The Blue Dragons have produced 47 players who have reached professional status in program history.
According to records, standout running back Mack Herron parlayed his time at Hutchinson in 1966 and 1967 into two stellar seasons at Kansas State University and then became the Blue Dragons’ first-ever NFL draft pick, being selected in the sixth round of the 1970 Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.
Since 1994, though, the number of Blue Dragon football players making it to the NFL dramatically increased. Of the 47 Blue Dragons to reach the professional level, 42 have come since 1994.
In 2023, Jakorian Bennett was a fourth-round draft pick of the Las Vegas Raiders. Six other players were signed as undrafted free agents.
In 2022, five former Blue Dragons were selected with defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt surpassing Cordarrelle Patterson as the highest-ranked Blue Dragon in draft history. Wyatt became just the second Blue Dragon selected in the first round, taken by the Green Bay Packers with the 28th overall pick, one better than Patterson in 2013.
The 2017 NFL Draft saw more Blue Dragons drafted and signed as undrafted free agents with seven former players getting tapped to have shots at professional football. Gerald Everett was a second-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams. Alvin Kamara was selected in the fourth round by the New Orleans Saints and Jeremiah Ledbetter was nabbed in the sixth round by the Detroit Lions. Marquavius Lewis, Claude George, Eddie Gordon and Tyler Williams all signed undrafted free agent deals.
Kamara was named the Association Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2017. Kamara, a 2018 Pro Bowl selection, led all rookies with 14 total touchdowns and ranked second with 1,554 scrimmage yards. Kamara led all rookies with 81 receptions, the third-most by a rookie running back in NFL history.
The 2013 NFL Draft was historical for Blue Dragon football as Patterson became the first Blue Dragon to be selected in the first round, going to the Minnesota Vikings with the 29th overall pick.
A then-record three Blue Dragons were in the 2013 NFL rookie class. In addition to Patterson, Angelo Pease went to Green Bay and Meshak Williams went to Baltimore as undrafted free agents.
The 2015 NFL Draft produced the Blue Dragons’ sixth drafted player in Markus Golden (2011), who moved on to Missouri and was drafted in the second round by the Arizona Cardinals, the second-highest drafted Dragon in team history.
Defensive tackle Toby Johnson (2012-13) was an undrafted free-agent signee of the Tennessee Titans.
The 2016 Draft saw De’Vondre Campbell (2011-12) be drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round. Antonio Longino (2012) signed as an undrafted free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals.
BLUE DRAGON PLAYERS IN THE NFL
| Player | Years at Hutch | 1st NFL Team | Acquired How (Year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jakorian Bennett | 2018-17 | Las Vegas Raiders | Drafted-4th round (2023) |
| Art Green | 2018-19 | Denver Broncos | Undrafted FA (2023) |
| Mitchell Tinsley | 2018-19 | Washington Commanders | Undrafted FA (2023) |
| Lohnny Lumpkin | 2017 | New England Patriots | Undrafted FA (2023) |
| Jonathan White | 2019 | Batimore Ravens | Undrafted FA (2023) |
| Dezmon Jackson | 2018-19 | New York Giants | Undrafted FA (2023) |
| Tiyon Evans | 2019 | Los Angeles Rams | Undrafted FA (2023) |
| Devonte Wyatt | 2019 | Green Bay Packers | Drafted-1st round (2022) |
| Caliph Brice | 2017-18 | Green Bay Packers | Undrafted FA (2022) |
| Leroy Watson | 2017-18 | Atlanta Falcons | Undrafted FA (2022) |
| Clarence Hicks | 2017-18 | Cincinnati Bengals | Undrafted FA (2022) |
| Jason Poe | 2017 | San Francisco 49ers | Undrafted FA (2022) |
| Storey Jackson | 2016-17 | Dallas Cowboys | Undrafted FA (2022) |
| Jerry Jacobs | 2016-17 | Detroit Lions | Undrafted FA (2021) |
| B.J. Emmons | 2017 | Seattle Seahawks | Undrafted FA (2021) |
| Kyle Wilson | 2015-16 | Philadephia Eagles | Undrafted FA (2018) |
| Gerald Everett | 2014 | Los Angeles Rams | Drafted-2nd round (2017) |
| Alvin Kamara | 2014 | New Orleans Saints | Drafted-4th round (2017) |
| Jeremiah Ledbetter | 2013-14 | Detroit Lions | Drafted 6th round (2017) |
| Marquavius Lewis | 2013-14 | Buffalo Bills | Undrafted FA (2017) |
| Claude George | 2013-14 | Seattle Seahawks | Undrafted FA (2017) |
| Eddie Gordon | 2013-14 | Carolina Panthers | Undrafted FA (2017) |
| Tyler Williams | 2013-14 | Atlanta Falcons | Undrafted FA (2017) |
| De’Vondre Campbell | 2012 | Atlanta Falcons | Drafted-4th Round (2016) |
| Antonio Longino | 2012 | Cincinnati Bengals | Undrafted FA (2016) |
| Markus Golden | 2011 | Arizona Cardinals | Drafted-2nd Round (2015) |
| Toby Johnson | 2012-13 | Tennessee Titans | Undrafted FA (2015) |
| Cordarrelle Patterson | 2010-11 | Minnesota Vikings | Drafted-1st Round (2013) |
| Angelo Pease | 2010-11 | Green Bay Packers | Undrafted FA (2013) |
| Meshak Williams | 2009-10 | Baltimore Ravens | Undrafted FA (2013) |
| Jasper Simmons | 2007-08 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Undrafted FA (2010) |
| Nehemiah Warrick | 2004-05 | New York Giants | Undrafted FA (2007) |
| David Dixon | 2004 | San Francisco 49ers | Undrafted FA (2005) |
| Phil Hawkins | 2001 | Baltimore Ravens | Undrafted FA (2004) |
| Greg Cole | 1999-2000 | San Diego Chargers | Undrafted FA (2003) |
| Tank Reese | 1999-2000 | Kansas City Chiefs | Undrafted FA (2003) |
| Shaun Hill | 1998-99 | Minnesota Vikings | Undrafted FA (2002) |
| Kevin Barry | 1997-98 | Green Bay Packers | Undrafted FA (2002) |
| Terrell Washington | 1998 | Houston Texans | Undrafted FA (2002) |
| Mario Monds | 1996-97 | Cincinnati Bengals | Drafted-6th Round (1999) |
| Arland Bruce | 1996-97 | San Francisco 49ers | Undrafted FA (2000) |
| Tinker Keck | 1995-96 | New York Giants | Undrafted FA (1999) |
| Jason Gamble | 1994-95 | Tennessee Titans | Undrafted FA (1998) |
| Aaron Manning | 1984 | Cincinnati Bengals | Undrafted FA (1987) |
| Gordon Brown | 1981-82 | Baltimore Colts | Undrafted FA (1987) |
| Curtis Townsend | 1973-74 | St. Louis Cardinals | Drafted-10th Round (1977) |
| Jerome Dove | 1972-73 | Oakland Raiders | Drafted-8th Round (1976) |
| Mack Herron | 1966-67 | Atlanta Falcons | Drafted-6th Round (1970) |
| Players still active are in bold |