A handful of freshmen are already knocking on the door for Kansas State, and the 2026 season could be the one where several of them force their way into real roles.
That’s the premise of a new GoPowercat series from Cole Carmody, who is taking a look at five players from each class who could matter for K-State in 2026. The idea is simple: every season brings a few breakouts nobody fully sees coming, whether that means a player becomes an all-conference type or just carves out a useful role on special teams that doesn’t jump off the page to everyone else.
For this first group, the focus is on true freshmen and redshirt freshmen, using Kansas State’s official eligibility counter on the roster. With the new five-for-five changing how eligibility will be viewed going forward, the series sticks with the familiar freshman-through-senior setup for now.
Dylan Villarouel looks like the safest bet of the bunch to play a major role. The only real question is where he ends up on the offensive line.
He has spent time at center, but he also showed well at guard last season, and that may be where he settles in long term. Delvin Morris, who came over from Akron, is in the mix for the center job, and if Morris handles that spot well in camp, Villarouel appears lined up for one of the guard positions.
He already cracked the rotation last year without playing more than four games, and his athleticism makes him one of the more intriguing linemen in the group.
Darien Whitaker Jr. enters 2026 with a very different kind of momentum. He was viewed as a possible true-freshman contributor coming out of high school, but injuries slowed him during his first year on campus.
A healthy spring changed the picture. Whitaker is a big, physical linebacker who fits the style Nick Toth wants from that room, and while he still has to climb past several experienced players, the path to impact is there.
He’s expected to be on all four special teams, and by midseason it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s either starting at inside linebacker or taking meaningful snaps there. Of everyone on this list, he may have the highest ceiling.
Larry Porter IV is more of a sleeper at receiver, but he made enough noise this spring to keep his name in the conversation. He was making difficult catches look routine, and while he still has to pass several older players to become part of the offense, he’s not a long shot.
Porter can play outside and could also back up Jaron Tibbs and/or Josh Manning. He didn’t appear in a game last season, but there’s a sense that could change in 2026.
A regular role still feels like a tough climb, but getting work with the twos early in the year is very much in play, especially if a strong fall camp pushes him up the depth chart.
Oliver Miller is the first true freshman on the list, and he has already made a strong first impression. He arrived on campus only months after his senior high school season ended, and the staff liked what it saw from him in spring practice.
Kansas State had to hold off Auburn and Ohio State to land him in the 2026 class, and he backed up that recruiting buzz when injuries to George Fitzpatrick and Gus Hawkins opened up reps. Miller may not be in the two-deep when the season starts, but if K-State gets comfortable leads and can turn to reserves, he has a real chance to see the field.
If he keeps stacking good practices and performs well in those opportunities, he could become a rare true freshman offensive lineman who plays a meaningful amount in 2026.
Josiah Vilmael was one of the bigger wins on signing day. He committed to Collin Klein the day he was hired, choosing K-State over in-state Texas, and his senior-year performance left people wondering how he was still on the board.
The staff moved quickly, and Klein closed the deal. With a veteran corner room in front of him, Vilmael probably won’t open camp as a starter, but he has a chance to land on the two-deep and could also help on special teams.
Since the redshirt rule is not a concern in 2026, there’s more freedom to use him if he’s ready. If he beats out some of the younger corners, he could get on the field as a true freshman, and he may have the highest ceiling of the young defensive backs in Jordan Peterson’s secondary.
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