Patrick Mahomes is now a household name—one of the most electrifying quarterbacks in NFL history, a three-time Super Bowl champion, and a two-time league MVP. But before he became the face of the Kansas City Chiefs, Mahomes faced a surprising roadblock in his football journey. Despite his incredible high school stats, powerhouse college programs in his home state of Texas overlooked him. The reason? It wasn’t a lack of talent but rather a case of recruiters failing to see his potential.
Texas college football programs questioned Patrick Mahomes’ skills despite his impressive stats
Mahomes was a standout at Whitehouse High School, where he threw for over 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in his senior year while also adding 12 rushing scores. Yet, major Texas programs like Texas and Texas A&M didn’t seriously pursue him. The reason? Scouts labeled him as a three-star recruit and questioned his footwork and decision-making.
Even his background as the son of former MLB pitcher Pat Mahomes didn’t give him an edge in the recruiting process. Ultimately, Mahomes only received three offers—from Texas Tech, Rice, and Houston—with Texas Tech being the only school willing to offer him a scholarship.
Patrick Mahomes’ multi-sport talent may have hurt his chances with college recruiters
One of the biggest factors that hurt Mahomes’ recruitment was his dedication to multiple sports. He was a star in baseball and basketball, which meant he wasn’t attending elite quarterback camps or networking with college recruiters like other top football prospects.
Kliff Kingsbury, who later became Mahomes’ coach at Texas Tech, and former MLB pitcher LaTroy Hawkins both believe this was a major reason Mahomes was overlooked. Instead of focusing solely on football, he was excelling in other sports—throwing a 16-strikeout no-hitter in baseball and dominating on the basketball court.
By the time Mahomes fully committed to football in his junior year, many top programs had already set their sights on other quarterbacks. Schools like Texas, Alabama, and LSU had locked in their recruits, leaving Mahomes with limited options.
Patrick Mahomes proved his doubters wrong and changed college football recruiting forever
Fast forward to today, and Mahomes has completely rewritten the narrative. With three Super Bowl rings and countless NFL records, he has proven every doubter wrong.
More importantly, Mahomes’ journey has forced college programs to rethink their recruiting strategies. No school wants to be the next Texas—a program that missed out on a generational talent simply because he was a late bloomer. Now, recruiters pay closer attention to multi-sport athletes and those who don’t follow the traditional football development path.
Also Read: Patrick Mahomes’ brother hypes him up as he begins offseason grind and the Chiefs eye another Super Bowl run
Patrick Mahomes wasn’t just a star that Texas schools overlooked—he became a lesson that changed the way the football world operates.
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