Dunbar graduate Ashton Lampkin signs free agent deal with Chiefs

Ashton Lampkin is a giver and a taker.

The Kansas City Chiefs are employing the cornerback to do the latter, but if he catches on, after signing an undrafted free agent contract with the team following the 2017 NFL Draft, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to give back. Lampkin had five interceptions while at Oklahoma State and four during his senior season at Fort Worth Dunbar.

“He’s a guy that always came back and spoke to the school after he left,” Dunbar football coach Todd Lawson said. “He donated his shoes to us when he got new ones. He had it a little rough growing up, so he always wanted to let the kids in his position know they could do the things that he was doing.”

Lampkin’s stock with NFL teams rose sharply following a strong performance in the 2017 Shrine Game on Jan. 17. He came out of Oklahoma State unusually strong in press coverage for a Big 12 cornerback, holding West Virginia wideout Shelton Gibson to two catches for 33 yards in a 37-20 win, and Baylor’s KD Cannon to three catches and 18 yards in their 2016 matchup.

Kansas City traded up to take Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes with the No. 10 overall pick and grabbed another piece from the Oklahoma State secondary, safety Jordan Sterns out of Cibolo Steele, with an undrafted free agent signing as well.

Lampkin is the second Dunbar graduate in as many years make an NFL training camp. Wide receiver Darius White was brought on by the Baltimore Ravens last spring before ultimately being cut before the 2016 season.

“It’s a good feeling for a guy like Ashton,” Lawson said . “He accomplished a goal he set for himself, but for me, it’s more important that he graduated college in December. That’s his real accomplishment.”

This story was originally published May 3, 2017 at 6:28 PM with the headline "Dunbar graduate Ashton Lampkin signs free agent deal with Chiefs."