MANKATO, Minn. --- Former Minnesota State wide receiver Shane Zylstra was elevated to the Detroit Lions 53-man roster from the practice squad and made his NFL debut Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.

Zylstra, who played four seasons (2016-19) at Minnesota State signed as a free agent with the Lions and has spent the first four weeks of the 2021 season as a member of the practice squad. 

During his four seasons at Minnesota State, Zylstra rewrote the record book as he owns the all-time career records in catches (227), receiving yards (4,297) and touchdown catches (54). During his senior season, he also set single season records in catches (81), receiving yards (1,676) and receiving touchdowns (18).

Zylstra claimed All-NSIC First Team honors three times, to go along with NSIC Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2017. He also garnered eight All-American honors during including two CoSIDA Academic All-American and two AFCA All-American honors. 

Zylstra is the ninth Maverick to compete in the NFL and he joins Adam Thielen and Chris Reed who are currently playing in the NFL.
 

Player	Pos	MSU Years	Year(s) in NFL	NFL Teams
Bob Bruer	TE	1972-74	1979-83	San Francisco, Minnesota
Jeff Reinke	OL/DE	1982-85	1987	Cincinnati
Larry Brown	RB/WR	1982-85	1987	Minnesota
Ted Elliott	OL/DL	1984-86	1987	New Orleans
Mark Hanson	OL	1983-86	1987	Minnesota
Tywan Mitchell	WR/TE	1995-98	2000-01	Arizona
Adam Thielen	WR	2009-12	2014-sa	Minnesota
Chris Reed	OL	2011-14	2016-sa	Jacksonville, Miami, Carolina, Indianapolis
Shane Zylstra	WR	2016-19	2021-sa	Detroit

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