Kansas State football roster & recruiting center

KEY

S-Sr. = Super senior

Sr. = Senior

Jr. = Junior

So. = Sophomore

R-Fr. = Redshirt freshman

T-Fr. = True freshman

* (Asterisk) = Redshirt is still available

Special note: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, any redshirt sophomore or older was given a free year of eligibility.

For example, wide receivers Phillip Brooks and Malik Knowles are in their fifth years of college football (including their redshirt seasons) and are noted as seniors. If they choose to do so, they could use their extra season of eligibility and be considered super seniors in the 2023-2024 season.

True sophomores Anthony Frias, Hadley Panzer and Gavin Forsha entered college football in 2021, a year after the NCAA granted the free year of eligibility due to the pandemic. Therefore, they do not have that free extra year and would have to burn their redshirts at some point to gain access to a fifth season.

QUARTERBACK (5 on scholarship)

S-Sr. – Adrian Martinez*

Sr. –

Jr. – Will Howard*, Jaren Lewis

So. – 

R-Fr. – Jake Rubley

T-Fr. – Adryan Lara*

Newcomers (2): Adryan Lara, Adrian Martinez

Recruiting Outlook: Kansas State took care of the ‘one quarterback per cycle’ mantra by landing coveted four-star Wichita product Avery Johnson.

Projected Need: 1

Commits/Expected Signees: Avery Johnson

Remaining Targets: N/A

RUNNING BACK (3 on scholarship)

S-Sr. –

Sr. –

Jr. – Deuce Vaughn*

So. –  Anthony Frias*

R-Fr. – DJ Giddens

T-Fr –

Newcomers (1): Anthony Frias

Recruiting Outlook: K-State should be in the business of taking at least two high school running backs in the 2023 cycle. With Joe Jackson already in the fold, John Randle Jr. is the primary target. Unoffered Georgia product Joseph Jean is another to keep an eye on moving forward.

Deuce Vaughn is very likely playing his final season of football in Manhattan. That makes adding a transfer running back in the 2023 offseason a real possibility.

Projected Need: 3

Commits/Expected Signees: Joe Jackson

Remaining Targets: Joseph Jean, John Randle Jr.

FULLBACK/TIGHT END (8 on scholarship)

S-Sr. –

Sr. – Jax Dineen* (FB), Sammy Wheeler (TE)

Jr. – Konner Fox (TE)

So. – Christian Moore (FB), Ben Sinnott* (TE), Will Swanson (TE)

R-Fr. –

T-Fr. – Brayden Loftin (TE), Garrett Oakley (TE)

Newcomers (2): Brayden Loftin*, Garrett Oakley*

Recruiting Outlook: They are set at tight end after landing Will Anciaux. Considering Ben Sinnott has moved to tight end, adding a fullback is possible but not necessary.

Projected Need: 1

Commits/Expected Signees: Will Anciaux

Remaining Targets: N/A

WIDE RECEIVER (10 on scholarship)

S-Sr. – Kade Warner

Sr. – Phillip Brooks, Malik Knowles, Seth Porter

Jr. – Keenan Garber, Jadon Jackson*

So. – 

R-Fr. – Brenen Hawkins, RJ Garcia

T-Fr. – Sterling Lockett*, Tyson Struber*

Newcomers (3): Jadon Jackson, Sterling Lockett, Tyson Struber

Recruiting Outlook: It should be a large receiver class. Warner’s eligibility will expire and they will also likely lose Knowles and Brooks. It’s yet to be determined how long Jadon Jackson will choose to stick around and there is usually more potential attrition that could loom.

Although Kansas State has missed out on key recruits like Josh Manning and Ja’Kobi Lane, Thad Ward has landed Andre Davis and is currently targeting Tre Spivey, Adam Hopkins, Jayce Brown and Washington commit Rashid Williams.

There’s also still a glimmer of hope for Manning to flip from his Missouri commitment, but we’re a long way from those waves potentially surfacing.

