Kansas State University Athletics
Walk-Ons
Kansas State has always maintained a strong reputation for evaluating and developing talent, and K-State’s rich walk-on tradition and the success of those student-athletes solidifies that claim. Over the years, K-State has seen a large number of student-athletes from the state of Kansas and from across the country head to K-State as a walk-on and later flourish in the program and on to the NFL.
One of the biggest success stories of K-State's walk-on program is Jordy Nelson, who entered the program in 2003 as a defensive back, later transitioned to a consensus All-American wide receiver, went on to become a second-round draft pick of Green Bay and helped the Packers win the Super Bowl during the 2010 season. Nelson played 10 seasons in the NFL, including nine with the Packers where he caught nine passes for 140 yards and a touchdown to help Green Bay win Super Bowl XLV.
Below is a list of walk-ons who have earned starting roles since the late 1990s
- Devin Anctil, P
Two-Time All-Big 12 - Jack Blumer, P
All-Big 12 - Phillip Brooks, KR/PR
2020 All-American
Three-Time All-Big 12 - Ian Campbell, DE
2006 All-American
Three-Time All-Big 12 Performer - Jack Cantele, PK
All-Big 12 - Rock Cartwright, RB
Played 11 seasons in the NFL - Joe Bob Clements, DE
- Kody Cook, WR
- Ross Elder, DB
- Andrew Erker, WR
- Randall Evans, DB
All-Big 12 - B.J. Finney, OL
2014 All-American
2014 Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year
Four-Time All-Big 12
2011 Freshman All-American - D.J. Fulhage, P
- Blaise Gammon, TE
- Will Geary, OL
2017 All-American
Three-Time All-Big 12 - Hayden Gillum, OL
Two-Time All-Big 12 - Daniel Gonzalez, WR
- Stephen Harrison, DB
All-Big 12 - Sam Hecht, OL
All-Big 12 - Alex Hrebec, LB
2008 Freshman All-American - Joe Hubener, QB
- Noah Johnson, OL
Two-Time All-Big 12 - Matt Kleinsorge, OL
- Blake Lynch, PK
All-Big 12 - Jon McGraw, DB
All-Big 12
Played 12 Seasons in the NFL - Jarard Milo, DB
- Austin Moore, LB
Two-Time All-Big 12 - Brendan Mott, DE
2024 Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year
Two-TimeAll-Big 12 - Ryan Mueller, DE
2013 Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year 2013 Second Team All-American
Two-Time All-Big 12 - Walter Neil, Jr., DB
- Jordy Nelson, WR
2007 Consensus All-American
All-Big 12 - Sean Newlan, DB
- Ian Patterson, PK
- Marcus Perry, LB
- William Powell, KR
2010 All-American
All-Big 12 - Tim Reyer, P
All-Big 12 - Logan Robinson, OL
- Dylan Schelleberg, DB
- Dalton Schoen, WR
All-Big 12 - Drew Scott, LS
- Blake Seiler, DE
- Justin Silmon, RB
- Ben Sinnott, TE
2023 All-American
All-Big 12 - Jeff Snodgrass, PK
All-Big 12 - Sean Snyder, P
1992 Consensus All-American - Trent Tanking, LB
All-Big 12 - Chris Tennant, K
All-Big 12 - Harry Trotter, RB
- Jonathan Truman, LB
All-Big 12 - Keithen Valentine, RB
- Jordan Voelker, DE
- Nick Walsh, P
All-Big 12