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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Kansas State

Previous 15 Notes

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11/30/23 - Cooper Beebe, rSr/2024, Kansas State + More +

2023 BIG 12 OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR: Cooper Beebe, Kansas State, Sr.,...Beebe, who was also named an All-Big 12 First Team pick for a third-straight season, is the fifth player in conference history to twice be named the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year, an award that began in 2006. The others were Oklahoma's Creed Humphrey (2019 and 2020) and Orlando Brown (2016 and 2017), as well as Baylor's Spencer Drango (2014 and 2015) and Cyril Richardson (2012 and 2013). A native of Kansas City, Kansas, Beebe is the first K-State offensive lineman to earn three-straight All-Big 12 First Team citations from the league's coaches since Dalton Risner in 2016, 2017 and 2018. On Tuesday, Beebe was the first player in school history to be named a finalist for the Outland Trophy. - Kansas State Football

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OG Cooper Beebe, Kansas State
News Source: Kansas State Football
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02/21/23 - Jax Dineen, rSr/2024, Kansas State + More +

It appears as though Jax Dineen will not be back for an extra season with the Wildcats. Dineen, a 5-foot-10 and 244-pound fullback from Lawrence, could have returned to the football team for at least one more year in 2023 but it now seems like his playing days may be over. He is no longer listed on the K-State roster after playing in 37 games over four seasons with the Wildcats. While that is not exactly a surprise, he never publicly announced his future plans.

Dineen never entered his name in the NCAA transfer portal or declared he would pursue a pro career. It seems as though he is ready to pursue other options beyond football after college. Dineen was only used sparingly last year, as he gained two yards on just one rushing attempt. But his ability to run for tough yardage and make physical blocks made him a popular player in previous seasons. His brother, Jet Dineen, will be a redshirt-freshman safety for the Wildcats this season. - The Kansas City Star

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FB Jax Dineen, Kansas State
News Source: The Kansas City Star
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02/04/23 - Keagan Johnson, rSo/2026, Kansas State + More +

Keagan Johnson was careful not to say anything bad about his former school when the Iowa transfer spoke to reporters for the first time since he enrolled at Kansas State and joined the Wildcats as a wide receiver, but it is obvious that he thinks he is stepping into a more powerful offense than the one he left behind. Statistics back him up. Iowa averaged 251.6 yards per game last season, a number so low that it ranked ahead of only one team in all of college football - New Mexico. By comparison, K-State put up 418.8 yards per game on its way to 10 victories and a Big 12 championship.

There is no comparison between the two systems and Johnson is giddy about his potential with his new team. "I think I can provide an explosive weapon," Johnson said, "and be a big-play type talent." Johnson came to that conclusion while he watched K-State defeat TCU in the Big 12 championship game last December. The 6-foot-1 and 194-pound playmaker liked the way the Wildcats used Malik Knowles as both a receiver and a ball-carrier out of the backfield on gadget plays. Now that Knowles is off to the professional ranks, Johnson thinks he can replace his skills next season - and maybe even do more while playing under offensive coordinator Collin Klein. "I really liked their trajectory and the way that Coach Klein has added new things," Johnson said. "They have a lot of different, creative ways to get their playmakers the ball and it's really appealing to me." The possibility of taking over as K-State's new No. 1 receiver or its top deep threat was one of the main attractions that drew him to Manhattan. - The Kansas City Star

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WR Keagan Johnson, Kansas State
News Source: The Kansas City Star
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01/16/23 - Jevon Banks, rJr/2025, Kansas State + More +

With super-senior nose guards Huggins and Robert Hentz exhausting their eligibility, K-State went shopping for veteran interior line help in the transfer portal. The Wildcats got it Saturday with a commitment from former Mississippi State redshirt sophomore Jevon Banks. Banks appeared in 10 games for the Bulldogs in 2022, recording 17 tackles. In 20 career games, he has 26 tackles, four for loss, with one-half sack. Starters Huggins and Hentz saw most of the action in the middle of K-State's defense during the past season, combining for 41 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. The Wildcats do return Uso Seumalu, who had five tackles, including two for loss, and redshirt freshman Damian Ilalio, who appeared in four games with two stops. - Topeka Capital Journal

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DT Jevon Banks, Kansas State
News Source: Topeka Capital Journal
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01/15/23 - Jevon Banks, rJr/2025, Kansas State + More +

Jevon Banks, a 6-foot-2, 300-pound lineman who spent the past three seasons at Mississippi State, will get an opportunity to make an immediate impact at defensive tackle after he enrolls at K-State. Banks announced his intentions to play for the Wildcats next season via social media on Saturday morning at the conclusion of a recruiting visit in Manhattan. He arrives at a position of need as K-State looks to fill the void left by departing senior Eli Huggins. It looks like Banks should be able to make a quick transition to his new team. Banks came on strong for the Bulldogs last season and made 14 tackles against SEC competition. - Kansas City Star

