Manhattan is buzzing. It isn’t just the usual wind off the Flint Hills; it’s the fact that the early signing period has come and gone, and the Kansas State football signees for the 2026 class actually look like a roster built for the new-look Big 12.
If you’ve followed the Wildcats for a while, you know the drill. Chris Klieman and his staff usually find the guys everyone else missed. They take the three-stars from western Kansas or the overlooked interior linemen from Iowa and turn them into NFL draft picks. But this time? Things feel a bit more aggressive. They didn’t just wait for the leftovers. They went out and snatched a defensive tackle from Stockholm, Sweden, and grabbed some serious muscle from the heart of Texas.
The Big Names Who Actually Signed
The 2026 class is basically a mix of "project" players with high ceilings and a few guys who could probably suit up next Saturday and not look out of place.
Honestly, the headliner for many is Lawson McGraw. He’s a four-star linebacker from Blue Valley West right here in Kansas. It’s always a massive win when K-State keeps the top-tier local talent home, especially when schools like Missouri or Iowa come sniffing around. McGraw is 6-foot-4, has arms that seem to go on forever, and played both ways in high school. He’s the kind of versatile athlete that Luke Wells and the offensive staff were drooling over at camp. He might start at linebacker, but don’t be shocked if he ends up as a flex tight end.
Then you have the international flavor. Adrian Bekibele is a name you’ll want to learn how to pronounce. He’s 6-foot-4, 305 pounds, and comes from the RIG Football Academy in Sweden. He was a captain for the Swedish National Team. Klieman mentioned that Bekibele actually flew all the way over for a summer camp. Imagine that flight just to do some drills in the Manhattan heat. It paid off because he walked away with an offer and eventually signed.
Offensive Line and the Trenches
K-State signed five offensive linemen in this cycle. That’s basically an entire starting unit.
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- Keegan Collins: A 6-foot-5 tackle from Amarillo, Texas.
- Oliver Miller: Coming in from Cherry Creek in Colorado, he’s a 310-pound wall.
- Bennett Fraser: A Missouri kid who chose the Cats over the Tigers and Northwestern.
- Lamarcus Barber: A local product from Mill Valley who was one of the earliest commits.
- Kaden Snyder: A 290-pound tackle from Salina Central.
It's pretty clear what the strategy is here. They want to get bigger. The Big 12 is shifting, and if you can't control the line of scrimmage, you're basically toast.
The Quarterback Situation
Let’s talk about the signal caller. Miles Teodecki is the guy for 2026. He’s from Vandegrift High in Austin, Texas. Teodecki isn't just a "system" guy; he was the Texas 6A Offensive Player of the Year. That’s not a small achievement. Playing at the highest level of Texas high school football prepares you for the bright lights of Bill Snyder Family Stadium in a way that’s hard to replicate.
He’s got that "it" factor. He’s 6-foot-2, weighs about 205, and can actually move. In an era where Avery Johnson has set the bar for "fast quarterbacks," Teodecki brings a different kind of poise. He’s a distributor.
Skill Positions: Speed and Hands
You can’t win with just big guys in the dirt. You need some lightning.
Maxwell Lovett is someone to keep an eye on. He’s a receiver from Colorado (Cherry Creek again—K-State is building a pipeline there). He runs a 10.59 in the 100-meter. That is elite speed. With Jayce Brown heading to the portal recently, the Wildcats desperately need a deep threat who can take the top off a defense. Lovett might be that guy.
Then there’s Derrick Salley Jr. from South Carolina. He’s a 6-foot-4 receiver. He’s big. He’s physical. He’s the type of "red zone" target that K-State hasn’t always had in abundance. Pair him with Lovett’s speed, and suddenly the playbook looks a lot more dangerous.
The Defensive Side
The defense took a hit with some portal departures, so these signees are coming in at the right time.
- Carnell Jackson Jr.: A defensive lineman from Alabama. He was actually an Arkansas de-commit. Getting a kid out of the heart of SEC country who was originally headed to the Hogs is a massive recruiting win for the staff.
- Garrick Dixon: A cornerback from Missouri who impressed at camp.
- Kaprice Keith: A safety from Omaha. He's 6-foot-3, which gives him the range to play that "center field" role in the 3-3-5 look K-State loves to run.
- Josiah Vilmael: Another Texas cornerback. Speed is the name of his game.
What Most People Get Wrong About K-State Recruiting
Look, people see the "3-star" rankings and assume these guys are just filler. That’s a mistake.
K-State has a specific "identity." They don't just look for the highest-rated guy; they look for the guys who fit the culture. Klieman talks about being "disciplined, physical, and fundamentally sound." If a 5-star recruit is a diva, they don't want him.
The 2026 Kansas State football signees are a reflection of that. They are mostly multi-sport athletes. Many of them, like Lawson McGraw and Adrian Bekibele, earned their offers in person at camp. They didn't just send a highlight tape; they showed up and worked.
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The Transfer Portal Factor
We can't ignore the elephant in the room. Recruiting isn't just high schoolers anymore.
The portal opened on January 2nd and just closed on the 16th. K-State has already been active. They picked up Brandon White, a wide receiver from Hawaii, and Elijah Hill, an edge rusher from Kennesaw State.
White is interesting because he has several years of eligibility left. Hill is a bit of a gamble, but at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, he has the frame to be a situational pass rusher immediately. The staff is using the portal to plug the holes that the 2026 high school class might not be ready to fill for another year or two.
Why This Class Matters Right Now
The Big 12 is wide open. With the "Blue Bloods" like Texas and Oklahoma gone, the path to a conference championship—and a spot in the expanded 12-team playoff—is right there for the taking.
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K-State isn't just trying to be "competitive" anymore. They are trying to be the new standard for the league. This 2026 class, with its heavy emphasis on the offensive and defensive lines (43% of the class are linemen), shows they want to win by being the bullies.
What to Watch Next
If you're a fan or just curious about how this roster is shaking out, here is what you need to do:
- Follow the Spring Enrollees: 18 of these signees are supposed to be on campus for the spring semester. That means you'll see names like Miles Teodecki and Lawson McGraw in the spring game.
- Watch the Traditional Signing Day: While the bulk is signed, February 4th is the "traditional" day. There might be one or two more surprises or a late flip.
- Monitor the Post-Spring Portal: After spring ball ends, another portal window opens. That’s when we’ll see if any of these incoming freshmen impressed enough to push older players toward the exit.
The Wildcats aren't just rebuilding; they're reloading with a specific type of athlete. It’s a mix of Heartland grit and some serious out-of-state speed. Keep an eye on those trenches—that’s where this class will ultimately be judged.