Kansas State’s strong start under Collin Klein kept rolling Saturday, but the Wildcats also had another win of sorts off the field.
Bill Snyder Family Stadium was loaded with notable recruits for the 105-10 combined opening to the season, capped by the victory over Washington State. The headliner in the crowd was four-star quarterback Titus Huard, one of the top names to watch in the 2028 class.
Huard, the son of former NFL quarterback Brock Huard, is rated the 11th-best player in the country at his position. Brock Huard played in the NFL from 1999-2004 with the Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks.
The younger Huard, who attends Valor (Colo.) Christian, already has offers from Arkansas, Arizona State, Kansas and Colorado.
This season, he has thrown for 784 yards and seven touchdowns. Last year, he put up 1,946 yards and 16 touchdowns.
He also brings the kind of frame college programs covet at quarterback, checking in at 6-foot-5 and 206 pounds.
Kansas State’s interest makes plenty of sense. The Wildcats could be staring at a quarterback transition after the season with three-year starter Avery Johnson, though Johnson also has the option of chasing a fifth year of eligibility under new NCAA rules.
Huard wasn’t the only prospect on hand Saturday. Wide receiver Grant Nehls, a 2028 recruit from Marian High School in Hays, Kan., was there as well. At 6-foot-5, he brings size to the position and also stands out as a baseball player.
Quarterback Brady Lawhon, a 2027 recruit from Harrison High School in Ohio, was also in attendance. Through three games, he has thrown for 824 yards and eight touchdowns without an interception.
Kansas State also had a look at a pair of younger prospects. One is a 2028 player who excels on both sides of the ball at Olathe East (Kan.)
High School. The other is a class of 2029 prospect from Andale (Kan.)
High School, whom the Wildcats are already tracking early and who is expected to keep developing.
In Other News...
Former K-State Transfers Are Already Creating One Uncomfortable Debate
Week 2 offered a little reminder of just how many former Kansas State players are scattered across the country, and a few of them wasted no time making an impression. Austin Romaine was everywhere for Texas Tech, piling up nine tackles while playing every snap, and DeVon Rice gave Hawaii a real spark by finding the end zone twice. Elsewhere, the numbers were quieter, with Jayce Brown at LSU and Dylan Edwards at Kansas leaving more of a trace through usage than box-score fireworks.
For K-State fans, the awkward part is that these outings were not hard to notice. When transfer movement is this visible this early in the season, it naturally invites a familiar question about who got away, who found a better fit, and whether the Wildcats are watching some of their best depth pieces blossom somewhere else. The full answer will take more than one September weekend, but the first batch of evidence is already enough to make the conversation uncomfortable. [Read more 🡒]
Avery Johnson Gave K-State Fans One Big Reason To Worry
Avery Johnson still did plenty to like in Kansas States 34-7 win over Washington State, moving the offense efficiently through the air and adding another layer with his legs. He finished with 192 passing yards and three touchdowns, and his 78 rushing yards helped the Wildcats keep control of the game while showing why his ceiling has people around the program so optimistic.
Even so, the outing came with a few rough edges that Kansas State could not ignore. Johnson turned the ball over twice and had a shaky moment on fourth down, the kind of sequence that can linger even after a comfortable victory. Collin Klein praised the quarterbacks overall showing, but also made clear there were plays Johnson will want back as the Wildcats keep building momentum. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Won Big But Avery Johnson Still Left A Real Concern
An hour-long rain delay did not slow Kansas State down much in a 34-7 win over Washington State, and the Wildcats had plenty of help from a defense that kept the game comfortably in hand. Wendell Gregory was a noticeable force up front, giving the Cougars problems and helping Kansas State control the tone of the afternoon even as the weather made everything feel a little uneven.
Still, Avery Johnson left the game with a reminder that big wins can carry a lingering concern. The quarterback had two interceptions, and while the Wildcats never lost command of the scoreboard, the turnovers were the kind of mistake that can linger when the competition gets tougher. Afterward, Collin Klein and Johnson pointed to preparation and the need to keep sharpening the details, which is exactly the sort of thing Kansas State will want cleaned up before it becomes more costly. [Read more 🡒]