Collin Klein is heading into Big 12 Media Days with a different title and a familiar spotlight.
The former Kansas State quarterback will make his first appearance at the event as the Wildcats’ head coach on Wednesday, July 8, at The Star in Frisco, Texas. The league’s media days will air live on ESPNU from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Klein will be joined by quarterback Avery Johnson, running back Joe Jackson, linebacker Rex Van Wyhe, and defensive back Wesley Fair.
The biggest curiosity around K-State this week is what Klein’s offense will actually look like once the season kicks off. He has plenty of room to keep things vague, and that’s probably exactly what he’ll do.
The question is whether he leans into the spread looks that featured just one tight end at Texas A&M or moves toward heavier sets with multiple tight ends. That matters because tight end looks like a real strength for Kansas State, even if that same thought was in the air heading into last season.
Garrett Oakley has the kind of NFL body that can raise his stock, and Linkon Cure still hasn’t been tapped to his full potential.
There’s a good chance Klein doesn’t give much away. He may prefer to keep everything hidden until after even an FCS opponent, leaving Washington State and Tulane to wonder what’s coming next.
Avery Johnson brings a different kind of intrigue. The starting quarterback could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the NCAA’s new age-based eligibility rules, since this is not his final year and he could still play in 2027 if he chooses, either at Kansas State or somewhere else.
That opens the door to another season of questions about whether he’ll still be in Manhattan the following year. The 2027 NFL Draft quarterback class is already viewed as loaded, and Johnson is not part of that conversation right now.
A strong season could change that, but at the moment the smarter financial play appears to be another year in college, especially with talk of a significant bump to the revenue-sharing cap. That leads to the next question: would he come back to Kansas State?
A strong year under Klein would help. It could also make K-State’s price point a problem.
Or Johnson could simply decide he wants a new setting for his final season.
When Johnson is asked about the rule changes, expect a first reaction more than a revealing answer.
There’s also the broader question of expectations. The Big 12 didn’t publish a preseason poll last year, but that hasn’t stopped everyone else from trying to place the Wildcats.
Depending on who’s doing the projecting, K-State is being slotted anywhere from title contender to the lower half of the league. The standard answer will be that outside opinions don’t matter.
If the Wildcats offer something more honest than that, it would be a nice change of pace.
Health is another area worth watching as fall camp approaches. Kansas State came out of spring in good shape, which is a positive sign, and there may be more to learn about offensive lineman George Fitzpatrick as he continues recovering from last offseason’s medical emergency.
The roster update also raised a few eyebrows. Ja'Son Prevard, a cornerback transfer from Virginia, is now listed as a safety after spending a lot of time over the slot receiver with the Cavaliers and grading out extremely well there. MJ Graham, meanwhile, is listed as a corner rather than a safety.
Elijah Hill, the defensive end transfer from Kennesaw State, has added nearly 20 pounds since the spring roster came out. He’s an important piece on the defensive line, especially after not playing much against the run as a true freshman last season. Derrick Salley Jr., a juco wide receiver transfer, is listed at 234 pounds, and his strength work drew praise throughout the spring.
Klein’s choice of representatives also says something. Fair and Van Wyhe were the more interesting additions alongside Johnson and Jackson, even if it’s not a knock on the players themselves.
Fair is battling for snaps in a deeper safety room than Kansas State had a year ago, while Van Wyhe has a chance to start at outside linebacker. The simplest read is that Klein brought the players who made the strongest impression as leaders this spring.
And then there’s the wide receiver room, which should be one of the most interesting parts of the offense all season. Klein has a lot to sort through there, from potentially two all-league-caliber tight ends to the return of Jaron Tibbs, plus several transfers and younger players who still need to develop.
Izaiah Williams stands out in particular. He followed Klein from Texas A&M to Kansas State, and the fit looks obvious enough that Klein clearly had a specific role in mind for him.
In Other News...
Joe Jackson Embraces New Backfield Competition At Kansas State
Joe Jackson is back in the role Kansas State wants him to own, coming off a breakout junior season that put him on the All-Big 12 radar and made him the Wildcats featured runner again. After rushing for 911 yards and eight touchdowns a year ago, Jackson has every reason to view the backfield as his, but he is approaching the next step with the kind of confidence that usually comes from knowing what he can do.
Kansas States additions of Rodney Fields and Jay Harris only seem to have sharpened that mindset. Jackson has talked up the way their skill sets fit together and the relationship the three have already built, a sign that the Wildcats are trying to create more than a simple depth chart battle. For Jackson, the competition is part of the appeal, and how that rotation settles in could shape one of the more important position groups on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Collin Klein Just Set A New Tone For Kansas State Football
Collin Kleins first Big 12 media days as Kansas States head coach offered a clear glimpse of the standard he wants to set. The former Wildcats quarterback leaned hard into toughness, energy and grit, framing his program around a more physical, more demanding identity while also leaning on the same steady presence that made him such a natural fit for the job in the first place. It was the kind of appearance that reminded everyone why Kansas State hired him, because he sounded like someone intent on carrying the programs edge forward rather than simply preserving it.
Avery Johnson is right at the center of that vision, and Klein made it clear the quarterbacks next step is about playing with more freedom and aggression in 2026. Kansas State also has some early momentum behind the scenes, with Kleins first recruiting class drawing strong national respect and giving the staff a foundation to build on. The bigger question now is how quickly that tone turns into results once the Wildcats get back on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Is Already Pushing Hard To Build Its Next Wave
Kansas State is not waiting around to see how the next few recruiting cycles unfold. The Wildcats have already been active with offers across future classes, including 2027 cornerback Riley Lewis, 2027 quarterback Ty Snell, 2029 wide receiver Colton Laisure and 2029 tight end Caiden Snow, a sign the staff is trying to get in early on players who are already drawing attention from Division I programs.
Lewis and Snell are both deep into crowded recruiting battles, while Snow is also hearing from some of the biggest names in the sport. Even the younger names in the mix show how wide Kansas State is casting its net as it tries to stack talent well ahead of time, and the real question now is how many of these early relationships the Wildcats can turn into something more down the road. [Read more 🡒]