List of Kansas State Wildcats in the NFL Draft

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Josh Freeman was drafted 17th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2009 NFL Draft.

This is a list of Kansas State Wildcats football players drafted into the National Football League (NFL) and American Football League (AFL). Kansas State has had a total of 148 players selected – including five players taken in the first round – from the first NFL Draft in 1936 through the 2021 NFL Draft.[1][2][3] Kansas State had a streak of having at least one player drafted into the NFL for 26 consecutive years (1994–2019), until it ended in 2020.

After the NFL merged with the AFL in 1966, the history of the AFL was officially adopted by the NFL and therefore this list includes players taken in the AFL Draft (1960–1966) and in the Common Draft (1967–1969) in addition to the NFL Draft.[3] Once the AFL officially merged with the NFL in 1970, the "Common Draft" simply became the NFL Draft. Because four KSU players were selected in both the NFL and AFL drafts, the total number of selections listed below is 151 (including one "redshirt" selection in the 1965 AFL Draft), through the 2019 draft.

Each NFL franchise seeks to add new players through the annual NFL Draft. The draft rules were last updated in 2009. The team with the worst record the previous year picks first, the next-worst team second, and so on. Teams that did not make the playoffs are ordered by their regular-season record with any remaining ties broken by strength of schedule. Playoff participants are sequenced after non-playoff teams, based on their round of elimination (wild card, division, conference, and Super Bowl).

Key[]

B Back K Kicker NT Nose tackle
C Center LB Linebacker DB Defensive back
P Punter HB Halfback DE Defensive end
QB Quarterback WR Wide receiver DT Defensive tackle
RB Running back G Guard E End
T Offensive tackle TE Tight end FB Fullback
* Selected to a Pro Bowl
Won an NFL championship
Selected to a Pro Bowl and won an NFL championship

Selections[]

