Kansas State just landed a big piece for its future defensive front - and he brings plenty of power with him. Andy Burburija, a disruptive defensive tackle out of Iowa Western, has flipped his commitment from Washington State to the Wildcats after a weekend visit to Manhattan. He’ll now be part of Joe Klanderman’s defense starting in 2026, giving Kansas State a high-upside interior lineman with a proven JUCO résumé and a wrestling background that shows up on every snap.
Originally from Crystal Lake, Illinois, Burburija had been pledged to the Cougars since late October, following a dominant season anchoring Iowa Western’s defensive line. But once Kansas State extended a Power Four offer earlier this month - their only one in this recruitment - he wasted no time locking in an official visit.
That visit happened to coincide with Senior Day, where the Wildcats took care of business against Colorado, winning 24-14 to secure bowl eligibility at 6-6. The timing, the atmosphere, and the opportunity clearly hit the mark.
Burburija chose Kansas State over a list of offers that included Boise State, South Florida, and several other Group of Five programs. But the Wildcats offered something different - a chance to compete at the Power Four level and join a rising recruiting class that’s gaining momentum fast.
Ranked as the No. 47 overall JUCO prospect and the No. 12 defensive lineman nationally, Burburija has been a force for Iowa Western. In 10 games this season, he’s posted 32 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 9 sacks - a stat line that jumps off the page for an interior lineman. That follows a freshman campaign where he tallied 33 tackles, 10 TFLs, and 3 sacks, showing steady growth and consistency in one of the country’s top junior college programs.
What makes Burburija stand out? It starts with his wrestling background.
That foundation gives him elite leverage, balance, and hand strength - traits that make him a nightmare for taller offensive linemen. He plays low, wins with leverage, and has the kind of violent hands that defensive line coaches dream about.
According to Iowa Western defensive line coach Aaron Terry, Burburija has been a dominant presence since day one.
“He is a wrestler. Strong, physical, and violent,” Terry said.
“He has been unblockable for two years. He was dominant right from the beginning.”
That dominance has helped Iowa Western reach the NJCAA semifinals again, where they’ll face Tyler Junior College this weekend. A win would send the Reivers back to the national title game - and Burburija, along with fellow K-State commits Derrick Salley Jr. and MJ Graham, is still chasing a championship before making the jump to Manhattan.
What Kansas State is getting is a plug-and-play defensive tackle who can eat up double teams, disrupt the backfield, and bring a little extra juice as a pass rusher. His game draws comparisons to current Wildcat Damian Ilalio - another interior lineman who plays with leverage and relentlessness.
With signing day just around the corner, flipping a player like Burburija is a statement. It’s a sign that Kansas State’s recruiting class is trending up, both in terms of rankings and raw talent. If things continue on this trajectory, the Wildcats could be looking at a top-50 class nationally and a top-9 haul in the Big 12.
And with Burburija in the fold, they’ve added a tone-setter in the trenches - the kind of player who doesn’t just fill a gap, but changes the line of scrimmage.