Goal No. 15: LEADERSHIP. Everyone can set the example.
#15 Derrick Salley Jr.
True Junior | 6-3 | 234 lbs. (+21) | Green Pond, South Carolina
- Position: Wide Receiver
- Previous College: Hutchinson Community College
- Projection: Second-String
- Remaining Eligibility: 2-3* years (*if 5 to play 5 goes into effect or he redshirts)
- Status: On Scholarship
Derrick Salley Jr. (b. Jan. 5, 2006) is a JUCO transfer wide receiver from Hutchinson Community College, where he played under head coach Drew Dallas. He is majoring in integrative human sciences.
At Hutch, Salley was regarded as the fifth-best overall community college prospect and the top community college wide receiver in the Class of 2026 by Rivals. He also was rated No. 7 nationally and the top wide receiver by 247Sports after carding 71 catches
for 1,168 yards and 18 touchdowns during his two seasons in Hutchinson.
Salley produced 52 catches for 851 yards and 13 scores as a sophomore en route to first-team All-American honors, helping to lead the Blue Dragons to an appearance in the NJCAA National Championship Game.
He recorded three 100-yard receiving games in 2025 — including an eight-catch, 146-yard, three-touchdown effort against Iowa Central en route to conference player of the week honors — and 135 yards and a touchdown on seven catches against Dodge City, plus 106 yards and a touchdown on four catches against Iowa Western.
Salley also had three-touchdown performances against New Mexico Military Institute and Independence.
He recorded a pair of two-touchdown performances as a freshman against New Mexico Military Academy and Iowa Central, and played alongside current K-State safety Micheal Graham Jr. and defensive tackle Eli Jackson.
Salley prepped under head coach Jeff Tate at Ashley Ridge High School in Summerville, South Carolina, where he totaled 2,027 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior en route to region offensive player of the year and all-state honors.
His 2,027 career receiving yards for the Swamp Foxes set a state record, while his 20 touchdowns ranked as the second most in the state of South Carolina.
Salley committed to K-State over offers from Boise State, Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, Florida A&M, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern, Illinois, Jacksonville State, Liberty, Limestone College, Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee, Minnesota (from which he previously decommitted), Ohio, Oklahoma State, Old Dominion, Sacramento State, Temple, Texas State, Toledo, Troy, UTSA, Western Kentucky and Western Michigan.
The defensive side of the ball has had plenty of praise for Salley for what he showed in spring practice, with a fellow newcomer at defensive back, Kaleb Patterson, intelligently observing:
Derrick Salley Jr. is a big guy for sure.
He’s also damn strong, having squatted 505 pounds in winter workouts to set a new wide receiver record!
*Keep in mind that starting this season, redshirted players can play in up to nine total games and retain their year of eligibility. If the 5-for-5 rule survives its court challenges, that number goes from nine to “all of them.”
