Disclaimer: As the 2020 football season still is “technically” scheduled to proceed as planned in Manhattan, with the recent delay of our season opener until Sept. 12 against Arkansas State, we will reset and continue this Countdown for just a little bit longer...

#19 Ross Elder

Redshirt Junior | 6-0 | 180 lbs. | Kansas City, Missouri

Courtesy Kansas State Athletics

• Position: Defensive Back
• Previous College: None
• Projection: Special Teams
• Status: Preferred Walk-On

Ross Everett Elder (b. March 31, 1999) is a walk-on defensive back who has featured on multiple special teams units over the past two seasons and is majoring in finance.

Elder redshirted in 2017 and played in 11 games in 2018, tying for fourth on the team with four special teams tackles. Three of his tackles came on kickoff coverage.

Elder also played in a reserve role on defense against UTSA, when he broke up a pass.

He played in all 13 games in 2019 as a regular member of the special teams, making tackles on kickoff coverage against TCU and Kansas.

Elder earned first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors in both 2018 and 2019.

He lettered two seasons under head coach and former Wildcat Tony Severino at Rockhurst High School, including his senior year in 2016, when the Hawklets went 9-3 and reached the state semifinals.

Elder totaled 90 tackles, five blocked kicks and two interception-return touchdowns during his prep career.

He also earned first-team all-state honors as a senior, in addition to being named to The Kansas City Star All-Metro team, and lettered two years in track and field, picking up all-state honors in the 4x100 and 4x200, and two years in basketball.

Elder’s father, Todd, was a wide receiver for the Wildcats from 1984 to 1986, while Elder’s uncle, Eddie, played basketball at K-State from 1983 to 1985 and ranks highly in school history in several statistical categories.