An American football player leans forward. He is not wearing pads but is wearing his white jersey over a long-sleeved gray shirt.
Terence Newman was drafted 5th overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2003 NFL Draft.
An American football player wearing a baby blue jersey with the number 81 across the chest and black cap on his head
Michael Bishop was drafted in the 7th round by the New England Patriots in the 1999 NFL Draft.
An American football player smiles. He is wearing a blue jersey with the number 28 across the chest.
Jordy Nelson was drafted 36th overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Mark Simoneau was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in 2000 NFL draft.
AFL Draft (1960–1966)
Year Round Pick Overall Player Team Position Notes
1960 John Littlejohn Buffalo Bills B also selected in NFL Draft
Joe Vader Dallas Texans E
1961 6 1 41 Dale Evans Denver Broncos B also selected in NFL Draft
30 6 238 Cedric Price Dallas Texans E
1963 26 4 204 Willis Crenshaw Buffalo Bills B also selected in NFL Draft
1965 7 4 52 Ron Barlow New York Jets FB
1966 9 1 74 Bill Matan Miami Dolphins E also selected in NFL Draft
NFL Draft (1936–present)
Year Round Pick Overall Player Team Position Notes
1937 3 6 26 Maurice Elder Boston Redskins B starter on undefeated 1937 Los Angeles Bulldogs
7 6 66 Rolla Holland Boston Redskins G
9 1 81 Paul Fanning Philadelphia Eagles T
1940 11 2 92 Elmer Hackney Philadelphia Eagles RB
15 2 142 Don Crumbaker Philadelphia Eagles E
1940 20 3 183 Bill Beezley Philadelphia Eagles T
1941 11 8 98 Bernie Weiner Brooklyn Dodgers T
1944 13 11 131 Mike Zeleznak Boston Yanks B
24 8 249 Jack Bortka Chicago Bears B
1945 11 2 100 Earl Haury Brooklyn Tigers T
16 2 155 Jim Ungles Pittsburgh Steelers B
23 8 238 Mike Vargon Chicago Bears E
1946 31 5 295 Dale Cowan Los Angeles Rams T
1950 7 9 88 Rollin Prather Chicago Bears E
1953 13 7 152 Jack McShulski New York Giants E
1954 1 4 4 Veryl Switzer Green Bay Packers B
1955 2 6 19 Corky Taylor Los Angeles Rams B
7 7 80 Ron Marciniak Washington Redskins G
19 12 229 Tom Ebert Cleveland Browns E
25 9 298 Dewey Wade San Francisco 49ers E
1956 7 8 81 Ron Nery New York Giants T AFL All-Pro (1961)
13 12 157 Jim Furey Cleveland Browns C
26 5 306 Chuck Zickefoose Chicago Cardinals E
29 6 343 Jim Rusher Baltimore Colts E
1958 7 10 83 Ralph Pfeifer Detroit Lions B
9 1 98 John Keelan Chicago Cardinals T
19 6 223 Gene Keady Pittsburgh Steelers B
30 9 358 Ted Stahura San Francisco 49ers T
1959 29 3 339 John Stolte Philadelphia Eagles T
1960 16 5 185 John Littlejohn Green Bay Packers B
1961 6 8 78 Dale Evans St. Louis Cardinals B
1963 9 2 114 Willis Crenshaw St. Louis Cardinals B
1964 17 5 229 Joe Provenzano Detroit Lions T
1965 16 4 214 Doug Dusenbury Pittsburgh Steelers K
20 5 271 Don Barlow Dallas Cowboys T
1966 8 8 118 Bill Matan New York Giants WR
18 11 271 Willie Jones St. Louis Cardinals DT
1968 16 13 421 Dan Lankas St. Louis Cardinals LB
1969 5 17 121 Cornelius Davis Minnesota Vikings RB
8 9 191 Larry Brown* Washington Redskins RB NFL MVP (1972)
Pro Bowl (1969, 70, 71, 72)
Washington Redskins Ring of Fame
11 14 280 Dave Jones Washington Redskins WR
15 14 378 Bob Coble Chicago Bears P
1970 4 1 79 Lynn Larson Chicago Bears T
6 2 132 Manuel Barrera Pittsburgh Steelers LB
6 13 143 Mack Herron Atlanta Falcons RB
8 8 190 Ira Gordon Philadelphia Eagles T
12 6 292 Charles Collins St. Louis Cardinals WR
16 26 416 Randy Ross Kansas City Chiefs LB
1971 1 14 14 Clarence Scott* Cleveland Browns DB Pro Bowl (1973)
3 4 56 Lynn Dickey Houston Oilers QB Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
3 13 65 Mike Montgomery San Diego Chargers RB
5 10 114 Dean Shaternick San Francisco 49ers T
7 22 178 Ron Dickerson Miami Dolphins DB
8 17 199 Ron Yankowski St. Louis Cardinals RB
13 19 331 Russell Harrison Los Angeles Rams RB
1972 5 7 111 Bill Butler New Orleans Saints RB
7 3 159 Joe Colquitt Pittsburgh Steelers DE
8 12 194 Marion Lattimore New York Jets G
8 13 195 Steve Beyrle New England Patriots G
11 2 262 John Robertson New York Giants DB
1973 13 25 336 Rick Fergerson Pittsburgh Steelers WR
14 19 357 Dennis Morrison San Francisco 49ers QB
1974 5 5 109 Henry Childs* Atlanta Falcons TE Pro Bowl (1979)
New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame
7 10 167 Willie Cullars Philadelphia Eagles DE
10 14 249 Don Calhoun Buffalo Bills RB
11 10 271 Bill Brittain Philadelphia Eagles C
13 12 325 Fred Rothwell Detroit Lions C
15 12 377 John Wells Detroit Lions G
15 20 385 Isaac Jackson Cincinnati Bengals RB
1975 5 12 116 Steve Grogan New England Patriots QB
16 10 401 John Tuttle Cincinnati Bengals WR
16 15 406 Les Chaves Detroit Lions DB
1978 3 2 58 Gary Spani Kansas City Chiefs LB Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame
1979 5 6 116 Dan Manucci Buffalo Bills QB
12 3 306 Charlie Green Baltimore Colts WR
1980 11 3 280 Eddy Whitley Baltimore Colts TE
1981 5 19 130 Stevan Clark New England Patriots DT
1982 3 11 66 Eugene Goodlow New Orleans Saints WR CFL All Star (1981)
1986 10 28 277 Barton Hundley Chicago Bears DB
11 12 289 Tim Stone Cincinnati Bengals T
1988 5 23 132 Tony Jordan Phoenix Cardinals RB
1990 6 10 147 Maurice Henry Detroit Lions LB
1992 5 6 118 Rogerick Green Tampa Bay Buccaneers DB
7 11 179 Russ Campbell Pittsburgh Steelers TE
10 2 254 Elijah Alexander Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB
1994 2 18 47 Thomas Randolph New York Giants DB
1995 2 26 58 Barrett Brooks Philadelphia Eagles T Super Bowl Champion (XL)
4 13 111 Chad May Minnesota Vikings QB
1996 4 10 105 Percell Gaskins St. Louis Rams LB
1997 1 29 29 Chris Canty New England Patriots DB
2 17 47 Kevin Lockett Kansas City Chiefs WR
1998 2 17 47 Todd Weiner Seattle Seahawks T
1999 3 29 80 Martín Gramática Tampa Bay Buccaneers K Pro Bowl (2000)
Super Bowl Champion (XXXVII)
6 29 198 Jeff Kelly Atlanta Falcons LB
7 17 223 Ryan Young New York Jets T
7 21 227 Michael Bishop New England Patriots QB
7 30 238 Justin Swift Denver Broncos TE
7 34 240 Darnell McDonald Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR
2000 2 2 33 Darren Howard New Orleans Saints DE
3 5 67 Mark Simoneau Atlanta Falcons LB Super Bowl Champion (XLIV)
3 21 83 Damion McIntosh San Diego Chargers T
5 17 146 Lamar Chapman Cleveland Browns DB
6 4 170 Frank Murphy Chicago Bears RB
2001 2 2 33 Quincy Morgan Cleveland Browns WR Super Bowl Champion (XL)
3 28 90 Shad Meier Tennessee Titans TE
4 11 107 Monty Beisel Kansas City Chiefs LB
5 2 133 Mario Fatafehi Arizona Cardinals DT
5 11 143 Jarrod Cooper Carolina Panthers DB
5 12 145 Jerametrius Butler St. Louis Rams DB
2002 2 25 57 Jon McGraw New York Jets DB
3 6 71 Ben Leber San Diego Chargers LB
6 1 173 DeMarcus Faggins Houston Texans DB
6 13 185 Josh Scobey Arizona Cardinals RB UFL Champion (2009)
7 43 254 Aaron Lockett Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR
7 46 257 Rock Cartwright Washington Redskins RB
2003 1 5 5 Terence Newman* Dallas Cowboys DB Pro Bowl (2007, 2009)
2 19 51 Terry Pierce Denver Broncos LB
5 20 155 Melvin Williams New Orleans Saints DE
7 10 224 Taco Wallace Seattle Seahawks WR
2004 6 2 167 Nick Leckey Arizona Cardinals C Super Bowl Champion (XLIV)
7 3 236 Rashad Washington New York Jets DB
2005 4 29 130 Darren Sproles San Diego Chargers RB Super Bowl Champion (LII)
Pro Bowl (2014, 2015)
2006 6 18 187 Jeromey Clary San Diego Chargers T
2007 3 10 74 Yamon Figurs Baltimore Ravens WR
6 12 186 Thomas Clayton San Francisco 49ers RB
7 8 218 Zac Diles Houston Texans LB
2008 2 5 36 Jordy Nelson Green Bay Packers WR Super Bowl Champion (XLV)
Pro Bowl (2015)
7 39 242 Rob Jackson Washington Redskins DE
2009 1 17 17 Josh Freeman Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB
2010 5 10 141 Josh Moore Chicago Bears DB
2011 2 30 62 Daniel Thomas Miami Dolphins RB
2012 7 22 229 Bryce Brown Philadelphia Eagles RB
2013 2 24 56 Arthur Brown Baltimore Ravens LB
4 25 123 Chris Harper Seattle Seahawks WR
6 35 204 Braden Wilson Kansas City Chiefs FB
2014 6 26 202 Tavon Rooks New Orleans Saints T
2015 3 5 69 Tyler Lockett* Seattle Seahawks WR Pro Bowl (2016)
NFL All-Pro (2015)
6 20 196 Randall Evans Philadelphia Eagles DB
2016 2 25 56 Cody Whitehair* Chicago Bears C Pro Bowl (2019)
2017 3 9 73 Jordan Willis Cincinnati Bengals DE
7 14 232 Elijah Lee Minnesota Vikings LB
2018 5 5 142 D. J. Reed San Francisco 49ers DB
2019 2 9 41 Dalton Risner Denver Broncos T
6 32 205 Duke Shelley Chicago Bears DB
2021 7 7 235 Wyatt Hubert Cincinnati Bengals DE

