Kansas State Wildcats' highest NFL draft picks since 1970

While most colleges and universities field a football team as part of its general athletics program, there are some for which football is more than merely a sport—it's akin almost to a religion. Devotion to the team and its colors is as important to that school's culture as a religious icon is to a believer. These programs actively scout and recruit notable high school players, and are in turn rigorously applied to by matriculating seniors eager to make a name for themselves at the collegiate level.

Among the most notable college football empires are Notre Dame, the universities of Alabama, Michigan, Texas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, Penn State, Ohio State—the list goes on and on.

But for every touchstone football school, there is an outlier that has produced some of the most successful and cherished players in the game. Think Jackson State, which gave us "Sweetness" himself, Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton. Or Mississippi Valley State, which yielded 3-time Super Bowl champion and #1 Player in NFL History, as voted by the NFL Network, '49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice.

Each year, the college draft serves as a source of renewal to professional football and a testament to the quality of college programs nationwide. With the 2022 NFL draft set to take place April 28-30 in Las Vegas, Stacker compiled a list of the highest NFL draft picks from the Kansas State Wildcats using data from Pro Football Reference. Ties were broken by the most recent year drafted.

#20. Mike Montgomery (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #65 overall in 1971
- Drafted by: San Diego Chargers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#19. Daniel Thomas (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #62 overall in 2011
- Drafted by: Miami Dolphins
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#18. Gary Spani (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #58 overall in 1978
- Drafted by: Kansas City Chiefs
- Years as a starter in NFL: 8 (0 Pro Bowls)

#17. Barrett Brooks (T)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #58 overall in 1995
- Drafted by: Philadelphia Eagles
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#16. Jon McGraw (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #57 overall in 2002
- Drafted by: NY Jets
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#15. Lynn Dickey (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 3, #56 overall in 1971
- Drafted by: Houston Texans
- Years as a starter in NFL: 8 (0 Pro Bowls)

#14. Arthur Brown (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #56 overall in 2013
- Drafted by: Baltimore Ravens
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#13. Cody Whitehair (G)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #56 overall in 2016
- Drafted by: Chicago Bears
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (1 Pro Bowls)

#12. Terry Pierce (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #51 overall in 2003
- Drafted by: Denver Broncos
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#11. Todd Weiner (T)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #47 overall in 1998
- Drafted by: Seattle Seahawks
- Years as a starter in NFL: 7 (0 Pro Bowls)

#10. Kevin Lockett (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #47 overall in 1997
- Drafted by: Kansas City Chiefs
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#9. Thomas Randolph (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #47 overall in 1994
- Drafted by: NY Giants
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#8. Dalton Risner (T)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #41 overall in 2019
- Drafted by: Denver Broncos
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#7. Jordy Nelson (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #36 overall in 2008
- Drafted by: Green Bay Packers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 7 (1 Pro Bowls)

#6. Darren Howard (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #33 overall in 2000
- Drafted by: New Orleans Saints
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (0 Pro Bowls)

#5. Quincy Morgan (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 2, #33 overall in 2001
- Drafted by: Cleveland Browns
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#4. Chris Canty (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #29 overall in 1997
- Drafted by: New England Patriots
- Years as a starter in NFL: 1 (0 Pro Bowls)

#3. Josh Freeman (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #17 overall in 2009
- Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#2. Clarence Scott (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #14 overall in 1971
- Drafted by: Cleveland Browns
- Years as a starter in NFL: 12 (1 Pro Bowls)

#1. Terence Newman (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #5 overall in 2003
- Drafted by: Dallas Cowboys
- Years as a starter in NFL: 15 (2 Pro Bowls)