Kansas State is already looking far down the road on the recruiting calendar, and the Wildcats have now dipped all the way into the 2029 class for their latest target.
The newest offer went to tight end Cash Denney, a Blue Springs South High School product in Blue Springs, MO. Inside wide receivers coach Josh Buford delivered the offer, and Kansas State is the first program to do so.
Denney shared the moment on Twitter, writing, "After a great conversation with Coach Buford, I’m blessed to receive my first D1 offer from the University of Kansas State," Denney tweeted.
For Kansas State, the timing makes sense even with football starting in less than a month. The Wildcats are still building out the future at tight end, a spot that should remain central to the offense this season. Garrett Oakley is projected for another standout year, while Linkon Cure is expected to see more reps.
Kansas State has also been active with a handful of 2028 prospects on offense, including several tight ends and linemen.
One of the most recent names to get an offer was Sloan Blackwell, a tight end at Waco Midway High School in Waco, TX. The offer came Tuesday night after a conversation with tight ends coach Brian Lepak.
Blackwell is not ranked yet, but is expected to land as a three-star prospect. He already has offers from Arizona, Syracuse, and Arizona State.
According to MaxPreps, he posted 18 catches for 254 yards and two touchdowns last season.
The Wildcats also offered offensive lineman Jerry Richmond, who plays at East St. Louis High School in East St.
Louis, IL. Richmond has picked up additional offers from Florida Atlantic, North Carolina, and South Dakota.
Another offensive line target is Asher Megonnell, an offensive tackle at Ankeny Centennial High School in Ankeny, IA. Kansas State offered him on Friday, and Big 12 rival Iowa State has also jumped in. Megonnell is currently unranked.
Kansas State’s other tight end target in the group is AJ Criss, a 6-foot-7, 205-pound player from Krum High School in Krum, TX. Criss turned in a big season last year with 34 receptions for 574 yards and eight touchdowns. He has also been offered by Florida State and Texas Tech and is currently unranked, though he is expected to become a three-star prospect.
In Other News...
Chris Klieman Revealed Why Collin Klein Made Sense For Kansas State
Collin Kleins return to Manhattan as Kansas States offensive coordinator did not happen by accident, and Chris Klieman made clear there was a natural fit behind it. The two had built a longstanding relationship, and Klieman said the timing lined up once he had decided to step down, opening the door for a conversation that had real momentum behind it. From his perspective, Klein brought the kind of familiarity and credibility that made the move make sense for the program.
Klieman also framed the transition as one built on support rather than overreach, which matters in a spot as important as offensive coordinator. He said he intends to be available as an advisory presence for Klein, serving as a sounding board and offering administrative help as needed. For Kansas State, the interesting part now is how that partnership settles in and how much of the Wildcats next offensive identity will be shaped by a familiar hand back in the building. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Is Already Chasing The Next Big In-State Core
Kansas States recruiting momentum is already rolling into the next cycle, with Collin Klein and the Wildcats staff turning attention toward the 2028 class even after landing a strong 2027 group that already sits at 27 commitments. The early emphasis is familiar for this program: build from home first, identify the best in-state talent, and keep the pipeline steady before the 2026 season even arrives.
The quarterback board is part of that early groundwork, with Titus Huard and Cannon Zubeck among the names drawing attention as Kansas State shapes what it hopes will become the next key in-state core. For a staff trying to stay ahead of the curve, the challenge is less about finding interest and more about holding it long enough to turn an early list of targets into another class that fits the Wildcats long-term plan. [Read more 🡒]
Avery Johnson And Collin Klein Could Change Kansas State's Ceiling
Collin Kleins return to Kansas State has added a familiar face to the middle of a transition, and maybe the one relationship that matters most in the building right now is the one he already had with Avery Johnson. Klein recruited Johnson before leaving for two seasons as offensive coordinator at Texas A&M, and now the first-year Wildcats coach is back in Manhattan trying to steer the program after Chris Kliemans resignation. For a team picked to finish eighth in the Big 12, the pairing at least gives Kansas State a clear place to start.
What makes the setup interesting is how much of the Wildcats ceiling may depend on whether that connection translates from trust to production. Johnson has already worked with Klein in the past, and Klein knows what he saw in him during the recruiting process, which gives this staff a chance to build around a quarterback-coach relationship that does not need much introduction. The prediction outside the program may be modest, but Kansas State is counting on familiarity to help it climb above it. [Read more 🡒]