MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State running back Alex Barnes made his first NFL contract official on Thursday night as the Tennessee Titans announced the signing of the Pittsburg, Kansas, native prior to its rookie minicamp this weekend.

Barnes is the third Wildcat to sign or be drafted by the organization since its move to Tennessee, while he is the first to play for the Titans since Zach Diles in 2012 and 2013.

A 2018 First Team All-Big 12 performer by the Associated Press, Barnes finished as the league’s leading rusher by averaging 112.9 yards per game – over than 10 yards per game more than the next best rusher – while he ranked 10th nationally in average. His season rushing total of 1,355 yards ranked fourth in school history overall and second among juniors, while he hit the 1,000-yard mark in 187 carries to tie for fifth in school history.

Barnes finished his career ranked second in school history in yards per carry (5.71) and 100-yard rushing games (12), fourth in yards (2,616) and ninth in rushing touchdowns (25).

More Wildcats could sign with NFL teams, and those will be announced when they become official by their respective organizations.