Archer, Echols sign with Indianapolis

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State linebacker Brandon Archer and defensive tackle Quintin Echols each signed free-agent contracts with 2007 Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Monday and will join former Wildcat Ryan Lilja with the Colts.

Archer collected a career-high 106 tackles during 2006 and finished the year as the Wildcats’ leading tackler for the third straight season en route to 2006 first team All-Big 12 honors from The Associated Press, Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News. The senior also picked up second team all-league honors from the Big 12 coaches, Kansas City Star, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Waco Tribune-Herald.

Archer closed out his K-State career with a game-high nine total tackles in the Wildcats’ Texas Bowl loss to Rutgers on Dec. 28 at Reliant Stadium. For his career, Archer totaled 268 tackles as a Wildcat, which ranks 17th in school history.

A mainstay in the middle of the Wildcats’ defensive line during his Kansas State career, Echols appeared in 49 games as a Wildcat, including 19 as a starter. He was credited with 113 total tackles, including 76 over his final two seasons and teamed with Archer in the 2007 East-West Shrine All-Star Game in Houston, Texas.

An honorable mention All-Big 12 pick by the league’s coaches in 2006, Echols appeared in each of K-State’s 12 regular-season games and was a regular in the Wildcats’ rotation at nose tackle before suffering an injury in practice prior to the Texas Bowl and missing the game vs. Rutgers. He totaled 31 tackles, four for losses, and forced two fumbles as a senior and collected at least one tackles in all 12 regular-season games.

Archer and Echols are both expected to workout with the Colts this weekend during the organization’s rookie camp. The duo joins Yamon Figurs, Thomas Clayton and Zach Diles who were all selected in the NFL Draft over the weekend as the latest Wildcats to join the league.