Four Former Wildcats Named to Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2020
Jun 03, 2020 | Athletics
MANHATTAN, Kansas – In an announcement by the state of Kansas Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday, former K-State football standouts Jordy Nelson, Terence Newman and Darren Sproles and former K-State track and Olympian Steve Fritz have been selected as members of the 59th Anniversary Class of 2020. The induction class of 2020 will be enshrined in ceremonies on Sunday, October 4 at Kansas Star Casino.
With the four new members, the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame now includes 55 representatives with ties to K-State, while the 2020 induction class of 10 raises the total overall number of inductees into the hall of fame to 309.
Nelson, a native of Leonardville, Kansas, was a wide receiver for K-State from 2005-07 and was a consensus All-American selection and a Biletnikoff Award finalist in 2007. He set single-game school records for receptions with 15 and receiving yards with 214. He also tabulated the single-season receiving yards record with 1,606 and season yards per game with 133.8.
At the conclusion of his standout career with the Wildcats, Nelson was drafted in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers and proceeded to play 11 seasons in the NFL with the Packers and Oakland Raiders. Nelson completed his NFL career with 613 receptions, 8,587 yards, 72
touchdown receptions and a 2014 Pro Bowl selection. He was a key component of the Packers defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super XLV in 2010 by finishing the game with nine catches for 140 yards and a touchdown.
Nelson was inducted into the K-State Ring of Honor in 2015 and will be inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2020.
During his high school career at Riley County, Nelson was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and track. He was an all-state basketball selection in 2003 and led the Falcons to state tournament appearances in 2001, 2002 and 2003. He captured five state track championships: 400-meter in 2002; 100-meter, 200-meter, 400-meter and long jump in 2003.
Newman, a product of Salina, Kansas, was a four-year letter winner for K-State football and a three-time letter winner for K-State track and field from 1999-02. Newman was a two-time All-Big 12 Conference selection (first team in 2002 and second team in 2001) on the gridiron.
In a dominant 2002 season, Newman was named a consensus All-American, collected the Thorpe Award as the nation's top collegiate defensive back and was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
On the track, Newman was a three-time All-American, the 2002 Big 12 Indoor Performer of the Year and three-time Big 12 Conference champion.
At the conclusion of his collegiate career, Newman was drafted fifth overall in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys beginning a 15-year NFL career with stops with the Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings.
Newman completed his professional career with 42 interceptions, 183 passes defended, 11 fumble recoveries and 879 combined tackles. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection in 2007 and 2009.
Newman was inducted into the K-State Ring of Honor in 2008, was inducted to the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018 and the Salina Central Hall of Fame in 2019.
During his time at Salina Central High School, Newman was a stellar four-sport athlete in football, basketball, track and baseball. He was an all-state selection in football in 1997 and a three-time state champion in track in 1998 in 100-meter, 200-meter, and 400-meter.
Sproles, a product of Olathe, Kansas, was arguably the most electrifying running back in K-State history as he was a four-year letter winner from 2001-04. Sproles was an All-American in 2003 and a three-time All-Big 12 Conference selection from 2002-04.
In 2003, Sproles finished fifth for the Heisman Trophy and a finalist for the Doak Walker award while helping the Wildcats to the 2003 Big 12 title and a 2004 Fiesta Bowl appearance.
At the conclusion of his career, Sproles owned the school records for single game rushing attempts with 43, single game rushing yardage with 292, single season rushing yardage with 1,986, career
rushing attempts with 815, and career rushing yardage with 4,979. Led NCAA in all-purpose yards per game in 2004 with 187.91.
Following his time in Manhattan, Sproles was drafted in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. Sproles concluded a 14-year NFL career following the 2019 season which included stints with the Chargers, New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles.
Sproles ended his career as a three-time Pro Bowl selection in 2014, 2015, and 2016. His career professional totals included: 3,552 rushing yards, 23 rushing touchdowns, 4,840 receiving yards, 32 receiving touchdowns, seven punt return touchdowns and two kickoff return touchdowns. He ranks fifth in career all-purpose yards with 19,696 yards.
