MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State offensive lineman Sam Hecht and safety VJ Payne fulfilled their dreams of becoming NFL players on Saturday as they were taken in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Hecht was selected with the fourth pick of the fifth round – No. 144 overall – by the Carolina Panthers, while Payne was taken with the 12th pick of the seventh round – No. 228 overall – by the New York Jets.
A native of Shawnee, Kansas, Hecht is just the second Wildcat all-time to be selected by Carolina, joining defensive back Jarrod Cooper in 2001. He is just the fourth Wildcat center to be selected in the Modern Era NFL Draft (since 1970), joining Bill Brittain (1974 by Philadelphia), Fred Rothwell (1974 by Detroit) and Nick Leckey (2004 by Arizona).
Payne, who hails from Gainesville, Georgia, was the sixth K-State player all-time to be taken by the Jets and the first since defensive back Rashad Washington was selected by the organization in 2004.