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DT Jevon Banks, Kansas State
News Source: Kansas City Star
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01/15/23 - Randen Plattner, rSr/2024, Kansas State + More +

Few, if any, Kansas State football fans were on the edge of their seat waiting to learn if Randen Plattner intended to return to the Wildcats as a "super senior" next season. But that didn't stop the long snapper from making an announcement about his future plans this week. Turns out, Plattner has decided to stay in school for one more year of special teams duty. And he shared his decision in a humorous way that will be remembered more than the announcements from many of his high profile teammates. Leave it to the long snapper to share Kansas State's most entertaining social media post of the month.

"Wildcat Nation, what a special season to be a part of," he wrote. "I will cherish every part of the 2022 season and I am blessed to be a part of such a special group of guys. With that being said, 'Ya know a lot of people go to college for seven years.' I'm not gonna be a doctor, but I'm having a great time. Let's do it again." Believe it or not, Plattner could be a valuable addition to the K-State football team next season. He has served as the squad's primary long snapper on field goals and punts for each of the past two seasons without making any mistakes. - The Kansas City Star

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LS Randen Plattner, Kansas State
News Source: The Kansas City Star
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01/14/23 - Daniel Green, rSr/2024, Kansas State + More +

Kansas State's football team got a lot better on defense Saturday, and that's not even counting a key transfer portal addition. Middle linebacker Daniel Green, a preseason All-Big 12 pick, announced via social media that he is returning next year as a super-senior after an injury-plagued 2022 season.

"I have thought long and hard about leaving and entering the 2023 NFL draft," he wrote. "After a season plagued by injury and not being 100% for most of the year, I wanted to finish my college career playing my best ball. See y'all in the fall." Green, a 6-foot-3, 242-pound senior from Portland, briefly entertained thoughts of leaving after a breakout junior year in 2021 when he led the team in tackles with 89 and tackles for loss with 16, while recording three sacks and two fumble recoveries. But he decided to return after an 8-5 season in hopes of helping the Wildcats win a conference championship. - Salina Journal

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ILB Daniel Green, Kansas State
News Source: Salina Journal
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01/14/23 - *Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Jr/2023, Kansas State + More +

After three standout seasons at defensive end for Kansas State, Anudike-Uzomah made the highly-anticipated announcement Thursday via social media that he is bypassing his senior season and will enter the 2023 NFL draft. Anudike-Uzomah, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound junior from Kansas City, Missouri, arrived at K-State for the 2020 season as an unheralded recruit from Lee's Summit High School. He made it on the field for five games as a true freshman but really broke out the following year to become one of the most dominant edge rushers in Wildcat history. Running back Deuce Vaughn also declared for the draft as did wide receiver Malik Knowles and cornerback Julius Brents, both seniors who were eligible to return as super-seniors. Senior receiver Phillip Brooks announced Tuesday that he will take advantage of the extra year granted in response to the coronavirus pandemic. - Topeka Capital Journal

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DE *Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
News Source: Topeka Capital Journal
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01/12/23 - *Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Jr/2023, Kansas State + More +

The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, a 5X time All-American in 2022, Felix Anudike-Uzomah will take his talents to the NFL. Uzomah announced on his Twitter account Thursday afternoon that he will declare for the 2023 NFL Draft. Uzomah finished the 2022 campaign with 46 tackles, 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass break up. Overall, "King" Felix ends his K-State career with 31 games played, 100 total tackles, 20.5 sacks (sixth in school history) and eight forced fumbles. - WIBW TV, Kansas

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DE *Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
News Source: WIBW TV, Kansas
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01/12/23 - Phillip Brooks, rSr/2024, Kansas State + More +

Not only did the Wildcats get help through the transfer portal on Tuesday, but they also learned that wide receiver Phillip Brooks will return for a super-senior sixth year. With Brooks announcing his decision, K-State's rebuilding task at wide receiver became less daunting. The Wildcats' top three receivers - Malik Knowles, Kade Warner and Brooks - all were seniors, and Knowles already announced that he will not be back, while Warner's eligibility ran out.

