Kansas State’s offseason departures keep getting dragged back into the spotlight, and the latest reminder comes with a national ranking from ESPN that only sharpens the sting.
The outlet’s transfer portal rankings placed former Wildcats edge rusher Tobi Osunsanmi and wide receiver Jayce Brown among the top player acquisitions in the country, a nod that also underscores just how much talent Kansas State has had to replace after coach Chris Klieman’s retirement and a disappointing 2025 season.
Osunsanmi landed just outside the top 50 after a breakout run that was cut short by injury. He was tracking toward a big year and had already established himself as the team’s sack and tackles-for-loss leader before going down in the middle of the season.
"Osunsanmi looked poised to be a breakout starter for the Wildcats in 2025 after recording 5.5 TFLs and 3.5 sacks in a reserve role as a redshirt sophomore," the article wrote. "He got off to a strong start with 13 pressures, 6 TFLs and 4 sacks before suffering a season-ending injury in October that sidelined him for K-State's final six games."
Brown drew his own praise for the kind of receiver who can change how an offense looks on the outside and in the slot.
"Brown is a crisp route runner who gets out of his breaks well and gets defensive backs to bite on double moves," the article wrote. "He shakes press corners with his release, and he tracks the deep ball well.
He's quick and he gets north-south after the catch. He's at his best working out of the slot, but he can line up outside, and he's competitive in 50-50 situations even though he's on the leaner side."
That’s a tough combination for Kansas State to lose. Brown’s speed and reliability as the main perimeter threat forced defenses to account for him, and his absence changes the way the offense has to be built.
With Collin Klein expected to lean more on the run game anyway, the challenge becomes even bigger without Brown stretching the field. Jaron Tibbs now steps into the No. 1 role, though his production has mostly come on short catches and first-down throws designed to keep drives moving.
The defense has its own hole to fill, too. Osunsanmi’s departure leaves the Wildcats without one of the key pieces up front, along with several other major losses on the defensive line.
Edge play has been a strength for Kansas State in recent memory, which makes replacing that production even more important. The good news is the Wildcats added Elijah Hill and Wendell Gregory, giving them new options to help keep the front seven setting the tone.
In Other News...
Avery Johnson Enters Defining K-State Season With Everything To Prove
Avery Johnson is heading into his senior season at Kansas State with the kind of spotlight that comes only after a year of uneven results and a program reset. He is still the Wildcats full-time starter after a 6-6 finish, and with Chris Klieman unexpectedly stepping down, Johnson now finds himself working under first-year head coach Collin Klein as the offense tries to find a sharper identity.
Johnson had chances to look elsewhere through the transfer portal and NIL market, but he stayed put because he believes there is unfinished business in Manhattan. Now the question is bigger than just whether he can settle in under a new staff. It is whether this is the season he proves he can lift Kansas State into something more, or whether the ceiling on his game has already been set. [Read more 🡒]
K-State Still Has One Big Question About This Transfer Edge Rusher
Jayden Bryant arrives in Manhattan with a bit of a resume and a little room to grow, which is exactly the kind of profile Kansas State likes to keep an eye on along the defensive front. The redshirt sophomore defensive end transferred in from Coastal Carolina after playing all 13 games last season, and he already has a feel for college football after logging action as a true freshman in 2024 while preserving his redshirt. He is also majoring in communication studies, a reminder that this is still a player in the middle of building both his game and his place in the program.
What makes Bryant interesting for the Wildcats is the blend of production and uncertainty. He showed enough at Coastal Carolina to post tackles for loss and sacks, and he has the kind of experience that can help a defense over the course of a season, but the bigger question is where he fits in a K-State edge group that already has established names ahead of him. Bryant should add depth and competition, and there is at least a path for him to push into the mix, but for now his role is still one of the more intriguing things to watch as camp unfolds. [Read more 🡒]