MANHATTAN – As the 2018 NFL season kicks off on Thursday night, 11 former Kansas State players made NFL rosters as organizations set their active rosters and practice squads following the mandatory cut down from 90 training camp players on Saturday.

The longest-tenured former Wildcats include running back Darren Sproles and wide receiver Jordy Nelson.

Sproles, a Pro Bowler in 2015, is going into his 14th season, including his fifth with the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles. Nelson, the 2016 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, is set for his 11th season but first with the Oakland Raiders. Joining Nelson in Oakland is linebacker Emmanuel Lamur, who is in his seventh year but first with the Raiders.

Terence Newman, who went through his 16th NFL training camp this summer, retired on Saturday and will immediately join the Minnesota Vikings coaching staff.

Fourth-year wide receiver Tyler Lockett is back for the Seattle Seahawks, while offensive linemen B.J. Finney (Pittsburgh) and Cody Whitehair (Chicago) are beginning their third seasons on NFL rosters.

Jordan Willis, a 2017 NFL Draft pick, is in his second year with Cincinnati, while linebacker Elijah Lee – a 2017 draft pick by Minnesota who was signed off the Vikings’ practice squad by San Francisco – begins his second year with the 49ers. Deante Burton, a four-year receiver for the Wildcats, is entering his second year as a practice squad defensive back for Atlanta.

D.J. Reed enters his rookie season in San Francisco as he was drafted by the 49ers in April, extending K-State’s Big 12-leading draft streak to 25 years. Another rookie, wide receiver Byron Pringle, was placed on injured reserve by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Wildcat alumni on NFL Rosters
Name                        Position     Team
Deante Burton*          DB         Atlanta
B.J. Finney                  OL         Pittsburgh
Emmanuel Lamur     LB          Oakland
Elijah Lee                    LB          San Francisco
Tyler Lockett             WR         Seattle
Jordy Nelson             WR         Oakland
Byron Pringle^          WR        Kansas City
D.J. Reed                     DB         San Francisco
Darren Sproles           RB         Philadelphia
Cody Whitehair          OL         Chicago
Jordan Willis              DE         Cincinnati

* Practice Squad
^ Injured Reserve

– k-statesports.com –