Former Jaguar looks toward the NFL

By Todd Habiger

SHAWNEE, Kan. – For the first time in its storied football history, a former Mill Valley High School player will be drafted by an NFL team. Sometime in the next three days, Sam Hecht’s name will be called from the podium in Pittsburgh, where the NFL Draft is being held.

The NFL draft begins tonight at 7 p.m. with the first round. The second and third rounds will begin on April 24 while the draft concludes on April 25.

Projections have Hecht being drafted anywhere from the second to fourth rounds. ESPN National Football League draft analyst Matt Miller named Hecht his top ranked center, and most other analysts have him in their top three.

At Mill Valley, Hecht was a three year starter at tackle for the Jaguars and helped the team win state championships in 2019 and 2020. Hecht came through the children’s Junior Jaguars program as a running back and linebacker and wasn’t too keen at first to make the switch to the offensive line. 

“His freshman year he grew quite a bit and it was one of those conversations where we said ‘You know we think you have a bright future in football, so let’s put you into a position that makes sense for you and our team,’” said Mill Valley head football coach Joel Applebee.

Hecht agreed to make the switch and eventually thrived as an offensive lineman. 

“Sam was very coachable,” Applebee said. “Sam is one of the hardest working kids. We’ve had a lot of hard workers come through our program but he’s right there near the top.”

Hecht earned All Eastern Kansas League honorable mention accolades in 2018 as a sophomore; and was named first team All Eastern Kansas League (2019),  and All Sunflower League (2020). He was also an all state honorable mention in 2019 and all state first team in 2020.

“His senior year he really dominated,” Applebee said. “The mental and physical sides of the game all came together for him, and he played football at a very high level.”

Despite his high school success, the power football schools didn’t come calling, so Hecht enrolled at K-State as a preferred walk on.

“For a power football school, he was a little undersized,” Applebee said. “But we told him, ‘there is no question that you can play at that level. You’re just going to have to show on film that you have really good technique, and a good understanding of the game.’”

At K-State Hecht redshirted his freshman year and was a reserve lineman in 2022 and 2023, before earning a scholarship and the starting job at center in 2024. He earned All-Big 12 second team honors that year, as well as being named an Academic All-Big 12 player. 

Once Hecht latched on to the starting center job at K-State, Applebee could see that college football might not be the final destination for his former player.

“His junior year at K-State, Sam really started to maintain the weight that, if he was going to play at the NFL level, he needed to maintain,” Applebee said. “He also took to the center position, and gained an understanding of that position that took him to another level.”

In 2025 Hecht earned All-Big 12 First Team honors and again was an Academic All-Big 12 player. He did not give up a single sack, or have a penalty called against him that year. The NFL took notice. He was invited to play in the Senior Bowl and to participate in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.

At the combine, Hecht tested well, measuring in at 6-foot-4 inches and 303 pounds. He also ran the 40-yard dash in 5.1 seconds. 

His scouting profile projects Hecht as a future starting center at the NFL level. Most scouts are impressed with his technique, most notably his footwork and hand placement. Knocks against him include his weight — scouts think he needs to add more muscle mass — and short arms. 

NFLDraftBuzz.com really likes Hecht’s saying: “Academic All-American caliber intellect translates directly to the field; this is a player who will pick up a new playbook in days, not weeks, and communicate protection calls at an NFL level from day one.”

Applebee says there’s no doubt that Hecht can succeed in the NFL.

“He absolutely loves the game of football,” he said. “You have to really love the game to play at a high level. Off the field he’s a high character person. Obviously, he has a great family that raised him with high values, and that shows off the field. He’s a humble person. He’s a family guy. I can’t say enough good things about him off the field.”

When Hecht’s name is called, he will be the first Mill Valley player drafted by the NFL. Former Mill Valley tight end Lucas Krull entered the NFL in 2022 as an undrafted free agent with the New Orleans Saints and is currently with the Denver Broncos.

“We’re all very proud of him,” Applebee said. “I’m happy that all his hard work is paying off for him. Sam would be the first to tell you that this is not the end of things, but the beginning of the next chapter. It could be very special if he stays healthy and continues to work and use that same work ethic that he’s always had.”