Chiefs No. 3A Profile: G Jon Asamoah
NAME – Jonathan Yao-Lante Asamoah
BORN – July 21, 1988 in Park Forest, Illinois.
FAMILY – Son of Geraldine Terstegge and Samuel Asamoah.
PERSONAL STATS – 6-4, 305 pounds, 33-inch arms, 10¾-inch hands.
MORE PERSONAL STATS – 5.08 seconds in the 40-yard dash … 26 reps at 225 pounds on the bench press.
HIGH SCHOOL – Attended Rich East High School in Park Forest, Illinois and graduated with the class of 2006. He was a two-time Academic All-State pick. He earned the Cook County Circuit Court-Black History Award for academics and community service.
ATHLETIC CAREER – He was a two-time All-Conference guard for the Rockets and also lettered three times in basketball. In fact, he played only hoops as a freshman.
RECRUITMENT – Asamoah was recruited by Northern Illinois, Cincinnati, Bowling Green and Ball State and he verbally committed to Northern Illinois before he was offered a scholarship at Illinois.
FRESHMAN SEASON – Played 48 snaps in five of the Illini’s final six games.
SOPHOMORE SEASON – Moved in the starting lineup at right guard and played 991 snaps while helping provide the blocking for Rashard Mendenhall’s 1,681 yards.
HE SAID IT: “The first couple of games were rough. I was a little shell-shocked. I couldn’t believe I was in that position. But I picked it up and started loving it.”
JUNIOR SEASON – He earned All-Big 10 honorable mention playing 852 offensive snaps at right guard and helping lead the Illini to a No. 1 ranking in passing yardage in the Big 10 and No. 2 ranking in total offensive yards.
SENIOR SEASON – He was named second-team All-Big 10 offense, as he pushed his consecutive starting streak to 37 games.
HE SAID IT: “The intensity, the nastiness, you have to be a tough guy out there. You can’t accept getting beat. You can’t be the one soft guy in the group.”
EDUCATION – Majored in community health, earning his degree in December ‘09. He was honored as part of the National Football Foundation’s 16-man Scholar-Athlete team and was Academic All-Big 10 first team.
DRIVES – A 2002 Monte Carlo with over 180,000 miles on the odometer.
Good kid will be solid starter for the Chiefs if he stays healthy. Just about the only good second day pick for K.C. IMO
I liked the McCluster pick, although I’m not a big fan of drafting a player and then switching their position. I think Asmoah, McCluster, and Arenas can all be contributors this next season. I don’t mention Berry becuase he’s already on my stud list and immediately made our secondary better. I HATED the Moeaki selection though. I can’t believe we gave up a 4th and 5th for someone who can’t stay healthy. We already have that in Cottam.
THIS is a great selection. McCluster was a good pick. Arenas wasn’t as good a pick (strike one and strike two – trading Gonzalez for him). Moeaki pick…strike three.