The first 2024 commit for Kansas State is Mill Valley offensive tackle Gus Hawkins

Kansas State has struck twice on Monday night and the second if their commit of the Class of 2024. And it just happens to be an offensive lineman fresh off another state championship at the 5A level in Mill Valley offensive tackle Gus Hawkins.

That is pretty poetic, right? Not only is the first verbal pledge of the recruiting cycle a recent state champion, but he hails from the state of Kansas right after the K-State defeated their arch-rival Jayhawks in the Sunflower Showdown to clinch a berth in the Big 12 Championship Game.

It might not even be the largest statement. In fact, Kansas State has an in-state commit in the 2024 class before Lance Leipold and Kansas have in the 2023 cycle.

Not to mention, let’s not forget that a large portion of the staff at Mill Valley High School has ties to Kansas State, too. And he isn’t the only player they’ll chase from that high school in the next year or two. K-State is also pursuing 2025 Mill Valley defensive standout Jayden Woods.

Kansas State will also hope that Hawkins isn’t the last offensive line commit from Kansas in the cycle. They also extended a scholarship to Lyndon native Kaedin Massey a few months ago. He is a heck of a player in the 8-man division.

And surely K-State offensive line coach and his graduate assistant Hayden Wall will love that they begin another group with another homegrown product in the trenches. Remember, Camden Beebe began the 2023 process. And before him, it was Olathe East product Nate Matlack and another Piper High standout in Cooper Beebe.

Hawkins was offered by Kansas State on November 6 and the Wildcats have had a commanding lead since for the in-state product.

Mill Valley has been kind to K-State. The Wildcats landed preferred walk-ons Sam Hecht and Chris Tennant in 2021 and have now landed Hawkins and hope to keep the ball rolling with the previously mentioned Woods in the 2025 cycle.

While Kansas State was the only program to offer the in-state offensive lineman, he was also receiving interest from Kansas, Iowa and Iowa State.

A Sunflower State product has now been the first commit in every recruiting class since 2017. A list including Cooper Beebe, Nate Matlack and Camden Beebe among others.