Kansas State University Athletics
Four Wildcats Taken in 2003 NFL Draft
Apr 27, 2003 | Football
April 27, 2003
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Four Kansas State players were selected Saturday and Sunday in the 2003 National Football League Draft held in New York.
Terence Newman was the fifth selection of the entire draft on Saturday, being selected by the Dallas Cowboys. He was the second-highest pick in K-State history and the highest in 49 years. Veryl Switzer was the third pick of the 1954 Draft, going to the Green Bay Packers.
Linebacker Terry Pierce went on the second round to the Denver Broncos, going as the 51st selection overall. Newman and Pierce were the second-fastest Wildcats' tandem to be selected in the draft, as Chris Canty (29th to New England) and Kevin Lockett (47th to Kansas City) were the only other K-State duo picked earlier.
On Sunday, defensive end Melvin Williams went on the fifth round to the New Orleans Saints, going as the 155th pick overall. Williams followed Wildcat alumnus Darren Howard as a defensive end selection by the Saints, as Howard went to New Orleans in 2000.
Senior wide receiver Taco Wallace was the final Wildcat taken in the 2003 NFL Draft, going in the seventh round to the Seattle Seahawks as the 224th pick overall. Wallace, the Wildcats' leading receiver in 2002 with 39 catches and 704 yards, was the first Wildcat taken by the Seahawks since offensive lineman Todd Weiner was picked by Seattle in 1998.
Kansas State has had at least four selections in the NFL Draft in each of the last five seasons. The four Wildcats taken in this draft were surpassed only by Colorado and Texas A&M (six each) among Big 12 Conference schools.
Player - Round - Pick - Team
CB Terence Newman- 1st- 5- Dallas
LB Terry Pierce-2nd- 51- Denver
DE Melvin Williams- 5th- 155- New Orleans
WR Taco Wallace-7th- 224- Seattle
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