Kansas State Is Already Building For The Future At Tight End

Kansas State football is making strategic long-term moves by extending offers to rising talents in the 2028 class as they aim to bolster their future roster.

Kansas State is already taking a long view on its 2028 class, and the Wildcats added another name to the board Tuesday night with an offer to tight end Sloan Blackwell.

Blackwell attends Waco Midway High School in Waco, Texas. He does not have a ranking yet, but is expected to land as a three-star prospect. The offer came after a conversation with tight ends coach Brian Lepak.

The timing makes sense, even with football at Kansas State still less than a month away. The focus right now is on the 2026 season and the expected bounce-back from last year, but the Wildcats are still working early on the next wave of talent.

At tight end, Kansas State is in solid shape for next season with veteran Garrett Oakley and five-star sophomore Linkon Cure sharing the position.

Blackwell is one of several recent 2028 prospects to hear from the Wildcats.

Jerry Richmond, an offensive lineman at East St. Louis High School in East St.

Louis, Illinois, was the latest lineman to get an offer. Richmond also holds offers from Florida Atlantic, North Carolina, and South Dakota.

Kansas State also extended an offer to offensive tackle Asher Megonnell on Friday. Megonnell attends Ankeny Centennial High School in Ankeny, Iowa, and has also picked up an offer from Big 12 rival Iowa State. He is currently unranked.

Another tight end on the list is AJ Criss, a 6-foot-7, 205-pound prospect from Krum High School in Krum, Texas. Last season, Criss caught 34 passes for 574 yards and eight touchdowns. He also has offers from Florida State and Texas Tech and is currently unranked, though he is expected to become a three-star recruit.

Ronald Crawford, who attends De La Salle High School in New Orleans, Louisiana, is also among the recent offers. He has already drawn attention from 15 other Division I programs, including Auburn, Baylor, and Houston. Crawford is one of the highest-ranked defensive linemen in his class in Louisiana.

In Other News...

Collin Klein Just Turned Kansas State Camp Into A Roster Reset

Collin Klein has spent the start of Kansas States camp sending a clear message: nothing is going to be handed out. As the Wildcats work through a rebuilding summer after a 6-6 season and the departure of Chris Klieman, Klein said nearly every spot on the roster will be up for grabs, with quarterback Avery Johnson and likely running back Joe Jackson standing as the main exceptions.

For a program trying to reset its identity under a new head coach, that kind of open competition is more than a camp slogan. It puts pressure on veterans, opens the door for younger players and turns every practice rep into part of the evaluation, with Klein stressing that daily effort will decide who earns playing time when the season gets here. [Read more 🡒]

Kansas State Fans Should Keep A Close Eye On This 2026 RB

When Kansas State looks ahead to its 2026 class, Tanner West is the kind of addition that keeps the future conversation interesting. The running back from Katy, Texas, arrives with a strong prep rsum and the sort of national attention that comes with being heavily recruited, and he chose Manhattan after weighing offers from several other programs. He also brings a plan beyond football, with finance as his intended major.

West is widely expected to redshirt as he settles in, but there is still a path for him to contribute sooner if special teams opens the door. For a program that likes to build depth with an eye on development, that makes him worth tracking even before he gets a real offensive role. Kansas State fans may not see the full picture right away, but the early signs point to a player with both pedigree and patience. [Read more 🡒]