NFL Draft 2018: Byron Pringle

The Player

Byron Pringle, WR/KR | Height: 6’2” | Weight: 205 lbs.

Pringle left K-State with a year of eligibility remaining for the draft, but as a 24-year-old father, it’s hard to say he left early.

The junior from Tampa, Fla., played two years at K-State after a year at Butler Community College. In his sophomore season at K-State, he emerged as a top target for quarterback Jesse Ertz and K-State’s biggest deep threat. He was second on the team in receptions, but first in receiving yards by almost 200 yards, and he also led the team in receiving touchdowns. On top of that, he added more than 700 return yards and a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

He started off 2017 with a bang, catching three passes for 121 yards and a touchdown against Central Arkansas, but then he suffered a four-game lull, only catching four passes for 53 yards and committing several costly drops. He got back on track mid-season on his way to leading the team in receiving yards and touchdowns again, highlighted by a victory at Oklahoma State in which he caught four passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns. He also continued to serve ably as a return man for the Wildcats.

The Draft Outlook

With his good height and speed (4.46 second 40-yard dash), Pringle is the sort of athlete needed to fill out NFL receiving corps. His problem with dropped passes may cost him considerably in the draft, but his strengths as a route-runner and run-blocker give him the potential to work his way up once he finds an NFL home.

NFL.com rates Pringle as a likely NFL backup or special teams contributor, which sounds about right. He could certainly go undrafted, but has what it takes to make the right team as an undrafted free agent.

The 2018 NFL Draft will be held from April 26 to 28 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Live television coverage begins at 7 PM CDT on April 26.