Kansas State’s offense has a familiar centerpiece in quarterback Avery Johnson, but the piece that could quietly shape the whole operation this season is running back Joe Jackson.
Jackson doesn’t get much national shine, even after a year in which he rushed for nearly 1,000 yards. He was left off College Football Report’s top 30 running back list, while names like Caleb Hawkins of Oklahoma State, LJ Martin of BYU and Cameron Dickey of Texas Tech got the nod. That kind of oversight fits Jackson’s profile right now, but inside the program, there’s no mystery about how important he is.
He might be the most important player on the offense outside of Johnson.
A year ago, Jackson turned a spot that started with Dylan Edwards as the projected lead back into his own breakout. He finished as Kansas State’s leading rusher and earned Third-Team All-Big 12 honors. It was the kind of emergence that can change how an offense is built, and it’s part of why the Wildcats are leaning on him again.
That won’t come easy. Kansas State added transfers Rodney Fields from Oklahoma State and Jay Harris from Oregon, and neither arrived to watch from the sideline. Jackson understands the competition, which is why he spent the offseason working to round out his game.
One of the biggest focus points was becoming a better receiver. Jackson caught 22 passes for 119 yards last season, and if he can do more damage in the passing game, it gives Kansas State another layer and makes the offense harder to pin down.
Last year he was one of the sleepers. This year, the challenge is holding that spot while raising his game at the same time.
On the women’s side, Kansas State also added size in the paint with the signing of center Tzoana Tampakou from Greece. The 6-foot-5 post player represented Greece at the 2025 FIBA U20 Women’s EuroBasket Division B, where she averaged 6.0 points on 50 percent shooting with 7.3 rebounds in seven games.
“We are excited to add Tzoana for the upcoming year,” Wildcats coach Jeff Mittie. “She is a true center that has excellent skill around the basket with both hands and a great feel for the pick and roll and high-low game.”
In Other News...
Kansas State Still Waiting On A Crucial Offensive Line Answer
Kansas State entered the offseason hoping George Fitzpatrick could eventually become part of the answer up front after he transferred in from Ohio State, where he played in 16 games in 2024. Instead, his first year with the Wildcats was wiped out by a preseason medical emergency, leaving the offensive line without a player the staff had expected to help stabilize the group.
Now Fitzpatrick is still working his way back as the Wildcats try to piece together a line with four new starters this season. Collin Klein said the veteran lineman is not quite ready yet and still has recovery benchmarks to clear before he can return, which leaves Kansas State waiting on a key update at one of the rosters most important spots. [Read more 🡒]
Collin Kleins First Kansas State Roster Call Says Plenty About 2025
New NCAA eligibility rules have already started to reshape roster planning around college football, and Collin Klein made it clear Kansas State has taken a close look at the added flexibility. The change gives players five full years of eligibility instead of four, with some outgoing seniors eligible as well, and Klein said the Wildcats considered whether to bring in fifth-year players for the coming season. For now, though, the plan is to keep the roster intact as it stands heading into 2025.
Kleins stance on the rule itself was straightforward, as he voiced support for a system he believes can help players by cutting down on turnover and better protecting their interests. The bigger question for Kansas State is how that approach will hold up as other programs use the extra eligibility window to shuffle veteran depth and try to gain an edge. [Read more 🡒]