Kansas State appears ready to hand Joe Jackson the keys again, and the setup around him makes it easy to see why.
After taking over as the starter last season, Jackson is expected to open fall camp as the Wildcats’ No. 1 back. He already proved he could handle the job, rushing for 911 yards on 169 carries with eight touchdowns while making nine starts and earning Third-Team All-Big 12 honors.
The production wasn’t just a one-year flash, either. NCAAF Nation pointed to Jackson’s broader résumé on its X account, writing: "I thought Jackson did a great job taking over as RB1 last season and he really stepped up as a leader for the Wildcats.
In his career he's rushed for 1,139 yards 9 Touchdowns averaging 5.4 ypc. He also caught 28 passes for 182 yards 2 TDs."
Now Jackson gets another chance to build on that breakout with Avery Johnson back alongside him in the backfield. The biggest adjustment will come in learning Collin Klein’s new system, but that may not be a major hurdle given Klein’s ties to Kansas State as a former star.
If everything clicks, Jackson has a real shot to push beyond last season’s numbers and become the kind of steady lead back Kansas State fans remember from the DJ Giddens days.
Kansas State also kept working on its future on the recruiting trail, offering four-star edge rusher Steven McClendon in the 2028 class. McClendon plays at Douglas County High School in Douglasville, GA, and last season posted 51 total tackles, four sacks, and eight tackles for loss.
"Blessed to receive an offer from Kansas State University," McClendon tweeted on Tuesday night.
The Wildcats’ 2027 class already includes seven defensive linemen, among them two edge rushers, and the current recruiting group is being described as one of the program’s best in years as Collin Klein and his staff continue building up the next wave of Kansas State football.
In Other News...
Why Ja'Son Prevard Is Suddenly So Important For Kansas State
Kansas States secondary looks a lot different entering this season, and JaSon Prevard is one of the reasons why. The Virginia transfer arrives with a rsum that suggests he can make an immediate impact, bringing production and recognition from his time in the ACC to a group that has to replace some real experience on the back end. For a defense that will lean on new faces in key spots, Prevard has quickly become one of the names worth watching once camp gets going.
He is not the only personnel note touching the Wildcats outlook, either. Joe Jackson is set to open fall camp as the top option at running back after his breakout year, giving Kansas State a steadier foundation on offense, while the staff is still pushing forward on the recruiting trail with a scholarship offer to four-star edge rusher Steven McClendon of Douglas County High School. It is the kind of busy offseason mix that keeps the roster picture moving, and for Kansas State, the secondary remains the spot where the most immediate questions still seem to be centered. [Read more 🡒]