Notable undrafted players[]

A selection of notable KSU football players who entered the NFL outside the draft includes:

  • Bert Pearson entered the NFL in 1929, before the draft began. In an eight-year career with the Chicago Bears he was part of two NFL championship teams.
  • Doug Russell entered the NFL in 1934, before the draft began. He led the league in rushing in the 1935 NFL season, playing for the Chicago Cardinals.
  • Paul Coffman entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 1978. He earned three Pro Bowl appearances during his career and is in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.
  • Damian Johnson entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 1986 and played for the New York Giants' Super Bowl XXI-winning team.
  • Kendyl Jacox entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 1998. He had a nine-year NFL career, starting 93 games on the offensive line.
  • Ryan Lilja entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He had an eight-year NFL career, starting in 104 games on the offensive line and playing for the Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl XLI winning team.

Nine KSU players were selected by other leagues directly challenging the NFL: two were drafted in the 1948 All-America Football Conference draft (Rollin Prather and Mike Zeleznek),[2][4] two were selected in the 1983 USFL Draft (Amos Donaldson and Will Cokeley), three were selected in the 1984 USFL Draft (Reggie Singletary, L. E. Madison and Eric Mack), and two more in the 1985 USFL Draft (Eric Bailey and Kyle Clawson). Many of these players also played in the NFL.

See also[]

  • List of Kansas State University people

References[]

  1. ^ "Kansas St. Drafted Players". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  2. ^ a b KSU Football Media Guide (pdf), Kansas State University, 2013, p. 178, retrieved October 28, 2013
  3. ^ a b "NFL.com Draft Tracker". NFL.com. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  4. ^ "1948 AAFC Draft". profootballarchives.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
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