KT Leveston
{{Short description|American football player (born 1999)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = KT Leveston
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
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| current_team = Los Angeles Rams
| number = 66
| position = Guard
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|10|28}}
| birth_place = Waco, Texas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lb = 336
| high_school = Midway
(Waco, Texas)
| college = Kansas State (2018–2023)
| draftyear = 2024
| draftround = 7
| draftpick = 254
| pastteams =
- Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
| statseason =
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| statvalue2 =
| pfr = LeveKT00
}}
Kaitori "KT" Leveston Jr. (born October 28, 1999) is an American professional football guard for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats and was selected by the Rams in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Early life
Leveston grew up in Waco, Texas,{{Cite web|url=https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2024/04/11162958/TheBeast2024_MasterFile-8.pdf|website=The Athletic|author=Brugler, Dane|date=April 2024|title=The Beast: 2024 NFL Draft Guide|url-access=subscription|page=147}} where he attended Midway High School and played football and basketball.{{Cite web |last=Ashley |first=Joe |date=April 28, 2024 |title=Los Angeles Rams take Midway alumni KT Leveston in seventh round of NFL Draft |url=https://www.kwtx.com/2024/04/28/los-angeles-rams-take-midway-alumni-kt-leveston-seventh-round-nfl-draft/ |access-date=June 23, 2024 |website=KWTX |language=en}} He helped the basketball team win a district championship and played as both an offensive tackle and defensive end in football. He was named a second-team all-district selection at tackle as a junior and then was named first-team all-state and all-district as a senior while helping Midway to a 15–1 record and an appearance in the Class 6A D2 state championship.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/rams/Final-2024-LA-Draft-Pick-Discusses-Dream-Come-True-Moment-rks97|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=Rams News: Final 2024 LA Draft Pick Discusses "Dream Come True" Moment|author=Klein, Ricardo|date=April 29, 2024}} He committed to play college football for the Kansas State Wildcats as a three-star recruit, being ranked the 96th-best offensive tackle nationally and the 148th-best player overall in the state.{{Cite web |last=Fritchen |first=D. Scott |date=August 22, 2019 |title=THROWBACK THURSDAY: The 2018 class |url=https://247sports.com/college/kansas-state/longformarticle/kansas-state-football-recruiting-classes-2018-john-holcombe-wayne-jones-lance-robinson-ej-turner-spencer-trussell-134298033/ |access-date=June 23, 2024 |website=247Sports |language=en}}
College career
Leveston redshirted as a true freshman at Kansas State in 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.kansas.com/sports/college/big-12/kansas-state/article281047393.html|newspaper=Wichita Eagle|title=KT Leveston had to grow up before he became a star offensive lineman for Kansas State|author=Robinett, Kellis|date=October 26, 2023|url-access=subscription}} He played four games as a backup in the 2019 season, then appeared in 10 games, five as a starter, in 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/football/roster/kt-leveston/11120|publisher=Kansas State Wildcats|title=KT Leveston}} After spending the 2021 season as a backup, he won a starting role in 2022 and started 14 games while being named honorable mention All-Big 12 Conference.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cjonline.com/story/sports/college/cat-zone/2022/09/01/kansas-state-football-kt-leveston-hard-work-lifts-offensive-line/7938394001/|newspaper=The Topeka Capital-Journal|title=How KT Leveston's growth helped transform Kansas State football's offensive line|date=September 1, 2022|author=Green, Arne}} He graduated with a degree in 2022 but opted to return for a final season in 2023, as all players were granted an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He started 13 games in the 2023 season and was named honorable mention All-Big 12 and to the Waco Tribune-Herald{{'s}} Super Centex All-College Team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.therams.com/news/kt-leveston-nfl-draft-offensive-lineman-kansas|publisher=Los Angeles Rams|title=READ: Rams select OL KT Leveston with 254th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft|date=April 27, 2024|author=Jackson, Stu}}{{Cite news |date=April 28, 2024 |title=K-State's Leveston, former Midway lineman, getting NFL shot with Rams |url=https://wacotrib.com/sports/high-school/football/waco-texas-midway-panthers-leveston-nfl/article_18ac0e92-05a4-11ef-b8b6-ef7b1d5ed921.html |access-date=2024-11-30 |work=Waco Tribune-Herald}} He ended his collegiate career having started 32 of the 50 games he played in.{{Cite web |last=Maher |first=Katie |date=April 27, 2024 |title=K-State's Leveston drafted by Rams in final round |url=https://www.wibw.com/2024/04/27/k-states-leveston-drafted-by-rams-final-round/ |access-date=2024-11-30 |publisher=WIBW-TV}} He was invited to the East–West Shrine Bowl and to the NFL Scouting Combine.{{Cite news |last=Green |first=Arne |date=April 27, 2024 |title=Pros and cons of the Los Angeles Rams picking Kansas State's KT Leveston in 2024 NFL Draft |url=https://www.cjonline.com/story/sports/college/cat-zone/2024/04/27/los-angeles-rams-pick-kansas-states-kt-leveston-in-2024-nfl-draft-seventh-round/73460188007/ |access-date=2024-11-30 |work=The Topeka Capital-Journal}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3 7/8
| weight = 326
| dash = 5.38
| ten split = 1.85
| twenty split = 3.09
| shuttle = 4.85
| cone drill = 7.90
| vertical = 27.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 0
| bench = 25
| arm span = 34 3/8
| hand span = 9 7/8
| note = All values from NFL Scouting Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/kt-leveston/32004c45-5647-3045-89cf-0f53ccac82e5 |title=KT Leveston Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=April 28, 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1024118&DraftYear=2024 |title=2024 NFL Draft Scout KT Leveston College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=April 28, 2024}}
}}
Leveston was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the seventh round (254th overall) of the 2024 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Carlson, Zac |date=April 27, 2024 |title=KT Leveston drafted by Los Angeles Rams in seventh round of 2024 NFL Draft |url=https://247sports.com/college/kansas-state/article/kansas-state-football-kt-leveston-nfl-draft-los-angeles-rams-seventh-round-231107155/ |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=247Sports}} After being picked, he noted that he considered being picked 254th special because he grew up in Waco, which is located in area code 254.{{Cite web |last=Jackson, Stu |date=April 27, 2024 |title=Pick 254 meant to be for KT Leveston |url=https://www.therams.com/news/kt-leveston-offensive-lineman-nfl-draft-pick-254-meant-to-be-rams |access-date=2024-06-30 |publisher=Los Angeles Rams}} He was placed on injured reserve on August 27.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/football/roster/kt-leveston/11120 Kansas State Wildcats bio]
- [https://www.therams.com/team/players-roster/kt-leveston/ Los Angeles Rams bio]
{{Los Angeles Rams roster navbox}}
{{Los Angeles Rams 2024 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leveston, KT}}
Category:American football offensive linemen
Category:Players of American football from Waco, Texas