31 DAYS TO 2026 KICKOFF: Monterrio Elston Jr.

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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - NOVEMBER 22: Monterrio Elston Jr. #31 of the Kansas State Wildcats runs with the ball before the game between Kansas State Wildcats and Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium on November 22, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Bryan Byerly/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images

#31 Monterrio Elston Jr.​

Redshirt Freshman | 5-7 | 191 lbs. (+3) | Little Rock, Arkansas​

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• Position: Running Back
• Projection: Special Teams
• Remaining Eligibility: 4 years
• Status: On Scholarship

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Monterrio Elston Jr. (b. Sept. 14, 2006) is a speedy, shifty young running back from Parkview Magnet (Ark.) High School who is majoring in sports nutrition. He arrived in time for spring practices in 2025.

Elston saw time in three games last season, rushing twice for 2 yards and returning three kickoffs for 49 yards as he retained his redshirt. He made his collegiate debut at Baylor as a kick returner with a long return of 25 yards and tallied his first career carry against TCU, gaining 2 yards.

Given the three stud running backs ahead of him on the depth chart, he projects as a kick/punt returner in 2026.

Along with Sterling Lockett, Brandon White, Rodney Fields Jr. and Izaiah Williams, special teams coordinator Stanton Weber named Elston in the spring as one of the contenders back there, specifically saying “(he) has a shot as well. It’s a big competition.” Said Nate Kaczor, Weber’s predecessor: “Monterrio Elston Jr. is capable.”

Elston prepped under head coach Brad Bolding at Parkview Magnet, where he was regarded as the 53rd-best running back in the Class of 2025 by ESPN, while the organization also rated him the sixth-best overall player in the state of Arkansas.

He helped to lead the Patriots to state championships in each of his final three seasons as he earned all-state accolades as both a junior and senior, and totaled 1,854 all-purpose yards (847 rushing, 887 receiving, 120 return) as a junior. Sounds like our kind of player!

Elston also competed in track, finishing fifth in the state meet in the 100-meter dash as a junior with a time of 11.03, and helping the 4×200 meter team to finish first and the 4×100 meter team to finish second. He is the first K-State signee from the state of Arkansas since 2011.

Elston signed with K-State over offers from Arkansas, Arkansas Baptist, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Arkansas State, Central Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Memphis, Missouri and UNLV, as well as interest from Kansas, TCU and Texas A&M. His lead recruiter was former running backs coach Brian Anderson.

If you put a gun to my head and asked me who is most likely to be the next Darren Sproles/John Hubert/Deuce Vaughn type at K-State, Elston has been my pick (although Rodney Fields Jr. also has flashed that potential, too).

Don’t believe me? Just watch his high school film. And plays like this. Said 247Sports’ Hudson Standish of him:

Agility. Elston is a sensational runner that has the ability to go to the house with every touch. Whether he’s carrying the ball out of the backfield or split out in the slot as a receiving threat, his lateral quickness and agility in both tight quarters and the open field is special. Elston showed enough wiggle to evade defenders, but his straight-line speed was his most impressive trait.

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