28 Former Wildcats Make NFL Rosters
Sep 06, 2004 | Football
MANHATTAN - As teams in the National Football League trimmed their rosters, 28 former Kansas State Wildcats had achieved roster positions, including three rookies.
The former Wildcats, which numbered 14 defensive players of the ball and 13 on the offensive side , who will be making their first appearance on an NFL field are center Nick Leckey with the Arizona Cardinals, offensive guard Ryan Lilja of the Indianapolis Colts and strong safety Rashad Washington of the New York Jets. Lilja's Colts will open the 2004 NFL season on Thursday night against the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. Defensive end Andrew Shull of the Detroit Lions was assigned to the practice squad. The oldest Wildcat remaining on an NFL roster is offensive tackle Barrett Brooks of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Other former Wildcats of note on NFL rosters include sixth-year kicker Martin Gramatica of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, fifth-year defensive end Darren Howard of the New Orleans Saints, fourth-year wide receiver Quincy Morgan of the Cleveland Browns, second-year cornerback Terence Newman of the Dallas Cowboys and second-year fullback Rock Cartwright of the Washington Redskins. Gramatica is two years removed from winning the Super Bowl with the Buccaneers and Newman returns to the NFL’s number one ranked defense from a season ago.
Since 1999, the Wildcats have had the most NFL players in the Big 12 Conference selected in the NFL Draft with 23.
Player Team Position Year
Mario Fatafehi
Terry Pierce
Ben Leber
Monty Beisel
Ryan Lilja Indianpolis OG R
Damion McIntosh
Rashad
Jon McGraw New York Jets FS 3rd
Barrett Brooks
DeMarcus Faggins
Shad Meier Tennessese TE 4th
Martin Gramatica
Frank Murphy Tampa Bay WR 4th
Josh Scobey
Nick Leckey
Terence Newman
Mark Simoneau
Justin Swift
Todd Weiner
Andrew Shull Detroit DE R-PS
Jarrod Cooper
Rock Cartwright
Darren Howard
Kendyl Jacox
Melvin Williams New Orleans DE 2nd
Taco Wallace Seattle WR 2nd-PS
PS-denotes player was assigned to practice squad
