Sam Hecht, a Shawnee native and Mill Valley High School product, is projected as a Day 2-3 NFL Draft pick for Kansas State. He developed in a top programs in the state under head coach Joel Applebee and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2025 after anchoring an offensive line that ranked among the best in the Big 12. At the NFL Scouting Combine, Hecht measured 6-foot-4 and 303 pounds with a 5.10-second 40-yard dash and a 6.23 overall prospect grade from NFL.com predicts him as an "average starter" with strong production metrics compared to his position group.