Kansas State football entered a new era after hiring first year head coach Collin Klein. He's already proven capable with the Wildcats production this Spring, but he'll need to keep things rolling in the recruiting trail.
Three biggest needs for Kansas State football in 2027
Wildcats starting quarterback Avery Johnson enters the 2026 season with only one season of eligibility remaining. This time next year, all eyes are expected to shift onto the next Kansas State starter, whoever that may be.
Johnson has proved more than capable both as a backup and starter in each of the last three seasons. He shared the quarterback room with Will Howard, transcending greatness in each of the last two seasons.
In the eyes of most fans, he's everything that the Kansas State quarterback position dreamed of; an in-state kid, topping the charts as one of the nation's best prospects out of high school. Staying in state just-so-happened to be convenient.
There's one name in the class of 2027 likely to succeed Johnson after he leaves: Tennessee high school prospect Cam Kruse. Listed as hailing from Franklin, TN, Kruse is a three-star prospect originally from Olathe.
Go Cats! Excited for the next chapter #EMAW @CoachKruse @DustyBennett @mgcsports @KStateFB @CK_KleinCollin @Coach_Ellsworth @pagefootball @wcsPHScr pic.twitter.com/wA2ebD7UUm
— Cam Kruse (@Cameron_Kruse09) April 28, 2026
He chose the Wildcats over schools like Miami, West Virginia and Northwestern. Should he make an impact early, he could become a clear frontrunner for the starting role come next season.
Depth in the trenches
Kansas State didn't just lose one of its best players to the 2026 NFL Draft in former center Sam Hecht. The team lost one of its leaders, and arguably one of the best offensive linemen in the country.
Entering this season, it's a role likely to be occupied by Hecht's listed backup, Kyle Rakers. Luckily enough, Rakers is still young, entering his sophomore season.
There's not only a need to replace the kind of talent that Hecht brought to the Wildcats, but also finding a player with his level of longevity.
At the time of publication, only three-star Texas native Canaan Smith is listed as a 247Sports "Hard Commit." That's subject to change in the coming months.
Help in the secondary
Similar to the offensive line, the Wildcats also lost starting safety VJ Payne, who was selected in the seventh round by the New York Jets. The safety position may be an area for continued evaluation and development moving forward.
With a lot of names still currently on the roster, it's hard to say who the frontrunner is for this season's starting role. The biggest takeaway: it's competitive.
The Wildcats defense played a crucial role in the 2023 Pop Tarts Bowl, and has been a key factor in past rivalry matchups against both Kansas and Iowa State. When making those recruiting pitches, it's an important piece of the puzzle where the Wildcats can't afford to lose depth.
But what does retaining that talent pool look like? It starts with keeping the experienced, high-level playmakers around. Continue targeting the top recruits in next season's class, but establish the secondary as an elite core within the roster.
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