April 17, 2024

Former K-State Wildcats Set to Start NFL Season This Weekend

(Courtesy of Kansas State Athletics)

MANHATTAN, Kan. – As the 2020 NFL season commences Thursday night, 12 former Kansas State players have landed on active 53-man rosters or 16-player practice squads after organizations set their rosters earlier this week.

Of the 12 players on NFL rosters, six are on offense and six are on defense. The longest-tenured former Wildcats are now Tyler Lockett (Seattle) and Cornelius Lucas (Washington) as both are entering their sixth season. They took over the spot previously occupied by Darren Sproles, who retired after his 15th season a year ago.

One former player from last year’s Wildcat squad made an NFL roster as Reggie Walker is on the practice squad for the Arizona Cardinals. The Wildcats also saw plenty of former players switch teams for the 2020 season, a list that includes B.J. Finney (Pittsburgh to Seattle), Elijah Lee (San Francisco to Detroit), Cornelius Lucas (Chicago to Washington) and D.J. Reed Jr. (San Francisco to Seattle).

Kansas State opens the 2020 season this Saturday by hosting Arkansas State at 11 a.m. The contest will be shown nationally on FOX, the same broadcasting company that showcase eight former K-State players just 24 hours later.

Former Wildcats on NFL Rosters

Player

Organization

Position

Experience

Deante Burton*

Dallas

DB

3rd Year

B.J. Finney

Seattle

OL

5th Year

Elijah Lee

Detroit

LB

4th Year

Tyler Lockett

Seattle

WR

6th Year

Cornelius Lucas

Washington

OL

6th Year

Byron Pringle

Kansas City

WR

3rd Year

D.J. Reed Jr.^

Seattle

DB

3rd Year

Dalton Risner

Denver

OL

2nd Year

Duke Shelley

Chicago

DB

2nd Year

Reggie Walker*

Arizona

OLB

Rookie

Cody Whitehair

Chicago

OL

5th Year

Jordan Willis

New York Jets

DE

4th Year

 

* – Practice Squad

^ – Reserve