Another D-I player in KC

Transfer receiver Taylor EmbreeClick OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – It's become clearer and clearer that it's the best year in Kansas City in almost 10 years when it comes to Division I talent. And recently the area got even more talented with the addition of what Blue Valley West will call its California connection.Here to view this Link. is now part of the West roster. The 6-foot-2 ½, 175-pound receiver is the son of Kansas City Chiefs tight end coach Jon Embree. Embree moved to the Chiefs this year after three years at UCLA and 10 years at Colorado.

His son, Taylor, is a talented receiver prospect that caught 28 passes for 372 yards and four touchdowns last year at Newhall (Calif.) Hart.

He's now going to be one of the top targets for West, a team that already has one Division I player in linebacker Andrew Gachkar. The transition for Embree has been very smooth and he is impressed how everybody in Kansas City is football crazy.

"I love it here," Embree said. "My dad and my family also love it here. The Chiefs are a a great organization. They have great support. I was shocked to see all the support and fans. Everywhere you go, somebody is wearing a Chiefs shirt. It's amazing. It's a lot different than college football and I really feel like I've found a good home with my new team.

"The weight lifting program out here is more intense. We lifted at Hart, but out here they're a lot more stricter about it. I feel a lot stronger and faster because of it."

Embree came to suburban Kansas City in early June and he said while he's finally able to call West home, the transition was tough at first.

"I talked to my dad about it, and he thought it would be better for me to come out with the family," Embree said. "It was hard, especially because it was my senior year. But everything is working out great.

"The thing that was most difficult was that I didn't know who anybody was when I got here and the college coaches didn't know where I was at either. My dad always taught me one thing, and that's to just go out there and compete. He told me if I go out there and compete and want it bad enough, then I'll still get it. I mean, I don't necessarily I would have had scholarship offers if I would have stayed at Hart. Either way, I would have to work hard."

At this point, he's taken an unofficial visit to Kansas and Iowa. He impressed recently at a 7-on-7 tournament and Colorado State's coaches told his new coaches that an offer could be coming soon. And both Cal and UCLA have expressed some interest.

"Cal said they want to see my first few games," Embree said. "My dad obviously talks to the UCLA guys and they mentioned something about a grayshirt since they don't have a lot of numbers. I think people just have to find out where I'm at again."

And when they do look out.

Embree is an athletic receiver that played a key role in West going unbeaten this summer in 7-on-7 play.

He also plays basketball and idolizes Marvin Harrison, Steve Smith and Chad Johnson. It also doesn't hurt that he has football in his blood. His dad was a great tight end at Colorado and he played a year for the L.A. Rams before getting into coaching at CU and UCLA.

"I just love the competition that football has to offer. I really think playing receiver is like an art, since you're so acrobatic. I just love everything about it."