By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
Brandin Dandridge had a legendary career while wearing a Missouri Western uniform.
A three-time all-MIAA selection, including first-team as a returner in 2018, Dandridge left St. Joseph for a professional career in the Canadian Football League.
He was signed by the Ottawa Redblacks in 2019 - only for his first scheduled season in 2020 to be canceled due to COVID-19. In 2021, he was signed to the practice roster, released, landed back on the practice roster and was elevated to the active roster last September.
He made the most of that chance, playing the final eight games of the season, nabbing four interceptions and 12 tackles.
That led to a tryout invite in February from the Kansas City Chiefs. That, eventually, landed him back on the Missouri Western campus - in a Chiefs uniform at training camp.
"Dream come true, man," Dandridge said of the experience. "I've just been soaking up every day, trying to get better. Enjoying the opportunity. Blessed. Blessed to be here. Just very thankful."
Dandridge has mostly worked with third and fourth-team defense in camp, as well as contributing on special teams. He's stood shoulder-to-shoulder with supreme talent in the Chiefs' cornerback room.
Rashad Fenton and L'Jarius Sneed are returning veteran starters at that position, while rookies Trent McDuffie and Joshua Williams have turned heads throughout camp as well.
It seems like a daunting task going against such talent, but Dandridge has embraced it.
"Man, it's been a huge blessing," he continued. "We're very competitive every single day. I know you see it. We're going to bring that every day in practice and every game."
Dandridge is currently one of four Missouri Western Griffons in the NFL, along with safety Jonathan Owens (Houston), kicker Greg Zuerlein (Dallas) and corner Sam Webb, who just signed as an undrafted free agent with Las Vegas in April.
The two stay in contact as best they can. Both from the Kansas City area, Webb and Dandridge were teammates at Missouri Western from 2016-2018, and were both all-MIAA defensive backs during the 2018 season.
"(Sam and I) talk as much as we can," Dandridge said. "He's busy, I'm busy. So, we try and communicate as much as we can. I'm proud of him. I started with him at Missouri Western. Two or three years. That's my brother right there. I got nothing but love for him."
Being back on campus has sparked memories for Dandridge. As has being back in the Griffons' locker room.
Missouri Western football just started their fall camp this past Monday. Matt Williamson, hired as the Griffons' head coach in Dandridge's junior season, invited his former player to speak with the 2022 Griffons on Wednesday night.
"It was fun to just, you know, jump back into that atmosphere again," Dandridge said. "Biggest message I gave them was...it's mainly a lot of young guys, just 'don't leave there with no regrets. Put everything you got into it. Use all of your resources that you got there and don't leave no regrets when you're a senior, because time flies.'"
Saturday is a big day for Dandridge and every young newcomer on the Chiefs' roster. Kansas City opens its preseason schedule at Chicago - just three days before NFL teams cut their active roster down from 90 to 85 players.
It'll go from 85 to 80 on August 23 with the final 53-man list being decided August 30.
Dandridge is aware of this, but isn't preoccupied with it. Instead, he's just excited to be playing in his first NFL game.
"Man, I'm just excited to go play football at the end of the day," he said. "First game of the season. I'm just ready to go out there and compete."
Training camp in St. Joseph wraps up August 18. Dandridge will then head back to Kansas City with the team. He was born and raised in Des Moines, moved to Lee's Summit in seventh grade and graduated from Blue Springs South High School in 2014.
Being signed by the Chiefs this year has turned into a second homecoming of sorts for Dandridge, who's been able to reconnect with family since being back. And you can be sure, his family is ready for this football season.
"You know, they're all excited and ready to come to games and watch us play," Dandridge said. "It's been real fun. Real humbling. Just blessed and ready to play ball."
You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.