During his time at Olathe North High School, Sproles was a two-sport athlete in football and track. He was a two-time all-state selection in football in 1999 and 2000.
Sproles was inducted to the K-State football Ring of Honor in 2015.
Fritz a native of Gypsum, Kansas, was a two-sport letter winner at K-State competing in track & field and men's basketball. In track & field, Fritz was a two-time All-American decathlete in 1989 and 1990 and collected a pair of Big Eight Conference titles. Before concluding his collegiate career, Fritz set the K-State school record for points in the decathlon.
Fritz also represented the United States on 10 national teams in the decathlon. In 1996, Fritz reached the pinnacle of his career by finishing fourth in the decathlon at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Prior to joining K-State, Fritz was a two-sport athlete at Hutchinson Community College in basketball and track. He led Blue Dragons to an NJCAA basketball title in 1988. Individually, Fritz won the 1988 NJCAA National title in the decathlon. At the conclusion of his time in Hutchinson, he had set the HCC school record in points in decathlon.
In his prep career at Southeast of Saline, he was a three-time state track champion: 1985 high jump, 1986 110-meter hurdles and 1986 300-meter hurdles.
In his professional career, Fritz served as an assistant track coach at K-State for over 20 years. After departing K-State, he has served as a high school basketball and track coach at Riley County and Wamego High School.
Fritz was inducted to the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Hutchinson Community College Quarterback Club in 2012.
The K-State honorees are joined in the induction Class of 2020 by former Olympian and five-time NCAA track & field All-American Kym Carter Begel (Wichita), three-time baseball All-American and former MLB veteran Casey Blake (Indianola, Iowa), five-time NCAA track & field national champion Heather Leverington Dotterer (Rosalia), Kansas basketball All-American and NBA veteran Drew Gooden (El Cerrito, California), two-time All-Big East basketball selection and NBA veteran Adrian Griffin (Wichita) and 1964 Olympic bronce medalist and champion skeet shooter Bill Morris (Russell),.
Tickets to the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony may be purchased beginning on August 1, 2020, online at kshof.org, or by calling 316-262-2038.
With the four new members, the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame now includes 55 representatives with ties to K-State, while the 2020 induction class of 10 raises the total overall number of inductees into the hall of fame to 309.
Nelson, a native of Leonardville, Kansas, was a wide receiver for K-State from 2005-07 and was a consensus All-American selection and a Biletnikoff Award finalist in 2007. He set single-game school records for receptions with 15 and receiving yards with 214. He also tabulated the single-season receiving yards record with 1,606 and season yards per game with 133.8.
At the conclusion of his standout career with the Wildcats, Nelson was drafted in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers and proceeded to play 11 seasons in the NFL with the Packers and Oakland Raiders. Nelson completed his NFL career with 613 receptions, 8,587 yards, 72
touchdown receptions and a 2014 Pro Bowl selection. He was a key component of the Packers defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super XLV in 2010 by finishing the game with nine catches for 140 yards and a touchdown.
Nelson was inducted into the K-State Ring of Honor in 2015 and will be inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2020.
During his high school career at Riley County, Nelson was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and track. He was an all-state basketball selection in 2003 and led the Falcons to state tournament appearances in 2001, 2002 and 2003. He captured five state track championships: 400-meter in 2002; 100-meter, 200-meter, 400-meter and long jump in 2003.
Newman, a product of Salina, Kansas, was a four-year letter winner for K-State football and a three-time letter winner for K-State track and field from 1999-02. Newman was a two-time All-Big 12 Conference selection (first team in 2002 and second team in 2001) on the gridiron.
In a dominant 2002 season, Newman was named a consensus All-American, collected the Thorpe Award as the nation's top collegiate defensive back and was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
On the track, Newman was a three-time All-American, the 2002 Big 12 Indoor Performer of the Year and three-time Big 12 Conference champion.
