Kansas State’s 2027 recruiting class took a hit Monday morning when three-star defensive lineman Finn Walker announced he is reopening his recruitment.
Walker made the move public on social media, writing, "My journey is headed in a different direction," Walker wrote. "I am no longer committed to play (football) at Kansas State."
The 6-foot-6, 245-pound prospect from Conroe Oak Ridge (Texas) High School had been viewed as a hard commit at one point. Instead, he now joins a growing list of schools chasing him, with offers from Arizona, SMU, Oklahoma State, Baylor and others.
His decision arrives during a rough stretch for Kansas State under coach Collin Klein. The Wildcats opened the season by rolling through non-conference play with wins over Nicholls, Washington State and Tulane, but then dropped back-to-back games against Cincinnati and Houston.
A win over rival Kansas in the Sunflower Showdown briefly steadied things, only for Kansas State to follow it with a three-game losing streak. Walker’s announcement came just days after the Wildcats were blown out 66-28 by Oklahoma State at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
Walker was not the centerpiece of the class, but losing him still matters. One decommitment can create a ripple effect, especially when a staff is trying to build momentum on the trail. Klein and his staff have put together a strong group of potential recruits across the 2027 class through 2030, and the next few months will show whether this is just a one-off or the start of something bigger.
Among the names tied to Kansas State’s recruiting efforts are Joseph Graves, Ashton Stark, Brooklyn Maxey, Jeron Allen II, Joshua Vilmael, Bra’jon Melancon, Sedrick Marsh Jr., Cooper Ohnmacht, Correll Buckhalter Jr., London Goggans, George Murray III, Kelvin Eiwo, Logan Davis, Brayden Harris, Bryson Dossett, Anitoni Tahi, Dawayne Jones, Cam Kruse, Jack Clayborne, David Rushing, Ben Hynek, Giacamo SanFilippo, Colton McComb and Canaan Smith.
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Klein has taken responsibility for the struggles and said the coaching staff needs to do a better job putting players in position to succeed, a message that carries extra weight given the injuries that have hit the roster. Season-ending losses along the offensive line and at quarterback have made the task tougher, and now the Wildcats are trying to navigate the rest of the year while also sorting out what this stretch says about the direction of the program. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Still Has No Answer At QB After Another Loss
Kansas States quarterback situation has turned into a week-to-week puzzle, and the latest loss only added to the uncertainty. The Wildcats have now gone through four different starters in their last four games, a stretch that has helped fuel a three-game losing streak and forced the staff to keep searching for something stable under center.
After the setback against Oklahoma State, Collin Klein said Dillon Duff and Blake Barnett both were evaluated and will keep getting chances as the staff looks for the right fit. Avery Johnson, who had been the steady presence earlier in the season, remains sidelined and is unlikely to return this year, though there is at least a possibility he could explore a fifth season of eligibility under the new NCAA rules. [Read more 🡒]