Former South Forsyth offensive lineman Garrett Frye finalized an undrafted free agent contract Wednesday with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Frye visited with the Chiefs and had a workout with the Atlanta Falcons in the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft, and was contacted by the Chiefs just after the draft ended on Saturday.

“I pretty much knew as soon as the draft was over that they wanted me,” Frye said. “I got a call from one of the head scouts and then talked to (head coach) Andy Reid for about 15 to 20 minutes. They liked me as a person.”

Frye said multiple NFL teams wanted his services, but wouldn’t name them.

The former Class AAAA All-State pick by the Georgia Sports Writers Association, Frye played four seasons with the Georgia Southern Eagles during their transition from the FCS to the FBS and was named to the Sun Belt Conference First Team as a senior, leading the Eagles to the nation’s top rushing attack and a Sun Belt Conference title.

While with the War Eagles, Frye played both ways, standing out as a run blocker with 72 pancake blocks and as a defensive lineman with 18 tackles for a loss, four sacks and two forced fumbles. He says his position with the Chiefs will be as an interior offensive lineman at either guard or center, which will be a transition from playing tackle with the Eagles.

“They (Kansas City) do run a lot of the plays that we did. The biggest thing for me is moving from tackle to guard and center and learning the basic mechanics of those positions,” Frye said.

A standout student in the classroom as well, Frye admitted that as he furthered along in his college career the NFL became more of an option than a dream—he was planning on advancing his career as a physical therapist before his coaches began to hint at a shot in the league.

“When I was a little kid obviously going to the NFL was a dream, but when I went to Southern I kind of really didn’t think about it anymore. But then people kept saying, ‘you’re going to have a shot at the NFL.’ I’m just so lucky.”

South coach Jeff Arnette, who has kept in close touch with Frye, was ecstatic with the news.

“We’re so excited for him, we actually just saw him Friday. He’s always around, so this means a lot to our school and the city,” Arnette said. “He worked so hard through high school and college to get to this point.”

Frye and Georgia Southern teammate Edwin Jackson were spotted by team scouts at the Medal of Honor Bowl in Charleston, S.C. on Jan. 10. He finally got the call from Reid this week, which he described as a “surreal experience.”

“I had met with him briefly on my visit, but to actually hear him talk about his vision and the way he thought about me was just crazy,” Frye said.

Frye becomes the most recent player from Forsyth County to sign with an NFL team since Adam Nissley, also from South, signed as a tight end with the Falcons in 2012. Frye will join a team already full of talent from the Peach State, including former Georgia Bulldogs Aaron Murray, Justin Houston, and Sanders Commings. Georgia’s Chris Conley and Ramik Wilson also join the Chiefs as third and fourth round selections, respectively, in this year’s draft.

“I actually have not met any of the new guys yet, but I’m sure me and a couple of the Georgia guys will get along,” he joked.

Frye also alluded to Kansas City being a perfect fit for a lineman.

“I love the area. It seems like a very good city and of course the food is great,” he said.