Kansas State enters the season needing a new voice at receiver, and Jaron Tibbs looks ready to be that guy.
With Jayce Brown gone, the Wildcats are looking for someone to fill both the production and the presence he left behind. Tibbs, a senior and one of the most experienced receivers on the roster, has already stepped into that space. He’s not just lined up to be the No. 1 option again - he’s also taken on a leadership role in the room.
Offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson made it clear earlier this week that Tibbs has become part of the group’s internal backbone.
"Definitely, for sure," Gleeson said. "I think it's a shared duty.
Every preeminent player that I've been around at a position group kind of shares a little bit of implied leadership, but there's some veteran experience there in that room too. Josh (Manning), obviously, has played a bunch.
You know, B-White (Brandon White) is kind of an elder statesman. He's been around the block a little bit.
So, I think right now it'd be unfair to say that it's just Jaron, but I do know I've watched that whole thing develop over the past however many months in station workouts and stuff. I do think that the guys look to him at times for some messaging, and he's been there to deliver it, and we need him to."
Tibbs backed up his importance last season with the numbers. He led Kansas State with 47 catches and finished with 595 receiving yards, which ranked second on the team. He also found the end zone three times.
The Wildcats are also making noise on the recruiting front in coach Casey Alexander’s first season. Kansas State was recently named one of six finalists for four-star prospect Malik Olajuwon. The others in the mix are Virginia Tech, TCU, SMU, Texas Tech and Minnesota.
Olajuwon is the son of NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon, the Hall of Fame center who powered the Houston Rockets to titles in 1994 and 1995. He was a league MVP, a 12-time All-Star and one of the NBA’s greatest 75 players.
And beyond the present and the recruiting trail, it’s fair to start thinking ahead to bowl possibilities.
In Other News...
Kansas State Still Has One Important QB Battle To Settle
Avery Johnson gives Kansas State clarity at the top of the quarterback depth chart, but the Wildcats still have one of camps more meaningful jobs to sort out behind him. Offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson has described the competition for the backup spot as healthy and competitive, with Jacob Knuth, Blake Barnett and Dillon Duff all in the mix as the staff continues to evaluate who fits best in the role.
For a team trying to protect itself against the unpredictability of a season, that second quarterback job matters more than it might seem on the surface. Kansas State is also still in the thick of another important off-field pursuit, as the program remains a finalist for four-star prospect Malik Olajuwon, the son of NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon, adding another layer of anticipation around a program with plenty of moving parts. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State May Have Another Local DB Worth Watching
Kansas States secondary continues to be an interesting place to keep an eye on, and Robert RJ Collins Jr. is one of the younger names working to carve out a role. The Staley High School product got to campus in time for spring practices, spent last season redshirting and is now listed at cornerback, where he enters a crowded competition for snaps. For a program that has made a habit of identifying and developing talent close to home, Collins fits the profile of a player worth monitoring over the next stretch of offseason work.
He arrived in Manhattan with plenty of recruiting buzz, earning a strong reputation out of high school for his speed and track success while drawing interest from several other schools before choosing Kansas State. That kind of athletic profile is part of why his name stands out even before he has a chance to make a real impact on Saturdays. The Wildcats do not need to rush him, but if Collins development matches the promise that followed him out of Kansas City, he could become another local defensive back who ends up helping this roster in a meaningful way. [Read more 🡒]
Koy Beasley Is Giving Kansas State Fans Real Hope In The Secondary
Koy Beasley arrived at Kansas State with some experience already banked from stops at Purdue and Miami of Ohio, but the real impression has come from what he has shown since getting to Manhattan. Defensive coordinator Jordan Peterson said Beasley has made significant progress through spring practices and training camp, and that kind of climb matters for a Wildcats secondary looking for stability and confidence.
Beasleys rise has put him right in the mix for a spot in the rotation, and possibly more if the momentum keeps building. For Kansas State, the appeal is obvious: a veteran safety who has adapted quickly and is beginning to look like a leader in the back end, with the next step still to be earned once the season starts to unfold. [Read more 🡒]