A new series from GoPowercat is taking a class-by-class look at the Kansas State players who could matter most in 2026, and the seniors bring plenty of weight to the discussion. Some of these guys are obvious headliners. Others are the kind of steady, under-the-radar pieces who end up shaping a season in ways that don’t always jump off the page.
That’s the point of the exercise. Not every impact player has to be a star in the national sense.
Sometimes it’s a quarterback with the power to tilt the whole program. Sometimes it’s a receiver who keeps chains moving.
Sometimes it’s a linebacker or tackle who gives a team a much steadier foundation than it had the year before.
Avery Johnson sits at the top of the list because everything runs through him. Back for what could be his fourth and final season in Manhattan, the Maize product has the kind of ceiling that can swing Kansas State from Big 12 title contender to something far more ordinary.
He’s got the tools, the experience and now another year with Collin Klein. He also hasn’t quite stitched together that complete season yet.
By the time 2026 rolls around, Johnson will be entering his third year as a starter, and there won’t be many quarterbacks in the country with more game reps. If he puts it all together, he could climb into the conversation with the top 10 quarterbacks in Kansas State history.
Jaron Tibbs also looks positioned for a bigger stage. After arriving from Purdue, he put together a season that didn’t always get the attention it deserved: 47 catches, 595 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2025.
He was clearly the No. 2 target behind Jayce Brown, but his role kept growing as the year went on. Eight times in 12 games, he topped 50 receiving yards, and his 12.7 yards per catch made him one of the offense’s most dependable answers through the air.
He seemed to be open when K-State needed him most, often working near the line to gain and helping extend drives. Now he steps into the top wideout spot and could be primed for a breakout under new receivers coach Thad Ward, who helped Malik Knowles make a major jump in one offseason heading into 2022.
On the defensive side, Adrian Maddox arrives from Georgia with a real chance to step in right away for Jordan Peterson’s unit. The secondary is crowded, but Maddox was not brought in to watch from the sideline.
He has already been productive at two previous stops, and even though he played only 4 games at Georgia, he looks like a strong candidate to bounce back in 2026. He also brings leadership, and all signs point to him having a strong spring.
That vocal presence could matter as much as anything once the games start, especially with the number of snaps he has already logged in college.
Mekhi Mason is the next transfer with a path to a major role. He comes in as the clear replacement for Austin Romaine and is expected to start in the middle.
Mason had a strong year at Louisiana Tech, finishing 2025 with 68 total tackles and 3.5 sacks. He’s known as a blitzer and does his best work inside the box, where he can help against the run.
He only broke up 4 passes last season, so the value here is straightforward: tackle production and physical play. His best game came at LSU, where he made 11 tackles in a 23-7 loss in Death Valley.
That kind of experience should serve him well in Manhattan.
The last spot goes to the steady hand of John Pastore. With more than five seniors worthy of consideration, the choice lands on the player who brings the most certainty.
A preseason All-Big 12 pick, Pastore is set to hold down the starting left tackle job for Mike Schmidt’s line all season. PFF ranked him as Kansas State’s No. 1 offensive lineman a year ago, and he returns as the highest-graded tackle in the Big 12.
He’s a strong pass blocker who helped the Wildcats limit sacks last season, and that kind of protection matters. If Pastore is solid again in 2026, it gives Schmit and Klein one less thing to worry about.
And with the NFL in his future, he may wind up being the best of Kansas State’s senior group.
In Other News...
Brandon White Is Emerging As A Key Piece For Kansas State
Kansas State is banking on Brandon White to be much more than a depth addition this fall. The Hawaii transfer has already earned notice from quarterback Avery Johnson, who pointed to Whites skill set and leadership during Big 12 Media Days, a solid sign that he is carving out a real role in the offense as the Wildcats look to surround Johnson with reliable targets.
Whites arrival matters even more because Kansas State is still in the part of the summer where chemistry is being built and expectations are being sorted out. Fans will get another chance to learn more about the roster soon at the Meet the Cats event, where coach Collin Klein and players will be available, but White already feels like one of the names worth watching as this group takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Former Kansas State LB Austin Romaine Is Turning Heads In The Big 12
Austin Romaine has already made his presence felt since leaving Kansas State for Texas Tech, where the former Wildcats linebacker is drawing notice well before the Big 12 grind really gets going. A productive defender in Manhattan, Romaine put up 60 tackles and a half sack for Kansas State before moving on, and his reputation has only grown since then with Pro Football Focus College singling him out among the leagues top returning linebackers.
The early buzz in Lubbock has not just been about rsum, either, because Romaine has quickly earned positive remarks from teammates who have seen him up close. For Kansas State fans, it is another reminder of how much production he brought to the defense, and for the Big 12 it is a sign that Texas Tech may have added a linebacker who can fit in fast and raise the floor of that unit. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Freshman Garrick Dixon Could Help Sooner Than Expected
Freshman cornerback Garrick Dixon arrived in Manhattan with the kind of rsum that usually buys a little patience. The St. Louis product was one of Missouris top high school defensive backs, picked up multiple honors in prep ball and signed with Kansas State as a player the staff viewed as a promising long-term addition in the secondary.
Stanton Weber has made it clear Dixon is still expected to redshirt, but there is already a path for him to get on the field sooner than many freshmen do. Special teams can be the fastest way for a young defender to earn trust, and Dixons early role there could give Kansas State an immediate return while the bigger development plan continues in the background. [Read more 🡒]