K-State's Sinnott, Beebe selected on Day 2 of NFL Draft, Leveston picked Day 3

A native of Waterloo, Iowa, Sinnott became the highest-selected tight end in school history, bettering the No. 58 pick of Cedric Price by the Dallas Texans in the 1961 AFL Draft. He is the first K-State tight end to be selected since Shad Meier was taken by Tennessee in 2001, while he is the fifth Wildcat ever selected by Washington and the first since defensive end Rob Jackson in 2008.

Beebe is just the fourth Wildcat ever drafted by the Dallas Cowboys but the second in as many years, as running back Deuce Vaughn was selected in the sixth round last season.

A 2023 All-American by Phil Steele and two-time All-Big 12 First Team honoree, Sinnott finished his career by tying for the most receiving touchdowns by a K-State tight end (10), ranking third among the position in receptions (82) and fourth in receiving yards (1,138) over his 38 career games played, which included 28 starts.

Sinnott, a semifinalist for the 2023 John Mackey Award, produced 49 catches for 676 yards and six touchdowns last season, which were the most receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in a single season in school history by a Wildcat tight end. Among tight ends in the country, Sinnott ranked fourth in yards, tied for fifth in catches and tied for sixth in touchdowns. One of the most versatile players in the nation, Sinnott lined up for 493 snaps as an inline tight end, 171 snaps in the slot, 91 snaps in the backfield and 27 snaps as a wide receiver, according to Pro Football Focus.

Sinnott, a preferred walk-on, also excelled in the classroom as he was a 2023 Academic All-American by College Sports Communicators and a three-time First Team Academic All-Big 12 performer.

The first Consensus All-American offensive lineman in school history, Beebe picked up 2023 First Team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association, CBS Sports, ESPN, FOX Sports, FWAA, Pro Football Focus, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, The Athletic, USA TODAY and the Walter Camp Foundation, while was a first-team honoree the previous season from The Athletic, ESPN, FOX Sports and Sporting News.

A native of Kansas City, Kansas, Beebe was originally recruited as a defensive tackle before switching to the offensive line as he entered the program, and he went on to play in 51 career games with 48 starts, the latter mark ranking fifth among all Wildcat offensive linemen since 1990.

Beebe was named the 2022 and 2023 Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year, one of just five players in conference history to earn the honor in consecutive seasons since the award began in 2006, including two that are still playing in the NFL in Creed Humphrey (Kansas City) and Orlando Brown (Cincinnati). In addition, Beebe was a finalist for the 2023 Outland Trophy as the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman and semifinalist for the 2023 Lombardi Award, which is presented to the college football lineman of the year.

Beebe earned three-straight All-Big 12 First Team honors his final three seasons, becoming only the second offensive lineman in school history to claim that feat (Dalton Risner, 2016-18). Throughout his career, he allowed only five sacks among his 1,488 pass blocking snaps (according to Pro Football Focus) with four of those coming in his redshirt freshman season of 2020 as he only allowed one sack in his final 42 games in a K-State uniform.

As impressive as his resume is on the field, Beebe was just as dependable in the classroom as he was named a 2023 Academic All-American by College Sports Communicators and a four-time First Team Academic All-Big 12 performer. As a senior, Beebe was also a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is often referred to as the “Academic Heisman.”

Leveston selected on Day 3

K-State senior tackle Kaitori (KT) Leveston had to wait around until near the end of the draft, but did get his name called regardless.

Leveston was selected with the 34th pick of the seventh round — No. 254 overall — by the Los Angeles Rams. He is the seventh Wildcat all-time selected by the Rams, including the second in the last three years as current Los Angeles safety Russ Yeast was taken with the 253rd overall pick in 2021.

Last season, the Wildcats had four NFL Draft picks — Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Julius Brents, Josh Hayes and Deuce Vaughn — as it marks the first time since 2002 and 2003 that the Wildcats had at least three players selected in consecutive years.

A product of Waco, Texas, Leveston saw action in 50 career games with starts in 32 games, including a streak of 27 starts to close out his career. An All-Big 12 Honorable Mention pick each of his final two seasons, Leveston was only flagged for one in-play penalty over his final two campaigns, which spanned 1,842 offensive snaps.

Last season, Leveston helped the Wildcats rank in the top 10 in school history in 32 game or season categories, including a school-record 30 passing touchdowns, No. 2 rankings in offensive yards per game (445.2) and first downs (310), and a No. 3 showing in total yards (5,788). K-State also finished the season in the top 30 nationally in 11 offensive categories, including scoring (10th – 37.1 points per game), rushing (11th – 204.1 yards per game), third down conversions (11th – 47.9%), rushing touchdowns (12th – 32) and first downs (12th – 310).

Other undrafted signees

A handful of other Wildcat standouts were signed to undrafted free agent deals following the end of the draft.

K-State got two linemen drafted, but two more will get a shot to make a team. Seniors Christian Duffie signed with the Carolina Panthers and Hayden Gillum inked his name with the Chicago Bears.

Linebacker Khalid Duke, who was projected to possibly get scooped up in the late rounds, signed a deal with the Tennessee Titans and long snapper Randen Plattner signed with the Baltimore Ravens.