Kansas State’s Sam Hecht Turns Heads at Senior Bowl, Rising Up NFL Draft Boards
Kansas State may not be known as a pipeline for NFL offensive linemen, but that narrative is starting to shift-thanks in large part to Sam Hecht. The veteran center has been making serious waves in Mobile, where his Senior Bowl performances have scouts and analysts alike taking notice.
Hecht, a four-year contributor for the Wildcats and a two-time All-Big 12 selection, has been one of the standout offensive linemen during the week of practices. His combination of hand placement, functional strength, and surprising agility has evaluators buzzing about his potential as a mid-round gem in this year’s NFL Draft. One analyst even noted Hecht has “the look of a potential early starter” at the next level-a high compliment in a class loaded with interior line talent.
What’s really catching eyes is how polished Hecht looks in one-on-one drills. Centers often get overlooked in the draft process unless they’re elite, but Hecht’s tape and his work in Mobile are forcing teams to take a closer look. He’s currently projected as a third- or fourth-round pick, and teams like the Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts-both of whom could use help on the interior-are likely paying close attention.
Hecht’s rise is a bright spot not just for him, but for Kansas State, which now finds itself in a bit of a rebuild up front. The Wildcats’ offensive line struggled with cohesion for much of last season.
With several new faces in the mix, the unit never quite gelled, especially in the run game-a hallmark of Kansas State football. While pass protection for quarterback Avery Johnson held up reasonably well, the ground game sputtered, in part due to an injury to dynamic back Dylan Edwards, but also because the line simply couldn’t generate consistent push.
That’s where new offensive line coach Mike Schmidt comes in. Hired last month, Schmidt brings a wealth of experience and a reputation for building physical, technically sound units.
He’s spent the bulk of his career at San Diego State, where his lines were known for their toughness and discipline, and he’s also had stints in the Power Four with Syracuse and Mississippi State. Kansas State head coach Collin Klein praised Schmidt’s attention to detail and schematic versatility, calling him “the perfect fit” for the Wildcats’ offense.
With Hecht headed to the NFL and a new coach stepping in to revamp the trenches, Kansas State is entering a pivotal offseason. The Wildcats will be looking to reestablish their identity as a run-first, physical football team-and that starts with rebuilding the offensive line from the ground up.
As for Hecht, his arrow is pointing up. Don’t be surprised if he hears his name called earlier than expected come Draft weekend. He’s showing he belongs, and NFL teams are taking notice.