Projected Need: Four

Commits/Expected Signees: Andre Davis

Remaining Targets: Jayce Brown, Adam Hopkins, Tre Spivey, Rashid Williams

OFFENSIVE LINE (15 on scholarship)

S-Sr. – Dawson Delforge (OG)

Sr. – Christian Duffie (OT), Hayden Gillum (C), Kaitori Leveston (OT)

Jr. – Cooper Beebe (OG/C), Taylor Poitier (OG/C)

So. – Kingsley Ugwu (OT), Hadley Panzer* (OG/C), Carver Willis (OT)

R-Fr. – Andrew Leingang (OT/C), Witt Mitchum (OT), Sam Shields (OG/C)

T-Fr. – Drake Bequaeith*, Jalen Klemm*, John Pastore*

Newcomers (3): Drake Bequaeith, Jalen Klemm, John Pastore

Recruiting Outlook: Because it is such large group, it is always tough to gauge how many offensive linemen will be taken in a given cycle. Four is a reasonable guess since Delforge, Leveston, Gillum and Duffie could all depart.

Even though one typically seems to stay for a super senior year, further attrition tends to happen. Not to mention, Beebe could leave early for the NFL.

K-State has Camden Beebe and Jackson Fullmer committed. Chiddi Obiazor could play either the offensive or defensive lines. Tyler Johnson is the only offered offensive lineman recruit to keep an eye on at the moment. Barrett Maddox and Brock Woolf could come into play.

Projected Need: 4

Commits/Expected Signees: Camden Beebe, Jackson Fullmer, Chiddi Obiazor

Remaining Targets: Tyler Johnson, Barrett Maddox, Brock Woolf

NOSE GUARD (4 on scholarship)

S-Sr. – Eli Huggins, Robert Hentz*

Sr. –

Jr. – Uso Seumalo*

So. –

R-Fr. – Damian Ilalio

T-Fr. –

Newcomers (0): N/A

Recruiting Outlook: In the defensive scheme that Kansas State shifted to last season, the Wildcats now only look to play one defensive tackle on the field at a time, also known as the nose guard. That role will need some new faces in the 2023 cycle since Huggins and Hentz are playing their final year.

As long as Seumalo and Ilalio continue to head in the right direction, the staff could be content with one transfer and one high school addition. Commit Asher Tomaszewski fits the bill as the latter.

Projected Need: 2

Commits/Expected Signees: Asher Tomaszewski

Remaining Targets: N/A

DEFENSIVE END (8 on scholarship)

S-Sr. –

Sr. – Cartez Crook-Jones, Jaylen Pickle

Jr. – Felix Anudike-Uzomah*, Brendan Mott

So. – Nate Matlack*

R-Fr. – Cody Stufflebean, Ozzie Hoffler

T-Fr. – Donovan Rieman*

Newcomers (1): Donovan Rieman

Recruiting Outlook: Defensive ends are more of a necessity than nose guards. There are always two ends on the field at once and only one defensive tackle. That is why the roster configuration looks the way that it does in Manhattan.

Anudike-Uzomah will likely declare for the 2023 NFL draft, it isn’t guaranteed that Pickle stays for his super senior season and Crook-Jones has yet to make much of an impact on the field. Matlack is going to star next year, while Mott and Stufflebean will probably battle it out for the starting spot on the other side.

K-State should look to add three defensive ends in this cycle. They’ve already added two in Ryan Davis and Chiddi Obiazor, but as touched on earlier, Obiazor could instead be destined for either offensive tackle or even nose guard.

Jordan Allen and Xavier Perkins are the primary targets at the moment, and Kansas State would likely take both if possible. Prince Umanmielen is a defensive end/linebacker tweener target, similar to that of current Wildcat Khalid Duke.

