Kansas State didn’t waste any time turning the page to the 2027 recruiting cycle. Just two days after National Signing Day closed the book on the 2026 class, Collin Klein and his staff landed their first commitment for the future: Nazir Pitchford, a long, athletic cornerback out of Sarasota, Florida.
Pitchford’s pledge marks the first building block of Klein’s inaugural full recruiting class as head coach-and it’s a significant one. The Wildcats were the first Power Four program to offer him, and that early belief clearly meant something.
Even after programs like Kansas and UCF jumped into the mix, and despite in-person visits from heavyweights like Ohio State and Georgia, Pitchford didn’t waver. On Friday, he made it official.
The Florida Connection Runs Deep
Pitchford’s recruitment was all about relationships-and Kansas State’s staff played it perfectly. Defensive backs coach Marcus Woodson was the first to extend an offer, doing so on January 22nd.
Just five days later, he was in Florida visiting Pitchford at Palmetto High School. That kind of personal investment goes a long way, especially with a player still early in his recruitment.
But Woodson wasn’t the only familiar face. K-State’s Jeremiah Johnson, another defensive backs coach, had already been on Pitchford’s radar from his time at Coastal Carolina. That preexisting relationship helped solidify Kansas State’s position as more than just an early offer-it became the offer.
Even without an official visit on the books, the trust Pitchford built with the Wildcats’ defensive staff was enough to lock in his commitment. That says something about the buy-in Klein’s staff is already generating with young talent.
What K-State Is Getting in Pitchford
Though he’s currently unranked by 247Sports, Pitchford is expected to debut as a solid three-star when the next round of rankings drops-and the film backs it up. At 6-foot-1, he brings the kind of size that coaches love on the outside. Combine that with legit speed and fluid athleticism, and you’ve got the framework of a high-upside corner who can stick with receivers in man coverage and make plays on the ball.
He’s still developing on the defensive side of the ball, but the tools are there. Another year of high school reps will help refine his technique and physicality, but the raw traits-speed, length, ball skills-are already popping on tape. If he continues on this trajectory, he could grow into a key piece of the Wildcats’ secondary down the line.
A Statement Start for Klein’s First Class
Pitchford becomes the first commit in the 2027 class, and while it’s still early, this is the kind of win that sets the tone. Kansas State identified a player they believed in, got in early, built strong relationships, and closed the deal-even as interest from bigger-name programs started to roll in.
With dozens of high-priority targets still on the board, Klein and his staff have a long way to go in building out this class. But landing a player like Pitchford out of Florida-a state loaded with talent and fiercely recruited by programs across the country-is a strong opening move.
It’s too soon to predict how the full 2027 class will shake out, but if this first commitment is any indication, Kansas State’s new staff is swinging with confidence-and connecting.