Kansas State Football isn’t finished with 2021 recruiting class

High school recruits are signed and delivered but Kansas State football is not done yet with filling their 2021 recruiting class.

National Signing Day is often a day of short-term excitement and often a reminder that the world still has fax machines. After their day of glory, they will return to the closets and await, much like the groundhog, their emergence into glory in another year. Hope for college football fans springs eternal on Signing Day, as Kansas State football fans know all too well.

This year, much like all other aspects of daily life, nothing is the same. While Signing Day used to be known for nail-biting decisions and crazy commitment flips, Signing Day in 2021 is seen as the day that was over without suspense before a second cup of coffee was enjoyed. For this recruiting cycle, the crazy is just getting started and Kansas State projects to be right in the middle of the chaos.

Due to transfers, Kansas State has lost multiple players in their defensive backfield. Lance Robinson transferred to Tulane, Will Jones to South Florida, and Tyronne Lewis to Louisiana. The Cats are losing AJ Parker to graduation and need to add experienced defensive backs through transfers. But first, who has signed?

Recruits signed and delivered for Kansas State football

The class is highlighted by quarterback Jake Rubley, the highest-rated quarterback in over a decade and a potential impact player for the Wildcats. Here are the remaining names of the 2021 recruiting class. Two members, Purnell and Illalio will be announced at a later date.

• Jake Rubley, QB, Colorado
• Davonte Pritchard, LB, Kansas
• Omar Daniels, CB, Georgia
• RJ Garcia, WR, Florida
• Brenen Hawkins, WR, Texas
• Austin Weiner, OT, Kansas
• Brayden Wood, DL, Colorado
• Devrin Weathers, ATH, Missouri
• Damian Illalio, DL, Kansas
• Darrell Jones, CB, Kansas
• Andrew Leingang, OL, North Dakota
• Ozzie Hoffler, DL, Georgia
• Krew Jackson, LB, Arizona
• Marvin Martin, S, Texas
• Gaven Hasslehorst, DL/LB, Kansas
• Desmond Purnell, ATH, Kansas

Looking at Transfers

The Cats will certainly be looking to add depth defensively, specifically up the middle at defensive tackle, at linebacker, and defensive backfield. Again, perhaps no position group needs more help than at defensive back, a group that has seen both graduations and transfers decimate the roster depth and severely limit the experience on the roster.

Linebacker is another position group that will need to be addressed as a majority of their linebackers from this past season — Elijah Sullivan, Justin Hughes, and Cody Fletcher — all graduate. Bodies need to be brought in and contributors must be found.

Wide receiver and tight end would be a nice place to find a contributor. The Cats are going to lose Briley Moore to the NFL Draft and have lost Wykeen Gill and Joshua Youngblood to transfers, which obviously hurts the team, as the ability to make plays in the passing game is important.

Wyatt Hubert declares for the NFL Draft

In news that isn’t overly surprising, star defensive end Wyatt Hubert has announced he will enter the NFL Draft after his junior season. For his career, he leaves Kansas State having recorded 20 sacks, 33 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles.

https://twitter.com/Wyatt_Bert/status/1339003665387040769?s=20

Khalid Duke has been a good edge player and looks to help take his place and the Cats are hoping a player such as Felix Anudike or Nate Matlock steps in and contributes next season as an impact edge type player

K-State won’t go bowling this year

It was announced on Dec. 16 that the Wildcats were forced to shut down football operations and made the choice they would withdraw from bowl consideration. This is not a bad thing and could actually be considered a good thing. A team without many playmakers would create a very dicey situation in attempting to compete and win.

The team had been able to practice the past two weeks waiting on the process to evolve, and with the decision, players can now return home for the holidays and come back in the spring ready to work and continue to build the program back.