Kansas State has spent most of the offseason conversation around Avery Johnson and Joe Jackson, and that makes sense. Those are the names that keep popping up, the players who drew the spotlight at Media Days in Frisco, Texas. Linkon Cure has also worked his way into the discussion as a possible breakout candidate after an injury-marred freshman year.
But the Wildcats’ biggest swing on offense might come from a different place entirely.
Joshua Manning, the Missouri transfer, has a real chance to become Kansas State’s X-factor this season.
The setup is obvious. Kansas State needed a lead receiver after Jayce Brown left for LSU, and Manning gives them a shot to plug that hole with a player who once carried top-end recruiting buzz in Missouri. Coming out of high school, he was considered the top wide receiver in the state, and the promise that followed him to Columbia never fully turned into production with the Tigers.
His path at Missouri was uneven. As a freshman, he mostly worked on special teams. Over the next two seasons, he earned his way into the starting lineup and made 18 starts, but the impact never quite matched the expectations.
Still, the numbers did move in the right direction. In 2024, Manning caught 13 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown.
Last year, he took another step with 29 receptions for 318 yards and two touchdowns. Even with that progress, it looks like he wanted a larger role in the offense, which led to his decision to enter the transfer portal.
Now the stage is set for him in Manhattan. He’ll be catching passes from an experienced quarterback in Johnson, who is back for his third season as the full-time starter. He’ll also be working in an offense run by Collin Klein, whose background is on the offensive side of the ball.
For Manning, that leaves one job left: make the most of the opportunity in front of him.
In Other News...
Kansas State Still Has One Important QB Battle To Settle
Avery Johnson gives Kansas State clarity at the top of the quarterback depth chart, but the Wildcats still have one of camps more meaningful jobs to sort out behind him. Offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson has described the competition for the backup spot as healthy and competitive, with Jacob Knuth, Blake Barnett and Dillon Duff all in the mix as the staff continues to evaluate who fits best in the role.
For a team trying to protect itself against the unpredictability of a season, that second quarterback job matters more than it might seem on the surface. Kansas State is also still in the thick of another important off-field pursuit, as the program remains a finalist for four-star prospect Malik Olajuwon, the son of NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon, adding another layer of anticipation around a program with plenty of moving parts. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State May Have Another Local DB Worth Watching
Kansas States secondary continues to be an interesting place to keep an eye on, and Robert RJ Collins Jr. is one of the younger names working to carve out a role. The Staley High School product got to campus in time for spring practices, spent last season redshirting and is now listed at cornerback, where he enters a crowded competition for snaps. For a program that has made a habit of identifying and developing talent close to home, Collins fits the profile of a player worth monitoring over the next stretch of offseason work.
He arrived in Manhattan with plenty of recruiting buzz, earning a strong reputation out of high school for his speed and track success while drawing interest from several other schools before choosing Kansas State. That kind of athletic profile is part of why his name stands out even before he has a chance to make a real impact on Saturdays. The Wildcats do not need to rush him, but if Collins development matches the promise that followed him out of Kansas City, he could become another local defensive back who ends up helping this roster in a meaningful way. [Read more 🡒]
Koy Beasley Is Giving Kansas State Fans Real Hope In The Secondary
Koy Beasley arrived at Kansas State with some experience already banked from stops at Purdue and Miami of Ohio, but the real impression has come from what he has shown since getting to Manhattan. Defensive coordinator Jordan Peterson said Beasley has made significant progress through spring practices and training camp, and that kind of climb matters for a Wildcats secondary looking for stability and confidence.
Beasleys rise has put him right in the mix for a spot in the rotation, and possibly more if the momentum keeps building. For Kansas State, the appeal is obvious: a veteran safety who has adapted quickly and is beginning to look like a leader in the back end, with the next step still to be earned once the season starts to unfold. [Read more 🡒]