For the second year in a row, Kansas State aimed to lock down the top player in the state. This time, it didn’t go their way.
Four-star tight end Ian Premer chose Notre Dame over K-State, Kansas, and Iowa State, dealing a tough blow to the Wildcats' 2026 recruiting hopes.
BREAKING: Elite 2026 TE Ian Premer has Committed to Notre Dame, he tells me for @on3recruits
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 26, 2025
The 6’6 230 TE from Great Bend, KS chose the Fighting Irish over Iowa State, Kansas, & Kansas State
He’s ranked as a Top 25 Recruit (No. 3 TE) in the ‘26 On300https://t.co/ZZWiPvEQVg pic.twitter.com/CHJcR2X85p
Premer, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound standout, committed Thursday with little fanfare, ending a highly contested recruiting battle.
Kansas State had hoped to keep the state’s top prospect home again after landing five-star tight end Linkon Cure in 2025. Instead, Premer becomes the latest in-state talent to head elsewhere.
The rival Jayhawks have cleaned up on the 2026 Kansas board, landing seven of the top 15 in-state prospects, including four-star DB J.J. Dunnigan (Manhattan), four-star OT Kaeden Snyder and three-star EDGE Hunter Higgins.
Two more top uncommitted recruits—OT Maxwell Robinson (Derby, Kan.) and LB Johnmichael Fountain—are also trending away from K-State.
With momentum fading in the 2026 in-state race, the Wildcats have already begun pivoting their attention toward the 2027 class.
Offensive tackle Gus Corsair (Hays, Kan.) and athlete Cooper Ohnmacht (Great Bend, Kan.) are among the top prospects in next year’s group and have already earned K-State offers. Corsair is a technically sound lineman with strong hands, quick feet, and the ability to dominate in both run and pass protection.
Ohnmacht is one of the most dynamic athletes in the state. He flashes elite body control, acceleration, and natural ball skills. As a receiver, he creates separation and makes tough catches. On defense, he’s instinctive and aggressive, capable of locking down in coverage or closing fast in space. His track speed and leaping ability make him a two-way threat with high upside at the college level.
A lot can happen between now and National Signing Day, but the Wildcats now enter the 2025 season with momentum and expectations.
Quarterback Avery Johnson returns after a breakout season and is joined by dynamic playmakers Dylan Edwards, Joe Jackson, and Jayce Brown. On defense, veterans Austin Romaine and V.J. Payne anchor an experienced unit.
K-State also bolstered its offensive line via the transfer portal, adding Pitt transfer Terrence Enos and former Penn State guard J.B. Nelson—both expected to contribute immediately.
The Wildcats are earning national respect in the preseason rankings. K-State is ranked No. 12 in USA Today’s Top 25, No. 16 in Joel Klatt’s post-spring rankings, and No. 21 in ESPN’s Football Power Index—the highest FPI mark among Big 12 teams.
Kansas State is hoping a quicker start and stronger early presence in 2027 will reverse the recruiting trend and bring top-tier Kansas talent back to Manhattan.
The Cats open the season in Ireland against Iowa State on Saturday, Aug. 23.