Bill Snyder is still making his presence felt around Kansas State, and this time it’s in support of Collin Klein as he takes over the Wildcats.
Klein enters his first season as K-State’s coach with a few built-in advantages. He already knows Manhattan from his playing days in the early 2010s.
He also has a working relationship with quarterback Avery Johnson, having helped recruit him when he was on the staff. And because he’s one of the most respected former players in program history, the transition from Texas A & M offensive coordinator to the top job should come with a smoother landing than most first-time hires get.
But Snyder’s backing may be the biggest boost of all. When Klein was hired last December, Snyder was quick to support the move. Now, with preseason camp about to open, he’s saying the same thing again.
"I'm pleased to have him back for a lot of reasons," Snyder said in an interview with the Topeka Capital-Journal. "One, because he's a part of the family. And two, because he's the right person for the job."
That kind of endorsement carries real weight in Manhattan. K-State is coming off a 6-6 season, a year that ended with Chris Klieman stepping down and the Wildcats missing out on a postseason trip. Klein now inherits a team picked to finish No. 8 in the preseason media poll, and he’ll be tasked with steering the rebuild from the start of camp.
Even with the usual pressure that comes with a first-year coach, Klein shouldn’t have to spend much time trying to win over the fan base. Snyder’s public support helps with that.
Meanwhile, Kansas State is still chasing its first commitment in the 2028 class, but the Wildcats are staying active on the recruiting trail. On Wednesday, they extended another offer, this time to tight end AJ Criss of Krum High School in Krum, Texas.
Criss is listed at 6-foot-7 and 205 pounds. Last season, he caught 34 passes for 574 yards and eight touchdowns. Florida State and Texas Tech have also offered him.
Kansas State has plenty of time to land its first 2028 pledge, but the program is clearly pushing hard to get moving with the class.
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Kansas State Keeps Chasing Its First 2028 Commit With Another Offer
Kansas State is still early in the race for its 2028 class, but the Wildcats are making sure they are in the conversation with some of the cycles more intriguing young prospects. The staff has continued to hand out offers across the country, adding tight end AJ Criss, defensive lineman Ronald Crawford, cornerback Antonio Dural, edge rusher Steven McClendon and cornerback Bryce Willingham to a growing board as it tries to lay the groundwork for a future class.
The bigger picture is that these are not just placeholder names. Several of the players Kansas State has targeted already have multiple Division I offers, which means the Wildcats are competing with established programs for attention this early in the process. For a staff trying to build momentum in the 2028 cycle, the next step is turning those offers into real traction, and that part of the story is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
K-State May Have Found A Special Teams Weapon Fans Will Love
Kansas States special teams room got a notable addition when Robert Hammond III arrived from Toledo, bringing a rsum built on consistency and leg strength. Hammond followed special teams coach Stanton Weber to Manhattan, and the move gives the Wildcats a transfer kickoff specialist who was on the field in every game for the Rockets last season and spent the year setting the pace in the Mid-American Conference.
Hammonds value goes beyond just booting the ball deep, too. He led the MAC in kickoff average, touchbacks and touchback percentage, and Toledo also trusted him as a place kicker in the Boca Raton Bowl, where he handled field-goal duties in a pinch. For a Kansas State team that has long appreciated hidden yardage, that kind of versatility makes him a name worth keeping an eye on. [Read more 🡒]