Kansas State still doesn’t have a clear answer on George Fitzpatrick’s future, and that uncertainty stretches into the 2026 season.
On Tuesday, Aug. 11, Wildcats coach Collin Klein said during his fall camp press conference that the offensive lineman is still moving through the recovery process after a preseason medical emergency wiped out his entire 2025 season.
"He's still working through that process," Klein said. "He's not quite there yet."
Klein said Fitzpatrick still has a few benchmarks to clear, with those goals agreed upon by Fitzpatrick, his family, specialists and the team doctors. The coach’s comments matched what he said last month at Big 12 Media Days in Frisco, Texas.
Fitzpatrick, a 6-foot-6, 301-pound offensive tackle, transferred to Kansas State from Ohio State before last season and was expected to step in as the team’s starting left tackle. Instead, his absence left a hole on an offensive line that never quite found steady footing, though it did create more opportunity for John Pastore, who enters this season as an All-Big 12 offensive tackle.
For now, Fitzpatrick looks more like a bonus possibility than a locked-in piece. Kansas State is expected to have four new starters up front this season, and Fitzpatrick might have been part of the right tackle competition if he were healthy. That spot now appears to belong to Gus Hawkins, unless freshman Oliver Miller or Auburn transfer Tyler Johnson pushes into the mix.
Fitzpatrick appeared in 16 games for Ohio State in 2024 and logged 84 offensive snaps for a national championship team.
Klein also said the Wildcats are healthy through the first week of fall camp, aside from Fitzpatrick.
In Other News...
Joe Jackson Has Become Kansas States Offensive Tone Setter
Joe Jackson enters this season as one of the most important pieces on Kansas States offense, and not just because of what he did on the ground a year ago. After rushing for nearly 1,000 yards and earning Third-Team All-Big 12 honors, the running back has a more defined place in the Wildcats plans now, with the staff leaning on him as a tone setter who can help establish how the offense wants to play.
What makes Jackson especially interesting is the work he has put into broadening his game. He has spent time improving as a receiver, a step that could make him harder to defend and give Kansas State more ways to feature him in different situations. For a team looking for reliable offensive identity, that kind of versatility can matter just as much as the production everyone already knows about. [Read more 🡒]
Collin Kleins First Kansas State Roster Call Says Plenty About 2025
New NCAA eligibility rules have already started to reshape roster planning around college football, and Collin Klein made it clear Kansas State has taken a close look at the added flexibility. The change gives players five full years of eligibility instead of four, with some outgoing seniors eligible as well, and Klein said the Wildcats considered whether to bring in fifth-year players for the coming season. For now, though, the plan is to keep the roster intact as it stands heading into 2025.
Kleins stance on the rule itself was straightforward, as he voiced support for a system he believes can help players by cutting down on turnover and better protecting their interests. The bigger question for Kansas State is how that approach will hold up as other programs use the extra eligibility window to shuffle veteran depth and try to gain an edge. [Read more 🡒]