Kansas State’s late-arriving addition in the secondary has already made this a real competition.
Damion Miller, the JUCO cornerback from Mississippi who transferred in after spring practices, has worked his way into the mix for a starting or relief role after a strong fall camp. The opportunity has opened in part because of a Donovan McIntosh injury, and Miller is now battling Garrick Dixon and Kaleb Patterson for snaps.
Miller, born Sept. 20, 2005, is majoring in sociology. He spent 2024 at Southern Miss but did not see game action and redshirted before moving to Southwest Mississippi Community College for his redshirt freshman/true sophomore season in 2025. There, he played under head coach Les George and was rated by 247Sports as the 14th-best community college cornerback in the Class of 2026.
His season at SMCC was productive. In nine games, Miller posted 23 tackles, four tackles for loss and an interception.
He had a season-high six tackles against Northwest Mississippi, Jones College and East Central, and against East Central he added two tackles for loss and a 32-yard interception return. He also logged tackles for loss against Northwest Mississippi and Jones College.
Before the junior college stop, Miller built his reputation at Port Gibson High School in Claiborne County, Mississippi, where he played for head coach Harry Brown. He was a first-team all-state selection and took part in two all-star games - the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game, where he recorded a tackle, and the Bernard Blackwell Football Classic.
His prep résumé stretched beyond defense. Over his junior and senior seasons, Miller totaled 36 tackles, two interceptions and 12 total passes defended. He also caught 51 passes for 995 yards and 10 touchdowns across his final three high school seasons while competing in basketball and track.
Miller originally signed with Southern Miss, where he was an honor roll student, choosing the Golden Eagles over offers from Alcorn State, Ole Miss and Tulane. His path to Kansas State included a visit to Lane Kiffin and LSU, and the Wildcats also beat out a long list of suitors: Alcorn State, Hampton, Jackson State, Louisiana Tech, Mississippi Valley State, Old Dominion and Troy. He had previously decommitted from Alcorn State.
There’s also a family connection with some serious football pedigree. Miller is the cousin of Kenneth Gainwell, the former Memphis star running back who has played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers and is currently with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In Other News...
Kansas State Has One Clear Opening Edge It Lacked Last Year
Last years training camp for Kansas State felt rushed from the start, with an early kickoff schedule and a Week 0 trip to Ireland against Iowa State making the whole operation more stressful than usual. This time around, the Wildcats have had a more normal buildup under new coach Collin Klein, and the difference has been noticeable as they settle into a season that begins at home against Nicholls.
The softer landing matters for a program trying to reset after a 6-6 finish and the coaching change that followed Chris Klieman stepping down. Kansas State is looking for a clean start and, ideally, two early wins to build some momentum, and opening in Manhattan instead of racing into a cross-Atlantic trip gives Kleins team a better chance to find its footing before the schedule starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Snyder May Be At The Center Of Footballs Weirdest Debate
As the NFL keeps arguing over the legality and fairness of the Tush Push, the conversation has drifted back to a familiar place for Kansas State fans: Bill Snyders program. The short-yardage sneak that has become one of footballs most talked-about plays may trace back to Snyders second run in Manhattan, when the Wildcats were known for squeezing value out of every inch on the field.
For a fan base focused on the upcoming season and a first game against Nicholls, it is an odd bit of historical footnote to revisit. Kansas State is trying to get ready for what comes next, but Snyders name still pops up in one of footballs strangest debates, with the play remaining legal even as the arguments over it continue. [Read more 🡒]
Garrett Oakleys Rise Gives K-State A Leadership Edge Fans Will Notice
Kansas States captaincy vote under Collin Klein has once again highlighted the voices inside the locker room, and this years group includes six players who earned that distinction from their teammates. Among them is senior tight end Garrett Oakley, whose standing goes beyond his role on the field. He has become one of the more visible leaders in the program, the kind of player whose presence is felt in meetings, on the practice field and in the huddle.
Oakleys rise has also come with a physical step forward, as he added muscle during the offseason to improve his blocking. For Kansas State, that matters in a big way as the Wildcats try to build toward another run at the Big 12 championship game. His combination of leadership and development gives the offense a useful edge, and its the sort of behind-the-scenes progress fans usually notice once the season starts rolling. [Read more 🡒]