ChiefsPlanet - Local article on Tre Stallings...

Tre Stallings

As the NFL draft headed into the sixth round Sunday afternoon, Ole Miss offensive lineman Tre' Stallings remained calm and confident that he would eventually get the phone call he longed for.
When the Kansas City Chiefs' turn rolled around, Stallings was actually on the phone with the Dallas Cowboys. But before he could finish that conversation, Stallings learned he was the newest member of the Chiefs.

''That was kind of ironic,'' said Stallings, the only member of the Rebels' senior class to be drafted. ''I'm just so happy to be going to Kansas City.''
It was just a couple of weeks ago that the 6-4, 317-pound guard took a visit to Kansas City to meet with the Chiefs. After the trip, he was hoping for a return visit. Stallings said he had numerous conversations with coach Herm Edwards and the staff prior to Sunday.

''It just felt like home,'' he said. ''It's kind of like Oxford in that it's not too big. Everybody in the organization just made me feel at home.''

Stallings had some additional help in his corner when it came to convincing the Chiefs he was a worthy pick. Stallings is good friends with Chiefs Player Development Coordinator Jamil Northcutt. Northcutt was an Ole Miss teammate of his, playing linebacker for the Rebels from 2001-03.

''He was like having a second agent, putting in good words for me,'' Stallings said.

With his selection, Stallings extended Ole Miss' streak of having at least one player drafted to seven straight seasons. Stallings was suprised that none of his teammates joined him.

''Not only that, I can't believe only two players from Mississippi (schools) were drafted,'' said the Magnolia, Miss. native. ''But it's all about making the most of your opportunity. I'm sure some of them will get invited to a camp.''

Mississippi State running back Jerious Norwood was taken in the third round by Atlanta.

Stallings ended his Ole Miss career by tying the school record of 48 consecutive starts. It was the third active longest streak in the Southeastern Conference and tied for the fifth longest nationally.

Edwards said the Chiefs like the potential they saw in the durable lineman.

''Stallings brings some toughness,'' Edwards said. ''He's played a lot of football in his career and can play guard. You wonder why you draft offensive linemen, but Kansas City has always had the ability to develop young offensive linemen.

" You look at some of the linemen that have been developed through the years here. He's a guy who we like because of his potential. He's big, strong, physical, and very smart. That's something you look for when you draft offensive linemen. We didn't want to get into the free agency big, and he was sitting there.''

Stallings said he will report to the Chiefs mini-camp May 10. He is projected to back up right guard Will Shields.

''That's a good situation for me to be in, to come in and learn behind Will Shields,'' Stallings said. ''I'm just going to go there ready to work.''