Projected Need: 3

Commits/Expected Signees: Ryan Davis, Chiddi Obiazor

Remaining Targets: Jordan Allen, Xavier Perkins, Prince Umanmielen

LINEBACKER (11 on scholarship)

S-Sr. – Will Honas (Will), Shawn Robinson (Sam)

Sr. – Nick Allen (Mike), Daniel Green (Mike)

Jr. – Khalid Duke (Sam), Austin Moore (Will)

So. – Gavin Forsha* (Will)

R-Fr. – Krew Jackson (Sam), Desmond Purnell (Sam)

T-Fr. – Jake Clifton* (Will), Tobi Osunsanmi* (Sam)

Newcomers (5): Jake Clifton, Gavin Forsha, Will Honas, Tobi Osunsanmi, Shawn Robinson

Recruiting Outlook: Honas and Robinson are entering their one and only seasons at K-State. Bank on Green leaving and Nick Allen is also not a sure thing to remain on campus. That could leave the Wildcats with Forsha and Moore as the only upperclassmen next season.

Clifton, Osunsanmi and Purnell could all be prepared to take large roles on defense, but it would still be wise to insert some experience with a transfer linebacker.

Kansas State has already added high schoolers Collin Dunn and Austin Romaine. Additionally, the staff is in the hunt for Arizona recruit Taye Brown. Another target is Asa Newsom.

Projected Need: 4

Commits/Expected Signees: Collin Dunn, Austin Romaine

Remaining Targets: Taye Brown, Asa Newsom, Prince Umanmielen

CORNERBACK (8 on scholarship)

S-Sr. –

Sr. – Ekow Boye-Doe, Julius Brents

Jr. – Justice Clemons*, Jordan Wright

So. –

R-Fr. – Omar Daniels, Darell Jones

T-Fr. – Colby McCalister*, Jacob Parrish*

Newcomers (4): Justice Clemons, Colby McCalister, Jacob Parrish, Jordan Wright

Recruiting Outlook: Clemons, Daniels and Wright will presumably be among the starters next year. Boye-Doe and Brents could technically stay for their super senior seasons, but that isn’t likely at this point in time.

K-State could be finished at cornerback for the cycle. They’ve already RJ Lester, Donovan McIntosh and Kanijal Thomas. However, they seem to be searching for one more in junior college prospect and Oregon State commit William Lee.

Projected Need: 3

Commits/Expected Signees: RJ Lester, Donovan McIntosh, Kanijal Thomas

Remaining Targets: William Lee

SAFETY (8 on scholarship)

S-Sr. – Drake Cheatum*, Josh Hayes, Cincere Mason

Sr. –

Jr. – Kobe Savage, Nickendre Stiger*

So. – TJ Smith*

R-Fr. –

T-Fr. – VJ Payne*, Jordan Perry*

Newcomers (6): Drake Cheatum, Josh Hayes, VJ Payne, Jordan Perry, Kobe Savage, Nickendre Stiger

Recruiting Outlook: They’ve already added three safeties in Wesley Fair, Kameron Sallis and Jack Fabris. Fabris might be placed at linebacker in Manhattan. However, since they aren’t chasing many more, it could lead one to assume they are leaning safety for the former Kansas State coach’s son. Having said that, safety out of Arkansas, KyVeon Perkins, could come into play.

VJ Payne’s rapid progression and Stiger earning a scholarship during the offseason likely has the Wildcats set for the foreseeable future. If any surprise attrition takes place, they will backfill with transfers accordingly in the offseason.

Projected Need: 3

Commits/Expected Signees: Jack Fabris, Wesley Fair, Kameron Sallis

Remaining Targets: KyVeon Perkin

KICKER/PUNTER (1 on scholarship)

S-Sr. – Ty Zentner

Sr. –

Jr. –

So. – Chris Tennant* (PWO)

R-Fr. –

T-Fr. –

Newcomers (0):

Recruiting Outlook: With Zentner on his way out, K-State found the next specialist option in preferred walk-on (PWO) Simon McClannan.

Projected Need: 1

Commits/Expected Signees: Simon McClannan (PWO)

Remaining Targets: N/A

TOTAL SCHOLARSHIPS: 81/85