Arch Authority
Fansided

St. Louisan Jehu Chesson Drafted by Kansas City Chiefs

By Patrick Karraker

Oct 29, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Jehu Chesson (86) stands on the field during the first quarter of a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Jehu Chesson (86) stands on the field during the first quarter of a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
twitterfacebookreddit

Ladue’s Jehu Chesson will play professional football in his home state, as he was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday.

Michigan wide receiver Jehu Chesson took a much different path to the NFL than the vast majority of players take. But after being selected with the 33rd pick of the fourth round (139th overall) in Saturday’s NFL Draft, Chesson will get to play for his home state team, playing alongside fellow St. Louisan Jeremy Maclin.

Chesson, who was born in Liberia, moved with his family to St. Louis at age five as they evacuated Liberia during the First Liberian Civil War. His father, Jehu Sr., got a job with MasterCard, and the younger Chesson took up football in eighth grade. He ended up starring in both football and track at Ladue Horton Watkins High School and earned a scholarship at Michigan. Chesson was rated as a three-star prospect by both Rivals and ESPN coming out of high school, so it’s safe to say he outperformed those projections.

While he didn’t make a massive immediate impact at Michigan, taking a redshirt year and then catching just 29 passes for 375 yards over his first two seasons, he became a star after Jim Harbaugh took over as head coach in 2015. Over his final two seasons in Ann Arbor, Chesson caught a combined 85 passes for 1,264 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Next: Dolphins Select Mizzou DE Charles Harris in NFL Draft

Chesson was the second St. Louis area native selected in the 2017 draft, following cornerback Adoree’ Jackson (Belleville East), who was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the first round.

Home/St. Louis General