Darien Whitaker Jr. is the kind of linebacker Kansas State wants more of: long, active, and already pushing for real snaps. The Boys Town, Neb., product is majoring in psychology and could also get a look at defensive end on passing downs this season, where the idea of him rushing off the edge opposite Wendell Gregory is enough to make any offensive line pay attention.
Head coach Collin Klein said early this month that Whitaker is right in the thick of the linebacker rotation.
“The four that are kind of rotating through and really doing a nice job are Gabe Powers, Rex Van Wyhe, Mekhi Mason and Darien Whitaker Jr. Those four have kind of been working through there. I think we’re finding some rotations with them, but all of them are doing a heck of a job.
Those guys are going at it every day and flying around every day. That’s a little bit of a snapshot of what we’re trying to do at every position.
It’s about getting every single one of those guys better and every one of those guys competing with each other. As they grow and mature as a player, they understand it’s all for the betterment of the team in its entirety, not just for my playing time or this outcome, but this makes us all better.
That’s happening in a lot of positions, but the linebackers have stood out (in) that way.”
Whitaker already got a taste of game action last season, appearing in the final two games and working exclusively on kickoff coverage while making tackles against Utah and Colorado. He kept his redshirt intact.
At Boys Town, he played for head coach Chris Nizzi and arrived at K-State with a strong prep résumé. On3 ranked him as the 60th-best linebacker in the country in the Class of 2025 and the seventh-best overall player in Nebraska. 247Sports had him as the sixth-best overall prospect in the state.
His senior year was a big one: 82 tackles, eight tackles for loss and two interceptions. Over three prep seasons, he piled up 107 tackles, while also running for 1,589 yards and 25 touchdowns and adding 361 kickoff return yards.
He earned all-state and all-district honors, was a finalist for district player of the year and made the final group for Nebraska’s “Mr. Football” award from the Jet Award Foundation.
Whitaker also competed in basketball and the high jump in high school, and he chose Kansas State over Minnesota State-Mankato, Northern Iowa, South Florida, Southern Illinois and Jimmy Rogers’ Washington State team. Nebraska and South Dakota State also showed interest. His primary recruiter was his former position coach, Steve Stanard.
There’s also a family connection on the schedule: Whitaker’s cousin, Brian Simms III, is a linebacker at Cincinnati, and the two are set to meet Sept. 26 at Nippert Stadium.
In Other News...
Kansas State May Have Found A Transfer Receiver Ready For Much More
Kansas State has spent the early part of the season trying to sort out where the next reliable target in its passing game might come from, and Joshua Manning has started to make a case for himself. The Missouri transfer arrived with two years of eligibility remaining under the 5-for-5 rule, and since joining the Wildcats he has already gotten into multiple games, putting together a mix of catches and kickoff returns that suggests there may be more here than just depth.
Mannings background only adds to the intrigue. He comes with a strong high school and college resume, along with a family history rooted in football, and Kansas State has already seen signs of growth since he got on campus. For a receiver room still taking shape, the question now is whether those early flashes are the beginning of a much larger role. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Suddenly Has A Week 1 Problem Up Front
Kansas States offensive line picture has gotten a lot murkier at exactly the wrong time, with injuries forcing the staff to reshuffle the left side before the season opener. John Pastore and Oliver Miller are among the players dealing with health issues, and that has pushed junior Ryan Howard into the expected starting role at left tackle, with Tyler Johnson next in line if needed.
The questions do not stop there, either. Left guard could also be in flux if Tanner Morley is unavailable, which would leave Charlie Adams as a candidate to step in and keep the front five intact. Collin Klein has already acknowledged the adjustments and praised the way the group has handled the changes, but for Kansas State the real test comes when the lights come on and the opener finally arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Has A New Defensive Contender Fans Should Watch Closely
Kansas States secondary has a new name worth tracking as fall camp unfolds in Manhattan. Micheal Graham Jr., a JUCO defensive back from Hutch Community College, arrives with three years of eligibility left and the kind of background that tends to catch coaches attention, especially after earning multiple junior college accolades and drawing interest from several programs before choosing the Wildcats. He is in the mix for the versatile JACK safety-nickelback-STAR role, a spot that asks for range, toughness and enough football IQ to handle plenty of different assignments.
Collin Klein has already pointed to Grahams progress, saying the defensive back has made strides in coverage and communication as he pushes for playing time. That combination matters in a defense where the JACK spot can become a key chess piece, and Kansas State will keep watching to see whether Grahams JUCO reputation translates quickly enough to the Big 12 level. For now, hes one of the more intriguing competition stories on the roster, and the kind of player whose role could grow faster than expected if the early signs keep holding up. [Read more 🡒]