19 K-State alumni in the NFL this year

With the 2024 NFL season ready to begin, 19 former Kansas State University football players have been placed on active rosters, practice squads or injured reserve lists as the 32 organizations set their initial rosters for the season earlier this week, it was reported.

The 19 former Wildcats on opening-weekend NFL rosters are the most since they also had 19 to open the 2009 season. Of the 19 players, 12 are on offense and seven are on defense. Four players off last year’s squad enter their rookie seasons, a list that includes second-round draft pick Ben Sinnott (Washington), third-round draft pick Cooper Beebe (Dallas), seventh-round selection K.T. Leveston (Los Angeles Rams) and rookie free agent Khalid Duke (Tennessee, practice squad).

Leveston, along with Minnesota offensive lineman Dalton Risner, were placed on injured reserve but were designated for return, which means they will miss at least four games but will be allowed to be added back to the active roster later in the season, it was reported.

Aside from the four players from last year, Adrian Martinez, a KSU quarterback in 2022, is on a regular-season roster for the first time in his career as he is on the New York Jets’ practice squad. Martinez is coming off a UFL campaign in which he was named league MVP and helped the Birmingham Stallions win the UFL Championship.

The longest-tenured former KSU players on NFL rosters are Tyler Lockett and Cornelius Lucas, both entering their 10th seasons. Lockett has spent his entire career with the Seattle Seahawks, while Lucas is in his fifth year with the Washington Commanders after having spent time with the Detroit Lions (2014-16), Los Angeles Rams (2017), New Orleans Saints (2018) and Chicago Bears (2019).

Additionally, Cody Whitehair is entering his ninth season in the NFL, but this year is his first with the Las Vegas Raiders after spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Chicago Bears.

Former KSU football players now in the NFL are listed below by team, position and years in the league.

Kansas City: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, defensive end, second year.

Dallas: Cooper Beebe, offensive line, rookie; and Deuce Vaughn, running back, second year.

Indianapolis: JuJu Brents, cornerback, second year.

Tennessee: Khalid Duke, offensive linebacker, rookie (practice squad).

Tampa Bay: Josh Hayes, defensive back, second year.

New York Giants: Timmy Horne, defensive tacke, third year (injured reserve).

Minnesota: Malik Knowles, wide receiver, first year (injured reserve); and Dalton Risner, offensive lineman, sixth year (injured reserve).

Los Angeles Rams: K.T. Leveston, offensive line, rookie (injured reserve); and Russ Yeast, defensive back, third year.

Seattle: Tyler Lockett, wide receiver, 10th year.

Washington: Cornelius Lucas, offensive line, 10th year; Byron Pringle, wide receiver, seventh year; and Ben Sinnott, tight end, rookie.

New York Jets: Adrian Martinez, quarterback, first year (practice squad); and D.J. Reed, cornerback, sixth year.

Miami: Skylar Thompson, quarterback, third year. 

Las Vegas: Cody Whitehair, offensive line, ninth year.