Former Missouri S&T psychological science student and defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton, who earned All-America honors while a Miner, made the 2020 opening day roster for the National Football League’s Kansas City Chiefs.

Wharton, who signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent shortly after the NFL Draft concluded in April 2020, was a part of the team’s 53-man roster when the defending Super Bowl champions took the field to open the NFL season in a game that was nationally televised on NBC stations. He later won Super Bowl LVII as a part of the Chiefs’ roster.

During his four-year career with the Miners, Wharton established new Missouri S&T career records for quarterback sacks with 35.5 and tackles for a loss with 58 and was named honorable mention All-America on Don Hansen’s squad following the 2018 campaign. In 2019, Wharton recorded 59 tackles with 7.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for a loss.

He was a two-time All-Super Region 3 selection and made the Great Lakes Valley Conference’s all-league team on three occasions, including earning first-team honors following the 2017 and 2018 seasons. In 2017, Wharton set a then school record with 21 tackles for a loss and 13.5 sacks, which ranked third in NCAA Division II that season.