Brandon White arrived at Kansas State with a clear job description: bring juice. The Wildcats are counting on the transfer slot receiver and punt returner to fight for the third wideout spot, and the early buzz around him has been loud.
White, who goes by “B-White,” came to K-State from Hawai’i after a college path that started at Kentucky. He was born Jan. 12, 2004 and is majoring in integrative human sciences. At Kansas State, he’s battling Izaiah Williams for that third wide receiver spot in the slot.
K-State coach Collin Klein didn’t hide his appreciation for the work White has put in since arriving.
“The thing with Brandon,” said K-State head coach Collin Klein, “is understanding that he’s extremely motivated:”
He’s worked extremely hard. Watching how he’s gotten his body in shape, and how hard he’s worked on our offense and playbook to be able to be the weapon that he wants to be, is a credit to him.
He’s got very, very good twitch, change direction, and top end (speed), and that’s even improved since he’s gotten here. He’s putting it to use.
Quarterback Avery Johnson had a similar read on White’s game, praising what happens once the ball gets in his hands.
He’s just so elusive with the ball in his hands. He’s the type of guy where you get it to him and he can take a 5-yard gain and turn it into 50.
Being able to have a YAC guy who’s as explosive and elusive as he is with the ball in his hands, and really be a really good route runner and take the top off the defense, is going to (be) really big. Something special to watch this year.
White’s production at Hawai’i showed why people around the program are talking. He played in 12 games with four starts last season, finishing with 38 catches for 399 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed four times for 36 yards and returned a kickoff 21 yards.
The numbers tell the story of a player who kept making things happen. White had multiple catches in 11 of his 12 games, six receptions went for 20 yards or more, and three gained at least 30.
His biggest outings came against Air Force, Utah State, San José State and California in the Hawai’i Bowl. He had a career-high seven catches and a touchdown at Air Force, followed by a career-best 63 receiving yards on just three catches against Utah State, including a 46-yard grab.
He added a 45-yard reception at San José State and capped the year with a 17-yard touchdown catch against California.
Before his time in Hawai’i, White’s career had a slow start at Kentucky. He redshirted in 2022 and didn’t see game action.
In 2023, he played in four games against Eastern Kentucky, Akron, Georgia and Alabama. In 2024, he appeared against Ohio and Murray State, returning a kickoff 19 yards in the latter game.
He also played alongside current K-State defensive tackle Austin Ramsey in Lexington.
White has long used doubts about his size as fuel.
It’s been a motivator for a long time. It’s always been like that. You get told a lot of times you’re too small, too short, but you use it as motivation and continue to work with your head down.
That edge traces back to Cincinnati, where White starred at Archbishop Moeller High School under head coach Mark Elder. ESPN ranked him the 27th-best overall prospect in Ohio.
As a senior, he opened with four catches for 165 yards and two touchdowns, then missed most of the season because of injury. He returned late in the year and helped the Fighting Crusaders finish 11-4, win the regional title and reach the state semifinals.
White also brought track speed to the table. He ran a personal-best 10.30 in the 100 meters and broke the indoor state meet record in the 60 meters with a 6.73, which fits nicely with his value as a punt returner.
Recruiting-wise, White originally chose Kentucky over scholarship offers from Akron, Bowling Green, Marshall and West Virginia, while Indiana, Purdue and Wisconsin also showed interest. His family ties run deep in Mississippi State athletics: his mother, Jeanita Cummings, played women’s basketball there, and his father, Ben White, was a running back for the Bulldogs.
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