Kansas State is making noise in the transfer portal, and the name grabbing attention right now is Southern Miss linebacker Chris Jones. The Wildcats are reportedly in the mix for the standout defender, going head-to-head with Florida State and Ole Miss-two programs that don’t exactly mess around when it comes to landing top-tier talent. That’s a serious recruiting battle, and Kansas State is right in the thick of it.
Jones isn’t just a solid player looking for a new home-he’s one of the most productive defensive players in the country. This past season, he earned All-American honors at the Group of 5 level and piled up 133 total tackles, good for sixth-most in the nation.
He didn’t stop there, adding 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception to his stat line. Simply put, he was a problem for opposing offenses every single week.
At 6 feet, 230 pounds, Jones has the frame and physicality that translate well to Power Four football. And he’s still early in his college career, coming off a dominant sophomore season that suggests his best football is still ahead of him.
For Kansas State, the timing couldn’t be better. The Wildcats just lost linebacker Austin Romaine to the portal, and Jones would be a plug-and-play solution-arguably even an upgrade.
Of course, landing a player like Jones won’t come easy. Florida State and Ole Miss are going to push hard, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see other high-profile programs jump into the mix.
But Kansas State has shown it’s not afraid to swing big in the portal era. With Collin Klein now leading the program, the Wildcats are aiming higher-and they’re starting to land punches.
Jones would check a lot of boxes for K-State. He brings experience, elite production, and a physical edge that could immediately elevate a defense looking to reload.
His presence would add leadership and toughness to a unit that’s trying to re-establish its identity. If the Wildcats can close this deal, it could quietly become one of the most impactful additions of the entire transfer cycle.
This isn’t just about filling a hole-it’s about raising the ceiling. And Chris Jones has the kind of game that can do exactly that.