Kansas State is wasting no time putting together its 2028 class, and Monday’s commitment from Taylen Washington is another sign the Wildcats are trying to get ahead of the curve.
Even though it is not even October yet, K-State is already stacking visitors for every home game and leaning hard into early relationships with prospects it wants locked in early. The staff’s ability to land a top 35 recruiting class after coming in during July stands out, and it has given the Wildcats a chance to focus on how they want to shape the roster in the years ahead.
That approach has been especially effective in Kansas. With a strong in-state group, K-State appears to be the top choice for almost 90% of Sunflower State prospects who have an offer from the Wildcats. The staff has not been shy about making offers early, and that belief in homegrown talent has paid off again with Washington.
Kansas State was the first school to offer Washington, and now it has his commitment.
Listed as an athlete, Washington is seen as a versatile prospect who can fill multiple roles depending on how he develops. The long-term projection points to linebacker, where he could grow into work both in the box and on the edge. He is still somewhat raw, but Derby asks him to handle a little of everything, and he brings good strength and athleticism to the table.
That gives him real upside, and it is easy to see why more offers were likely coming as teams continued to evaluate out-of-state prospects this fall.
In Other News...
Collin Klein Is Sending A Clear Message As Big 12 Play Starts
Kansas State has opened the season with a level of discipline that stands out nationally, and the numbers back it up. Through three games, the Wildcats have been flagged just eight times, a pace that trails only one college football team, which is the kind of early-season detail coaches usually love to see as Big 12 play begins.
Still, Collin Klein is not treating that as a reason to relax. He made clear after the Tulane game that the penalties Kansas State did commit left him frustrated, especially the ones the Wildcats can control, and he pointed to discipline as an area that still needs tightening even with the overall count staying low. For a team trying to carry clean football into conference play, the standard is clear, and Klein does not sound interested in letting a good early trend hide the rough spots. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Still Has One Missing Piece As Big 12 Play Starts
Kansas States passing game has found ways to move the ball early this season, but one of its most intriguing spots has yet to fully open up. The tight end room, led by Garrett Oakley and Linkon Cure, has put together only modest production so far, with 15 catches for 174 yards and no touchdowns, even as the staff continues to view the position as a meaningful part of the offense.
Collin Klein said opposing defenses are clearly paying attention to the tight ends and trying to limit them, which helps explain why Avery Johnson has leaned more heavily toward wide receivers and running backs. Still, the expectation inside the program is that role will grow as Big 12 play settles in, and Cure remains the name to watch as a potential breakout piece and the tight end of the future. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas States Unbeaten Start Faces Its First Real Big 12 Test
Kansas State heads into Big 12 play with the kind of clean slate every team wants in September, unbeaten and carrying some early momentum into a matchup with Cincinnati. It is also the moment when the schedule starts to say a lot more about where a team really stands, and first-year coach Collin Klein has already been preparing for the sharper edge that comes with conference games.
Cincinnati arrives with the same undefeated record, which gives this opener an immediate little extra weight for the Wildcats as they try to protect their start. Off the field, Kansas State also added a small but noteworthy piece to its future, landing its first commitment in the 2028 recruiting class from linebacker Taylen Washington, a reminder that the program is still building while the focus turns to the Big 12 grind. [Read more 🡒]