Brandon White didn’t arrive at Kansas State with much noise last offseason. That part is over now.
By the time Big 12 Media Days rolled around in Frisco, Texas on Wednesday, White was drawing steady praise from both teammates and head coach Collin Klein, with the 5-foot-7 receiver emerging as one of the most talked-about players on the roster this offseason.
“Brandon White has really done some nice things,” Klein told John Kurtz and Derek Young on 3MAW on KCSN on Wednesday. “From the first week of workouts in February to now I think he would tell you the growth and maturation process he’s had in all areas has been real. He’s done a really nice job.”
White’s college production has been modest, but the path to this point explains why K-State is so intrigued. He spent his first three seasons at Kentucky and barely saw the field, finishing that stretch without a reception. Then came a transfer to Hawaii for the 2025 season, where he finally got a real role and turned it into 38 catches for 399 yards and four touchdowns, plus 36 rushing yards on four carries.
What keeps people talking, though, is the speed. White has the kind of burst that changes how defenses have to line up against him, and that was a big part of the appeal when he committed to the Wildcats.
“(White) is the hardest to guard one on one,” K-State quarterback Avery Johnson said on 3MAW Wednesday. “His change of direction, his route running, his speed - every safety, every corner will tell you he’s the hardest guy to stay in front of.
So I’ve just got to get him the ball in space and let him do his thing with it after. He’s a friendly YAC (yards after catch) receiver.”
The track background backs up the buzz. White once ran a 10.30 100-meter at the 2022 Ohio High School Activities Association (OHSAA) D1 Southwest District Outdoor Championships, broke the 60-meter indoor state meet record with a 6.73, and later ran 6.82 in the 60-meter finals at the 2022 Adidas Indoor Track and Field Nationals, good for a top-three finish and All-American honors.
That kind of twitch has already shown up in K-State’s own workouts. The Wildcats’ defensive backs have had their hands full trying to stay with him during spring and summer sessions.
“We do a lot of one on ones in the spring, and one guy I’m going to give my flowers to is B White,” K-State safety Wesley Fair told 3MAW. “He was doing a great job. He’s real twitchy, so it can be tough to guard him.”
White has only returned two kickoffs across four college seasons, but that may not stay the same for long. With new special teams coach Stanton Weber now in the building, there’s at least a chance K-State looks to tap into White’s speed in the return game too.
In Other News...
This Sunflower Showdown Just Got Personal For Kansas State Fans
The Sunflower Showdown already carries enough edge on its own, but this one has an extra layer after Dylan Edwards winding path through college football brought him back into the rivalry conversation. Edwards arrived at Kansas State with plenty of buzz, then saw his second season in Manhattan disrupted by injury before the next chapter of his career took shape elsewhere. Now the former Wildcats back is part of a Kansas offense trying to sort itself out before the season, with a crowded backfield and a quarterback competition still hanging over the preseason.
For Kansas State fans, the date on the calendar is the part that matters most. The Wildcats and Jayhawks are set to meet on October 17 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, and the matchup already has the feel of one that will draw extra attention because of who Edwards used to be and where he is now. Rivalry games tend to sharpen every storyline, and this one has given both sides a fresh reason to circle it early. [Read more 🡒]
Avery Johnson Finally Addressed Kansas States Controversial Bowl Snub
Avery Johnson finally put a little more detail around one of the stranger episodes of Kansas States offseason, explaining why the Wildcats passed on last years bowl invitation. The quarterback said the decision came in a messy stretch for the program, with coaching changes swirling and players trying to sort out their futures, leaving the roster in a place where not everyone was fully on the same page.
Johnsons comments also help frame why the move drew so much attention beyond Manhattan. Kansas State was hit with a hefty fine for declining the bowl bid before the penalty was later cut in half, and the explanation now points back to the uncertainty around the roster and the transfer portal during that transition period. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Jackson Just Sent A Strong Message About K-State's Backfield
The backfield picture at Kansas State got a little more crowded this offseason, and Joe Jackson does not sound bothered by it. The Wildcats added transfers Rodney Fields from Oklahoma State and Jay Harris from Oregon, giving the running backs room more depth and more competition, but Jackson welcomed the move as something that can help the team rather than complicate his own role.
Collin Klein has already identified Jackson as the leader in the room, while also making it clear the plan is to rotate backs and keep everyone fresh over the course of the season. For Jackson, that means the job is less about protecting touches and more about setting the tone in a group that could be asked to share the load in a bigger way than before. [Read more 🡒]