Koy Beasley arrives at Kansas State with a résumé that already shows why he’s in the safety mix. The redshirt sophomore transfer has spent time at Purdue and Miami (Ohio), and head coach Collin Klein made it clear during his first fall camp press conference that Beasley is one of the names in the competition at both safety spots.
Klein said the battle at free and strong safety is still very much alive, and Beasley is part of the crowd pushing for snaps.
“I think those two safety spots, it will be interesting to see how it shakes out because it is very competitive between Ja’Son (Prevard), Logan Bartley, Wesley Fair, Adrian Maddox, even Koy Beasley a little bit. The combination of that and how that all fits together, it’s good to have those options.
I think we have an idea of where it’s headed, but credit them. They’re getting better and competing with each other well.”
Beasley, a Cincinnati native who prepped at La Salle High School under Pat McLaughlin, was a decorated recruit coming out of the Class of 2024. ESPN had him at No. 138 nationally, On3 slotted him at No. 139 and 247Sports placed him at No.
- He was also ranked the No. 8 safety in the class by 247Sports and No. 16 by Rivals.
His recruitment was a long list of major programs. Beasley originally committed to Purdue over offers from Akron, Arkansas, Boston College, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Georgia, Kentucky, Miami (Ohio), Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, Texas A&M, Toledo, USC, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Wisconsin, along with interest from Notre Dame. According to 247Sports, he was Purdue’s highest ranked recruit since David Bell and George Karlaftis in 2019.
There’s also a familiar thread in his path. At Purdue, Beasley played alongside current K-State wide receiver Jaron Tibbs, and he was on the Boilermakers’ roster while current K-State running backs coach Cory Patterson was in West Lafayette.
On the field, Beasley already has game experience to lean on. In 2024, he appeared against Indiana State and Indiana and logged 12 total defensive snaps, enough to preserve his redshirt. Last season at Miami, he played in 14 games with seven starts and finished with 40 tackles, two tackles for loss, an interception and seven passes defended across 647 defensive snaps for the RedHawks.
His best statistical outing came against Western Michigan, where he had a season-high nine tackles. He also posted five stops at Rutgers and had four tackles each against UNLV, Northern Illinois, Ohio and Fresno State in the Arizona Bowl. Beasley recorded tackles for loss against Northern Illinois and Western Michigan, and he grabbed his first career interception at Northern Illinois.
Beasley, born May 28, 2006, is listed at 5-10 and 187 pounds, and he’s majoring in criminal justice. The notes on his background even include one small family detail: his father is Michael - not the same one, of course.
In Other News...
Kansas State Defense Has An Early Answer To A Big Concern
One of the early question marks around Kansas States defense has already started to look a little clearer with the return of Jordan Allen. Defensive coordinator Jordan Peterson pointed to the defensive end as a player expected to take on a bigger role this fall, and Allens production last season gave the staff a solid foundation to build on. He finished with 17 tackles, five tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, while also earning praise for the kind of football intelligence and athletic traits that can make a player more than just a stat line.
Petersons larger plan reflects where the Wildcats are trying to go defensively, with players being cross-trained across multiple positions to help them get ready for the season. In that kind of setup, having a veteran like Allen matters even more because he can help steady a group that is still sorting out roles and responsibilities. The real test will come once the games start, but for now Kansas State at least has an early answer to one concern and a promising piece to build around. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Has A Young Weapon Ready For A Bigger 2026 Role
Linkon Cure arrived at Kansas State with a reputation, and even through injury setbacks last season, the young tight end still managed to get into nine games while starting to show why the staff was so intrigued by him. What stands out now is how much progress he has made since then, both in how he looks physically and in the way he moves around the offense.
Cure has added muscle during the offseason and sharpened the details that matter most for a tight end, with noticeable growth as both a blocker and a receiver. Coaches and staff have been encouraged by his versatility and work ethic, and all of that has put him on a path to a much larger role when the 2026 season arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Has A Linebacker Question Fans Need To Watch
Replacing Austin Romaine is one of the quieter but more important jobs on Kansas States defensive checklist this fall, and the Wildcats are leaning on Gabe Powers and Rex Van Wyhe to help answer it. Defensive coordinator Jordan Peterson has already pointed to both linebackers as players who understand the system and bring the kind of work ethic that can keep the defense on track after Romaines move to Texas Tech.
The next few weeks should offer a better read on how quickly that depth chart settles, especially with camp chatter always sharpening once bodies get on the field. There is also a little added roster intrigue on the offensive side, where tight end Elias Wilson has reclassified and is expected on campus soon, giving Kansas State another young piece to monitor as the season draws closer. [Read more 🡒]