Kansas State football is already making strides in building its 2027 recruiting class, welcoming a promising defensive talent into the fold.
Dawayne Jones, a three-star defensive tackle from Tulsa, OK, announced his commitment to Kansas State on Sunday night. Hailing from Booker T. Washington High School, Jones had also received offers from Arizona, Arizona State, and Auburn.
Expressing his gratitude, Jones tweeted, "Gods plan > mine. Grateful and humble!
I Can’t Thank The Lord enough for Allowing me to be in this situation! Blessed to say I am Committed to Kansas State University!"
Jones follows in the footsteps of his brother, former Wildcats defensive back Wayne Jones, who made his mark with 83 tackles, two pass deflections, and two fumble recoveries over three seasons. Dawayne now joins Nazir Pitchford as part of the 2027 class, and his potential has already caught the eye of CBS Sports analyst Tom Lemming, who upgraded his rating to four stars.
Meanwhile, Kansas State legend Collin Klein continues to receive accolades, securing a spot in ESPN's latest power rankings of the century's best quarterbacks. Ranked No.
48, Klein stands shoulder-to-shoulder with notable names like Mac Jones and Alex Smith. Known for his dual-threat capabilities, Klein's style has been likened to NBA icon Dominique Wilkins, earning him the nickname "the Human Third-and-Manageable Conversion."
His leadership was instrumental in guiding K-State to 21 wins and a Big 12 title during the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
Klein's contributions have been pivotal in two of the Wildcats' three all-time conference championships. As a quarterback, he not only clinched the Big 12 title but was also a Heisman Trophy finalist. Fast forward a decade, and Klein again led the Wildcats to success, this time as an offensive coordinator, helping quarterback Will Howard achieve a standout season.
Now, Klein is back in Manhattan, KS, aiming to restore the program to its former glory after a challenging 2025 season. His vision is to re-establish the winning standards that have long defined Kansas State football.