Larry Henry Jr
When you first think of the Kansas City Chiefs offense, the first name you think of is star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The second is All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce. Even the third and the fourth, you might think of wide receivers Juju Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
However, one name the Philadelphia Eagles defense will need to be wary about in this Sunday’s Super Bowl is rookie tailback Isiah Pacheco.
Pacheco, a former standout at Vineland High School (roughly 42 miles away from Lincoln Financial Field) and Rutgers University, has enjoyed a standout rookie season for the Chiefs, contributing heavily in the absence of Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The 23-year-old has totaled 951 rushing yards, 195 receiving yards, and five touchdowns in Andy Reid’s offense this season, delivering key plays during the postseason.
Pacheco wasn’t a household name coming out of Rutgers, but has worked hard at his craft over the past year, filling in at running back and doing everything he can to be a team player for the Chiefs. The former seventh-round draft pick now is one win away from lifting the Lombardi Trophy in his rookie campaign, and has been praised by Mahomes for everything he has contributed so far in 2022-23.
“Obviously, he was extremely talented and had all the tools and wanted to work and I think that was a big thing,” Mahomes said this week. “As he learned patience and was able to hit the hole and still get those extra yards, but having patience – you saw the run game take off. And then protection-wise, he’s gotten better and better and doesn’t make the same mistake. It took all of us to help him.”
Pacheco led the Chiefs in rushing this season, while also being helped by veteran tailback Jerick McKinnon for most of the season. McKinnon, a nine-year veteran, has registered 290 yards for the Chiefs, and brings valuable experience for not only Mahomes, but also Pacheco during Edwards-Helaire’s lengthy absence this season.
Pacheco won’t be the only South Jersey graduate suiting up in the game with the Eagles’ Haason Reddick (Camden native, Haddon Heights and Temple graduate) also bringing some local flavor to the matchup. However, the Eagles will hope that Pacheco doesn’t continue to shine this weekend, knowing that the rookie rusher is clicking on all cylinders for the league’s top offensive unit.
You can follow Larry Henry on Twitter (@lhenry019) and e-mail him at [email protected].
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