Houston)
Stars: 5 |
Class: 2016
Overall rank: 6 |
Position rank: 3
A.J. Epenesa, Edwardsville (Ill.)
Stars: 5 |
Class: 2017
Overall rank: 27 |
Position rank: 1
Von Miller, DeSoto (Texas)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2007
Overall rank: 272 |
Position rank: 16
Dawuane Smoot, Groveport-Madison (Groveport, Ohio)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2013
Overall rank: 1,507 |
Position rank: 70
Jordan Phillips, Circle (Towanda, Kan.)
Stars: 4 |
Class: 2011
Overall rank: 48 |
Position rank: 4
DeWayne Carter, Pickerington Central (Pickerington, Ohio)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2019
Overall rank: 517 |
Position rank: 517
Austin Johnson, St. Augustine Prep (Richland, N.J.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2012
Overall rank: 1,029 |
Position rank: 70
Quinton Jefferson, Woodland Hills (Pittsburgh)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2011
Overall rank: 764 |
Position rank: 34
Javon Solomon, Godby (Tallahassee, Fla.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2019
Overall rank: 1,926 |
Position rank: 137
Eli Ankou, Red Lion Christian Academy (Bear, Del.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2012
Overall rank: 1,075 |
Position rank: 74
Linebackers (6)Matt Milano, Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2013
Overall rank: 1,355 |
Position rank: 96 (safety)
Terrel Bernard, La Porte (Texas)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2017
Overall rank: 993 |
Position rank: 65
Joe Andreessen, Lancaster (N.Y.)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2018
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Dorian Williams, Indian Land (Fort Mill, S.C.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2019
Overall rank: 2,404 |
Position rank: 177
Baylon Spector, Calhoun (Ga.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2017
Overall rank: 605 |
Position rank: 45 (safety)
Edefuan Ulofoshio, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2018
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Defensive backs (9)
Rasul Douglas, East Orange Campus (East Orange, N.J.)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2012
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Taylor Rapp, Sehome (Bellingham, Wash.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2016
Overall rank: 464 |
Position rank: 27
Damar Hamlin, Central Catholic (Pittsburgh)
Stars: 4 |
Class: 2016
Overall rank: 152 |
Position rank: 14
Christian Benford, Randallstown (Md.)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2018
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Taron Johnson, Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2014
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Cam Lewis, Consortium College Prep (Detroit)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2015
Overall rank: 1,964 |
Position rank: 233 (wide receiver)
Cole Bishop, Starr's Mill (Fayetteville, Ga.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2021
Overall rank: 670 |
Position rank: 72 (linebacker)
Kaiir Elam, Benjamin (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.)
Stars: 4 |
Class: 2019
Overall rank: 48 |
Position rank: 6
Ja'Marcus Ingram, South Oak Cliff (Dallas)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2017
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Kicker (1)
Tyler Bass, Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2015
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Punter (1)
Sam Martin, Starr’s Mill (Fayetteville, GA)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2009
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Long snapper (1)Reid Ferguson, Buford (Buford, GA)
Stars: 2 |
Class: 2012
Overall rank: 1,874 |
Position rank: 2
Kansas City Chiefs
Quarterbacks (2)Patrick Mahomes, Whitehouse (Texas)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2014
Overall rank: 389 |
Position rank: 22
Carson Wentz, Century (Bismarck, N.D.)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2011
Overall rank: N/A |
Position: N/A
Running backs (4)Isiah Pacheco, Vineland (N.J.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2018
Overall rank: 665 |
Position rank: 30
Kareem Hunt, South (Willoughby, Ohio)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2013
Overall rank: 1,746 |
Position rank: 108
Samaje Perine, Hendrickson (Pflugerville, Texas)
Stars: 4 |
Class: 2014
Overall rank: 249 |
Position rank: 15
Carson Steele, Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2021
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Wide receivers (6)Xavier Worthy, Central (Fresno, Calif.)
Stars: 4 |
Class: 2021
Overall rank: 62 |
Position rank: 8
DeAndre Hopkins, Daniel (Central, S.C.)
Stars: 4 |
Class: 2010
Overall rank: 210 |
Position rank: 30
Hollywood Brown, Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2016
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Juju Smith-Schuster, Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.)
Stars: 5 |
Class: 2014
Overall rank: 21 |
Position rank: 3 (athlete)
Justin Watson, South Fayette (McDonald, Pa.)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2014
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Nikko Remigio, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Stars: 4 |
Class: 2018
Overall rank: 320 |
Position rank: 52
Tight ends (3)Travis Kelce, Cleveland Heights (Ohio)
Stars: 2 |
Class: 2008
Overall rank: 1,602 |
Position rank: 85
Noah Gray, Leominster (Mass.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2017
Overall rank: 1,441 |
Position rank: 67
Peyton Hendershot, Tri-West Hendricks (Lizton, Ind.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2017
Overall rank: 1,069 |
Position rank: 52
Offensive line (11)
Joe Thuney, Archbishop Alter (Kettering, Ohio)
Stars: 2 |
Class; 2011
Overall rank: 1,537 |
Position rank: 131
Mike Caliendo, Brookfield East (Brookfield, Wis.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2016
Overall rank: 1,782 |
Position rank: 101
Creed Humphrey, Shawnee (Okla.)