At the conclusion of his collegiate career, Newman was drafted fifth overall in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys beginning a 15-year NFL career with stops with the Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings.
Newman completed his professional career with 42 interceptions, 183 passes defended, 11 fumble recoveries and 879 combined tackles. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection in 2007 and 2009.
Newman was inducted into the K-State Ring of Honor in 2008, was inducted to the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018 and the Salina Central Hall of Fame in 2019.
During his time at Salina Central High School, Newman was a stellar four-sport athlete in football, basketball, track and baseball. He was an all-state selection in football in 1997 and a three-time state champion in track in 1998 in 100-meter, 200-meter, and 400-meter.
Sproles, a product of Olathe, Kansas, was arguably the most electrifying running back in K-State history as he was a four-year letter winner from 2001-04. Sproles was an All-American in 2003 and a three-time All-Big 12 Conference selection from 2002-04.
In 2003, Sproles finished fifth for the Heisman Trophy and a finalist for the Doak Walker award while helping the Wildcats to the 2003 Big 12 title and a 2004 Fiesta Bowl appearance.
At the conclusion of his career, Sproles owned the school records for single game rushing attempts with 43, single game rushing yardage with 292, single season rushing yardage with 1,986, career
rushing attempts with 815, and career rushing yardage with 4,979. Led NCAA in all-purpose yards per game in 2004 with 187.91.
Following his time in Manhattan, Sproles was drafted in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. Sproles concluded a 14-year NFL career following the 2019 season which included stints with the Chargers, New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles.
Sproles ended his career as a three-time Pro Bowl selection in 2014, 2015, and 2016. His career professional totals included: 3,552 rushing yards, 23 rushing touchdowns, 4,840 receiving yards, 32 receiving touchdowns, seven punt return touchdowns and two kickoff return touchdowns. He ranks fifth in career all-purpose yards with 19,696 yards.
During his time at Olathe North High School, Sproles was a two-sport athlete in football and track. He was a two-time all-state selection in football in 1999 and 2000.
Sproles was inducted to the K-State football Ring of Honor in 2015.
Fritz a native of Gypsum, Kansas, was a two-sport letter winner at K-State competing in track & field and men's basketball. In track & field, Fritz was a two-time All-American decathlete in 1989 and 1990 and collected a pair of Big Eight Conference titles. Before concluding his collegiate career, Fritz set the K-State school record for points in the decathlon.
Fritz also represented the United States on 10 national teams in the decathlon. In 1996, Fritz reached the pinnacle of his career by finishing fourth in the decathlon at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Prior to joining K-State, Fritz was a two-sport athlete at Hutchinson Community College in basketball and track. He led Blue Dragons to an NJCAA basketball title in 1988. Individually, Fritz won the 1988 NJCAA National title in the decathlon. At the conclusion of his time in Hutchinson, he had set the HCC school record in points in decathlon.
In his prep career at Southeast of Saline, he was a three-time state track champion: 1985 high jump, 1986 110-meter hurdles and 1986 300-meter hurdles.
In his professional career, Fritz served as an assistant track coach at K-State for over 20 years. After departing K-State, he has served as a high school basketball and track coach at Riley County and Wamego High School.
Fritz was inducted to the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Hutchinson Community College Quarterback Club in 2012.
The K-State honorees are joined in the induction Class of 2020 by former Olympian and five-time NCAA track & field All-American Kym Carter Begel (Wichita), three-time baseball All-American and former MLB veteran Casey Blake (Indianola, Iowa), five-time NCAA track & field national champion Heather Leverington Dotterer (Rosalia), Kansas basketball All-American and NBA veteran Drew Gooden (El Cerrito, California), two-time All-Big East basketball selection and NBA veteran Adrian Griffin (Wichita) and 1964 Olympic bronce medalist and champion skeet shooter Bill Morris (Russell),.
Tickets to the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony may be purchased beginning on August 1, 2020, online at kshof.org, or by calling 316-262-2038.