8 Best Kansas State Wildcats Football Players

The Kansas State Wildcats have won over a half-dozen conference titles, with the first coming in 1909. 

Today, you can wager on the Wildcats college football odds at the BetMGM online sportsbook. 

They had decent sports betting odds to win the Big 12 Conference in 2024 at one point.

All that being said, before you check out their current football odds, take a look at my list of the top eight players in Wildcats history below. 

8 Best Kansas State Wildcats Football Players

1. Darren Sproles

Sproles had a sensational college career at Kansas State before playing in the NFL for 15 seasons. 

At Kansas State, from 2001 to 2004, Sproles, a 5-foot-6 running back, had 4,979 rushing yards (first) and 45 rushing touchdowns (second). 

He holds the rushing yards record by more than 1,300 yards ahead of Deuce Vaughn and held the rushing touchdowns record through 2012.

Sproles’ 1,986 rushing yards in 2003 is a single-season record. He also holds the top two spots for single-game rushing records, with 292 in 2004 against Louisiana-Lafayette and 273 in 2003 against Missouri. 

Sproles was a first-team All-American, two-time first-team All-Big 12, and second-team All-Big 12. 

He’s enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. 

2. Michael Bishop

A quarterback, Bishop played at Kansas State in 1997 and 1998. 

He began his college career at Blinn Junior College before heading to Kansas State to play quarterback. Bishop received numerous offers from Division 1 programs to play defensive back but opted for the Wildcats because it was the only school willing to give him a chance to play the position. 

And it’s a good thing they did. 

In two seasons, Bishop racked up 36 passing touchdowns (sixth), 5,715 total yards (eighth), and 59 touchdowns (tied for sixth).

In his first season, he threw for 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions and ran for 566 yards and nine touchdowns. 

In 1998, he finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting after passing for 2,844 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He also rushed for 748 yards and another 14 touchdowns. 

In finishing second in Heisman voting, Bishop received 792 votes, including 41 first-place votes. 

He won the Davey O’Brien Award, was a consensus All-American, Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year, first-team All-Big 12, second-team All-Big 12, and is enshrined in both the Kansas State Athletics and College Football Hall of Fame. 

3. Mark Simoneau

As a linebacker for Kansas State from 1996 to 1999, Simoneau recorded 400 tackles,  third in Wildcats history. 

Simoneau was a consensus All-American, Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, first-team All-Big 12, and a two-time second-team All-Big 12. 

He’s enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. 

4.  Terence Newman

While at Kansas State, Newman played cornerback and returned kicks and punts. 

He had 10 interceptions as a cornerback, tied for sixth in program history. He also served as a backup as a freshman and sophomore. 

As a kick and punt returner, he combined for 1,251 return yards and four touchdowns. 

Newman won the Jim Thorpe Award, was a unanimous All-American, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, first-team All-Big 12, second-team All-Big 12, and is in the Kansas State Hall of Fame. 

His best season came as a senior, where he posted five interceptions, 54 tackles, and 14 pass deflections. 

5. Tyler Lockett

Lockett played for the Wildcats from 2011 to 2014. During that time, he caught 249 passes for 3,710 yards and 29 touchdowns, all program records. 

In 2013, he had 278 receiving yards against Oklahoma, a single-game record. 

He also returned kicks and punts. He had four kick returns and two punt returns for touchdowns. 

Before heading off to the NFL, Lockett won the Jet Award, was consensus All-American, first-team All-American, two-time Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year, two-time first-team All-Big 12, second-team All-Big 12, Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, and is in the Kansas State Wildcats Ring of Honour. 

Fun fact: Lockett’s brothers, Aaron (1998 to 2001) and Kevin (1993 to 1996), played at Kansas State.

6. Collin Klein

One of the most dominant dual-threat quarterbacks college football has seen recently, Klein won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and Kellen Moore Award, was second-team All-American, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, and Big 12 Athlete of the Year. 

From 2009 to 2012, he threw for 4,724 yards (ninth), had 29 passing touchdowns (ninth), 2,485 rushing yards (eighth), 55 rushing touchdowns (first), 7,209 yards (fourth), and 87 touchdowns (first).

He holds single-season records in rushing touchdowns (27 in 2011) and total touchdowns (40 in 2011). 

7. Jordy Nelson

Nelson played at Kansas State from 2005 to 2007 but didn’t become involved much until his final season. 

Still, while there, he caught 206 passes (third) for 2,822 yards (third) and 20 receiving touchdowns (fourth).

His 2007 season resulted in 122 catches for 1,606 yards and 11 touchdowns. 

The 122 catches and 1,606 yards are single-season records. 

He was a consensus All-American and first-team All-Big 12. 

8. David Allen

Allen played running back at Kansas State but made his mark as a punt returner. 

Over his career at Kansas State from 1997 to 2000, he returned 103 kicks for 1,645 yards and seven touchdowns, including four in 1998. 

Allen was a consensus All-American, first-team All-American, two-time first-team All-Big 12, and second-team All-Big 12.