If you’re looking for a veteran training camp standout in Kansas City, look no further than Marcus Kemp.
Kemp joined the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent WR out of the University of Hawaii in 2017. He didn’t make the 53-man roster out of the gate, but he continued working on the practice squad. When Chris Conley suffered an Achilles injury in October of 2017, Kemp was promoted to the active roster and he has stuck with the team since then.
His primary role has been as a gunner on special teams. On offense he’s managed a lone reception for seven yards. During his two seasons thus far, he showed a lot of progress on special teams. He’s rarely had an opportunity to see the field on offense, even though his 6-foot-4 size made him one of the biggest receivers on the Chiefs’ roster.
In Kemp’s third year with the Chiefs, he’s showing the same type of steady progress that got him his first opportunity on the 53-man roster. It’s getting the attention of his coaches, including offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
“Marcus Kemp is just one of those steady-eddy guys,” Bieniemy said. “He understands his role. He’s one of those guys that young kids and young players should gravitate to. He doesn’t take anything for granted. He understands his role. He’s fought and scratched from the bottom of the roster, earned a spot on our team as a practice squad guy, has developed a reputation for being a heck of a special teams player, and when he gets called upon – when guys get pulled from practice – he just jumps in there and finds a way to make plays. Those are the types of people that we want in our organization.”
Kemp’s ability to work in and find a way to make plays has earned him repetitions with the first team offense. The noticeable difference in his game from previous seasons is improvements in route running and body control.
Even Patrick Mahomes has noticed how Kemp, along with other veteran receivers, have picked up their game.
“I feel like the other guys like (Gehrig) Dieter, (Marcus) Kemp and (Byron) Pringle, have really stepped up,” Mahomes said back in June. “You can tell they really grasp the offense now and can go out there and play fast.”
The key for Kemp will be carrying that same success that he’s seen in practice during upcoming preseason play. Playing fast and making plays in the offense is the next step for him that he hasn’t yet taken. The competition in the receiver room in Kansas City is fierce, and even with the glowing endorsement of coach Bieniemy, Kemp needs to continue to prove that he’s a worthy investment for this football team.