Stars: 4 |
Class: 2017
Overall rank: 290 |
Position rank: 3
Trey Smith, University School of Jackson (Jackson, Tenn.)
Stars: 5 |
Class: 2017
Overall rank: 14 |
Position rank: 4
Jawaan Taylor, Cocoa (Fla.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2016
Overall rank: 927 |
Position rank: 46
D.J. Humphries, Mallard Creek (Charlotte, N.C.)
Stars: 5 |
Class: 2012
Overall rank: 3 |
Position rank: 1
Hunter Nourzad, Walker (Marietta, Ga.)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2018
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
C.J Hanson, DePaul Catholic (Wayne, N.J.)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2019
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Ethan Driskell, Holy Cross (Louisville, Ky.)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2019
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Wanya Morris, Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)
Stars: 5 |
Class: 2019
Overall rank: 28 |
Position rank: 6
Kingsley Suamataia, Orem (Utah)
Stars: 4 |
Class: 2021
Overall rank: 36 |
Position rank: 6
Defensive line (10)
George Karlaftis, West Lafayette (Ind.)
Stars: 4 |
Class: 2019
Overall rank: 59 |
Position rank: 4
Tershawn Wharton, University City (St. Louis)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2016
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Chris Jones, Houston (Miss.)
Stars: 5 |
Class: 2013
Overall rank: 18 |
Position rank: 2
Mike Danna, De La Salle Collegiate (Warren, Mich.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2015
Overall rank: 2,034 |
Position rank: 94
Charles Omenihu, Rowlett (Texas)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2015
Overall rank: 422 |
Position rank: 15
Derrick Nnadi, Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach, Va.)
Stars: 4 |
Class: 2014
Overall rank: 97 |
Position rank: 7
Mike Pennel, Grandview (Aurora, Colo.) Stars: 0 |
Class: 2012
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Lee's Summit (Mo.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2020
Overall rank: 2,382 |
Position rank: 114
Malik Herring, Mary Persons (Forsyth, Ga.)
Stars: 4 |
Class: 2017
Overall rank: 154 |
Position rank: 4
Joshua Uche, Columbus (Miami)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2016
Overall rank: 701 |
Position rank: 43
Linebackers (4)Drue Tranquill, Carroll (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
Stars: 4 |
Class: 2014
Overall rank: 281 |
Position rank: 21 (safety)
Nick Bolton, Lone Star (Frisco, Texas)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2018
Overall rank: 1,114 |
Position rank: 39
Leo Chanal, Grantsburg (Wis.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2019
Overall rank: 635 |
Position rank: 35 (athlete)
Cam Jones, St. Benedict at Auburndale (Cordova, Tenn.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2018
Overall rank: 951 |
Position rank: 79 (athlete)
Defensive backs (10)Trent McDuffie, St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
Stars: 4 |
Class: 2019
Overall rank: 126 |
Position rank: 12
Justin Reid, Dutchtown (Geismar, La.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2015
Overall rank: 365 |
Position rank: 21
Bryan Cook, Mt. Healthy (Cincinnati)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2017
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Jaylen Watson, Laney (Augusta, Ga.)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2017
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Chamarri Conner, Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Stars: 4 |
Class: 2018
Overall rank: 317 |
Position rank: 24
Keith Taylor Jr., Servite (Anaheim, Calif.)
Stars: 4 |
Class: 2017
Overall rank: 249 |
Position rank: 31
Jaden Hicks, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2021
Overall rank: 923 |
Position rank: 73
Nazeeh Johnson, Millbrook (Winchester, Va.)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2016
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Christian Roland-Wallace, Knight (Palmdale, Calif.)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2019
Overall rank: 980 |
Position rank: 71 (athlete)
Joshua Williams, Jack Britt (Fayetteville, N.C.)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2017
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
Kickers (1)Harrison Butker, Westminster (Atlanta)
Stars: 3 |
Class: 2013
Overall rank: 1,072 |
Position rank: 3
Punter (1)
Matt Araiza, Rancho Bernardo (San Diego)
Stars: 2 |
Class: 2018
Overall rank: 2,609 |
Position rank: 20
Long snapper (1)James Winchester, Washington (Okla.)
Stars: 0 |
Class: 2008
Overall rank: N/A |
Position rank: N/A
