Kansas State has a tight end drawing plenty of attention from NFL scouts this summer, and it’s not the name most people expected.
The buzz in Manhattan has centered on senior Garrett Oakley, who emerged last season as the Wildcats’ top receiving threat at the position. He finished with 38 catches for 389 yards and six touchdowns, production that landed him honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition.
K-State first-year coach Collin Klein didn’t hide his enthusiasm when talking about Oakley.
"Garrett Oakley is a special athlete," K-State first-year coach Collin Klein said. "There's a lot of NFL personnel that have been through our building the last week just already at the start of things that he pops with how he's moving around, and that's a really good thing. Their buy-in to doing and mastering their job and their craft and how that all comes together, I'm really excited to see."
That doesn’t mean Oakley is the only tight end the Wildcats are counting on. Freshman Linkon Cure arrived with major hype and was one of the nation’s top recruits, pursued by schools including Oregon and Texas A & M. But for now, the pro interest is aimed more at Oakley, and Kansas State may have the rare luxury of two NFL-caliber tight ends on the same roster.
The timing of all this adds to the intrigue around the program. This is Klein’s first season leading the Wildcats after he replaced Chris Klieman, who resigned unexpectedly following last year’s 6-6 finish. A former Kansas State star himself, Klein is trying to push the Wildcats back into the Big 12 race.
For fans wanting to meet the new coach and the team, Kansas State will hold its annual "Meet the Cats" event on Aug. 22 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Gates open at 11 a.m.
In Other News...
Chris Klieman Revealed Why Collin Klein Made Sense For Kansas State
Collin Kleins return to Manhattan as Kansas States offensive coordinator did not happen by accident, and Chris Klieman made clear there was a natural fit behind it. The two had built a longstanding relationship, and Klieman said the timing lined up once he had decided to step down, opening the door for a conversation that had real momentum behind it. From his perspective, Klein brought the kind of familiarity and credibility that made the move make sense for the program.
Klieman also framed the transition as one built on support rather than overreach, which matters in a spot as important as offensive coordinator. He said he intends to be available as an advisory presence for Klein, serving as a sounding board and offering administrative help as needed. For Kansas State, the interesting part now is how that partnership settles in and how much of the Wildcats next offensive identity will be shaped by a familiar hand back in the building. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Is Already Chasing The Next Big In-State Core
Kansas States recruiting momentum is already rolling into the next cycle, with Collin Klein and the Wildcats staff turning attention toward the 2028 class even after landing a strong 2027 group that already sits at 27 commitments. The early emphasis is familiar for this program: build from home first, identify the best in-state talent, and keep the pipeline steady before the 2026 season even arrives.
The quarterback board is part of that early groundwork, with Titus Huard and Cannon Zubeck among the names drawing attention as Kansas State shapes what it hopes will become the next key in-state core. For a staff trying to stay ahead of the curve, the challenge is less about finding interest and more about holding it long enough to turn an early list of targets into another class that fits the Wildcats long-term plan. [Read more 🡒]
Avery Johnson And Collin Klein Could Change Kansas State's Ceiling
Collin Kleins return to Kansas State has added a familiar face to the middle of a transition, and maybe the one relationship that matters most in the building right now is the one he already had with Avery Johnson. Klein recruited Johnson before leaving for two seasons as offensive coordinator at Texas A&M, and now the first-year Wildcats coach is back in Manhattan trying to steer the program after Chris Kliemans resignation. For a team picked to finish eighth in the Big 12, the pairing at least gives Kansas State a clear place to start.
What makes the setup interesting is how much of the Wildcats ceiling may depend on whether that connection translates from trust to production. Johnson has already worked with Klein in the past, and Klein knows what he saw in him during the recruiting process, which gives this staff a chance to build around a quarterback-coach relationship that does not need much introduction. The prediction outside the program may be modest, but Kansas State is counting on familiarity to help it climb above it. [Read more 🡒]