From rookie starter to national recognition — Kansas State’s Sam Hecht is off to a strong start in his career, landing on the 2025 Outland Award watch list as one of the nation’s top interior linemen.
The Wildcats announced Tuesday that Hecht, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound center from Shawnee, Kansas, has been named to the Outland Award watch list for the 2025 season.
The award honors the nation’s best interior lineman, as voted by the Football Writers Association of America.
Outland Trophy Watch List
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) July 29, 2025
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After starting all 13 games at center last season — the first starts of his career — Hecht earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors from league coaches.
He logged a team-high 840 offensive snaps, was penalized just twice, and anchored an offensive line that helped K-State set school records in rushing yards per carry (6.08) and offensive yards per play (6.57). Those numbers ranked second and 13th nationally, respectively.
Hecht isn’t Kansas State’s first lineman to earn this recognition. The Outland watch list has included stars like C Nick Leckey (2003), B.J. Finney (2013-14), Dalton Risner (2017-18), and most recently, Cooper Beebe, a finalist in 2023.
The Wildcats’ offensive line also allowed just 13 sacks last season — the fewest since 2000 — ranking 10th nationally in sacks allowed per game (1.00).
Looking ahead, K-State faces the challenge of replacing both starting tackles: Easton Kilty, headed to the NFL Draft, and Carver Willis, who transferred to Washington.
But the interior line returns experience with Hecht and guard Taylor Poitier leading the charge.
Depth is bolstered by versatile Andrew Leingang, transfers Amos Talalele (Cal), Terrence Enos (Michigan State), J.B. Nelson (Penn State), plus redshirt freshmen John Pastore and Gus Hawkins.
The Wildcats enter 2025 with plenty of momentum and national attention. They’re ranked No. 12 in USA Today’s preseason Top 25, No. 16 in Joel Klatt’s post-spring rankings, and No. 21 in ESPN’s Football Power Index — the highest in the Big 12.
The season opener? It’s going global.
“Farmageddon,” the fierce rivalry between Kansas State and Iowa State, will take center stage as K-State travels to face the Cyclones, both teams eyeing Big 12 supremacy.
And the stakes have never been higher.
As the Wildcats prepare to defend their ground game and step into the national spotlight, all eyes will be on Hecht and Kansas State to see if they can deliver on their promise in 2025.