Kansas State just notched a meaningful win on the recruiting trail, flipping three-star athlete Kaprice Keith from Big 12 rival Iowa State - and doing so in the middle of a coaching transition. That’s not nothing.
Keith, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound prospect out of Omaha Central, had been committed to Iowa State since July. But after a visit to Manhattan, plans changed. He saw enough to make the switch, and now he’s officially part of the Wildcats’ 2025 class.
This isn’t the kind of flip that’s going to light up national recruiting rankings - Keith isn’t a five-star headliner - but don’t let that fool you. This move says something about where Kansas State is as a program.
They’re navigating a major leadership shift, with Chris Klieman stepping away and Collin Klein widely expected to take over. And yet, even with the uncertainty, they’re still pulling off wins like this on the recruiting front.
That’s a credit to the staff, especially considering how they handled Keith’s potential fit. He’s listed as an “athlete,” which usually means he could project on either side of the ball.
Iowa State saw him as a defensive back. Kansas State?
They’re giving him a shot at wide receiver - the position he reportedly prefers. At 6'3" with long arms and a lean frame, he’s got the physical tools to grow into that role.
He’s not a finished product yet, but the upside is there.
This is the kind of player Kansas State has built its foundation on in recent years - not always the most polished, but moldable, athletic, and hungry. With the right development, Keith could turn into a real contributor, especially in an offense that knows how to maximize versatile pieces.
On the Iowa State side, this one stings. Losing a long-time commit is tough enough, but losing him to a conference rival - and this late in the cycle - only adds to the frustration. Keith had been in the fold for five months, and flipping that kind of commitment is never easy to swallow, particularly when the other school doesn’t even have its next head coach officially in place yet.
For Kansas State, though, this is another signal that the program’s momentum isn’t slowing down, even with change on the horizon. They’re still recruiting with purpose, still identifying fits, and still convincing players to buy into what’s being built in Manhattan.
Kaprice Keith may not be the most talked-about name in this class, but he fits the K-State blueprint. Long, athletic, and ready to work - and now, officially, a Wildcat.