MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State offensive lineman Dalton Risner saw his NFL dream come to fruition with his hometown team on Friday night as the Wiggins, Colorado, native was selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos.

Risner, the No. 41 pick overall, becomes the highest Wildcat offensive lineman selected in the NFL Draft (Todd Weiner, Seattle, No. 47 in 1998) and the 11th highest overall. Risner, the first K-State offensive lineman selected since Cody Whitehair in 2016 (Chicago), is just the fourth ever Wildcat drafted by the Broncos and the first since linebacker Terry Pierce in 2003.

Additionally, Risner’s pick extended K-State’s Big 12-leading NFL Draft streak to 26 years, a mark that was tied for 12th in the nation entering the 2019 NFL Draft.

A two-time First Team All-American, Risner started 50 of the Wildcats’ 51 games over his four-year career, the first year being at center and the final three at right tackle. The 2018 co-Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year, Risner was just the fourth offensive lineman in Big 12 history to earn first team all-conference honors in three-straight seasons.

As a senior in 2018, Risner started all 12 games at right tackle en route to First Team All-America honors from Pro Football Focus, ESPN, CBS Sports and Sporting News, while he also earned second-team honors from the Walter Camp Foundation, Phil Steele, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Associated Press and the Football Writers Association of America.

Risner’s work in the community has also been well documented, including this week by NFL Network. He was honored for his outstanding work in the community this past season by being named a finalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, William V. Campbell Trophy, Wuerffel Trophy and Senior CLASS Award.