A former walk-on at Kansas State, Sam Hecht never allowed a sack in his college career and now battles for snaps at center in Carolina.
Sam Hecht arrives in Carolina as one of the more polished technicians in this year's rookie interior line class, a former unranked recruit who worked his way from walk-on to first-team All-Big 12 center. The Panthers took him in the fifth round to push for the starting job at the pivot, betting on his consistency and clean footwork over flashy measurables.
Path to the league
Hecht joined Kansas State as an unranked, unrecruited walk-on out of Mill Valley High School in Shawnee, Kansas, and redshirted his first year. He worked into the starting lineup and made 25 career starts at center for the Wildcats between 2022 and 2025, earning a scholarship along the way. Carolina drafted him in the fifth round, 144th overall, in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Hecht's calling card at Kansas State was durability and clean technique, headlined by the fact that he did not allow a sack across his entire college career at center. He was named second-team All-Big 12 in 2024 before earning first-team honors as a senior in 2025. His performance earned him an invite to the 2026 Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine.
2025 season recap
In his final year at Kansas State, Hecht made 12 starts at center and was rewarded with first-team All-Big 12 recognition, the capstone of a four-year climb from walk-on to conference honoree. That performance carried him into the 2026 draft process, where he tested at the Combine and worked out for scouts before Carolina selected him to compete for a starting role.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Sam Hecht (American football)
- Panthers.com: With the 144th overall pick, the Panthers select center Sam Hecht
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Center
- Group
- offense
- College
- Kansas State
- Hometown
- Shawnee, KS, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
Team
