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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
DAVID EULIIT/THE KANSAS CITY STAR/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas City Chiefs free agent wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, center, speaks during his press conference Wednesday afternoon at the Chiefs practice facility.
Kansas City Chiefs immediately upgrade with Jeremy Maclin pick
Chris Sitek
@kanssports
Zero. That's the total number of receiving touchdowns the Kansas City Chiefs wide receivers caught last season.
This stat ranked last in the NFL, so many experts, like ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter and Bleacher Report NFL writer Matt Bowen, emphasized the need for improvement in the wide receiver position for the Chiefs. Schefter and Bowen also advocated for the Chiefs to get more playmakers on that side of the ball in free agency.
So, what do the Chiefs do?
They sign free-agent wide receiver Jeremy Maclin to a five-year, $11 million-per-season
deal and reunite the former Philadelphia Eagle standout with his former coach Andy Reid. In his seventh season, Maclin is coming off a career season, hauling in 85 receptions for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 games last season. He achieved all these numbers after a torn right ACI injury sidelined him in 2013.
Maclin is an immediate upgrade as the Chiefs sign a legitimate, deep-threat, No.1-caliber receiver. Maclin ranked ninth in receiving yards, 12th in receiving touchdowns and sixth in receptions of over 20 yards or more, according to ESPN. He played a huge role in head coach Chip Kelly's fast-pass offense leading the team to a 10-6 record, earning second place
in the NFC East, according to Pro-Football Reference.
Maclin will be an instant impact for the Chiefs, considering they haven't had a 1,000-yard receiver since Dwayne Bowe in 2011.
Maclin began his success collegiately when he shined at the University of Missouri with 182 receptions, 2,315 yards and 22 touchdowns in just two seasons. Maclin then made his way to become the first-round pick in the 2009 NFL draft for the Philadelphia Eagles, where he experienced great success under Reid. Maclin was the primary second option wide receiver behind Desean Jackson from 2009 to 2012 in the West Coast offense.
with 70 catches,964 total yards and 10 total touchdowns, helping the Philadelphia Eagles to a first-place record (10-6) in the NFC East.
With his second-best season in 2010, Maclin led the team
Maclin not only impacts the receiver position, but also affects the Chiefs' special teams as a punt and kick returner. As a punt returner at Missouri, Maclin had 577 career punt-return yards to go along with three touchdowns. As a kick returner, he gained 2,049 total yards and two touchdowns.
The Chiefs were able to sign Jeremy Maclin by the release of receiver Dwayne Bowe, who was scheduled to make $10.75 million next season. This appears to be the start of many moves in the Kansas City Chiefs offseason this year.
Edited by Mitch Raznick
2 track and field athletes head to championships
GRAYDON JAMES MELIA
@gjmelia
With the NCAA Indoor track and field Championships scheduled for March 13-14, two athletes are preparing to compete in their respective events this weekend. The Championships are being held in Fayetteville, Ark., in the Randal Tyson Center, hosted by the University of Arkansas.
Senior Lindsay Vollmer enters the weekend coming off a Big 12 title in the women's pentathlon in Ames, Iowa, two weeks ago. Ranked No. 3 in the country, Vollmer will look to bring back an NCAA Championship to Lawrence. Vollmer won the outdoor pentathlon NCAA Championship in 2013.
The other athlete competing is junior Casey Bowen, who is also fresh off a Big 12 Championship in the men's pole vault. Bowen claimed his first conference title by jumping to a height of $17\frac{1}{4} \%$ for the victory.
The pole vault will take place Friday at 3:30 p.m. As for Vollmer, her five events in the pentathlon will begin Saturday morning.
The rest of Kansas' track and field athletes will be preparing for the first meet of the outdoor season at the Texas Relays on March 25. The Texas Relay will take place in Austin, Texas, hosted by the University of Texas.
Edited by Mitch Raznick
FILE PHOTO/KANSAN
A Kansas track member from last year jumps into the sandpit during the Jayhawk Classic.
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