Brooks not only ranked third on the team with 45 catches and second in receiving yards with 587 yards along with four touchdowns, but also was the Wildcats' top punt returner. He begins his final season with 129 career receptions for 1,538 yards and nine touchdowns, plus four punt return scores. - Topeka Capital Journal

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WR Phillip Brooks, Kansas State
News Source: Topeka Capital Journal
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01/07/23 - Cooper Beebe, rSr/2024, Kansas State + More +

Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman has some good news to share. He expects the Wildcats to return all five starters on the offensive line next season. That includes star left guard Cooper Beebe, who was named Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year following a tremendous junior campaign with the Wildcats. "We have got a bunch of our offensive linemen returning," Klieman told ESPN on Thursday while appearing on College Football Live. "I think everybody, our top eight offensive linemen, are returning. So that is a pretty good spot." Though none of K-State's veteran offensive linemen have publicly announced that they will return for another season blocking together in front of Will Howard, it seemed like a strong possibility that they would stick together.

Beebe told reporters before the Sugar Bowl that K-State's entire offensive line had discussed the possibility of "running it back" for one more year. "We definitely have been in talks," Beebe said last week. "We have sat down at dinner a couple times and talked about it. There's nothing that has been ironed out, and it's still up in the air. But we are definitely in talks. If one of us comes back I think it's an all type of deal." It appears as though that is the plan. Beebe was a candidate to declare as an early entrant for the NFL Draft along with running back Deuce Vaughn, but it looks like he has decided to remain in college for one more year. - The Kansas City Star

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OG Cooper Beebe, Kansas State
News Source: The Kansas City Star
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01/07/23 - Malik Knowles, rSr/2023, Kansas State + More +

The Kansas State football team will need to replace a pair of its top playmakers next season. Malik Knowles, a senior receiver who led the Wildcats in catches (48) and receiving yards (725) this past season, has decided to forgo an extra year of college football and declare for the NFL Draft. Knowles announced his decision via social media on Thursday, saying that he had already received an invitation to compete at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine that takes place before the draft. - The Kansas City Star

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WR Malik Knowles, Kansas State
News Source: The Kansas City Star
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01/04/23 - *Deuce Vaughn, Jr/2023, Kansas State + More +

Deuce Vaughn, the second-leading rusher in Kansas State football history, has played his last game as a Wildcat. Vaughn, a two-time consensus All-American as an all-purpose back, announced on social media Monday that he is passing up his senior season and entering the 2023 NFL draft. Vaughn rushed for 1,558 yards this season, moving into second place on the school career chart with 3,604. Only former All-American and K-State Hall of Famer Darren Sproles had more with 4,979 from 2001-04.

Vaughn's 1,936 all-purpose yards this year - he also caught 42 passes for 378 yards - pushed him into second place all-time for the Wildcats with 5,029, which again trails only Sproles' 6,812 total. Vaughn, who repeatedly brushed aside questions about his future until the end of the season, made his announcement two days after rushing for 133 yards, including an 88-yard touchdown, in K-State's 45-20 Sugar Bowl loss to Alabama. - Topeka Capital Journal

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RB *Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State
News Source: Topeka Capital Journal
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12/30/22 - Cooper Beebe, rSr/2024, Kansas State + More +

Cooper Beebe isn't the only member of Kansas State's offensive line who has a decision to make after the Wildcats take on Alabama at the Sugar Bowl later this week. Three of his fellow blockers (left tackle KT Leveston, center Hayden Gillum and right tackle Christian Duffie) all have the option to return to college and play one more season with the Wildcats as "super seniors." That means the K-State offensive line can choose to "run it back" next year and stay completely intact as a blocking unit in 2023. What are the odds that will happen? Higher than you might think.

"We definitely have been in talks," Beebe said. "We have sat down at dinner a couple times and talked about it. There's nothing that has been ironed out, and it's still up in the air. But we are definitely in talks. If one of us comes back I think it's an all type of deal." Should that happen, it would be excellent news for K-State as the Wildcats look to reload next season with star running back Deuce Vaughn potentially leaving for the NFL and Will Howard returning as starting quarterback. It sounds like K-State offensive coordinator Collin Klein is expecting good news. He told reporters on Thursday that he won't be surprised if the majority of the O-Line returns for one more year. Beebe is obviously the biggest key to the equation. The Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year is only a junior, but he is a projected pick in the upcoming NFL Draft if he decides to declare early. - The Kansas City Star

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OG Cooper Beebe, Kansas State
News Source: The Kansas City Star
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12/29/22 - *Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Jr/2023, Kansas State + More +

Much has been made about Alabama stars Bryce Young and Will Anderson choosing to play in the Sugar Bowl later this week against Kansas State when most other elite NFL Draft prospects are deciding to "opt out" of postseason games. But let's not forget that the Wildcats have some future NFL prospects on their roster, too. No one would have blamed Felix Anudike-Uzomah, in particular, for skipping this game and focusing on his future as a professional athlete. The junior K-State defensive end was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year after piling up 44 tackles and sacking opposing quarterbacks 8 1/2 times this season. At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, he is one of the most difficult edge rushers to block in all of college football.

Anudike-Uzomah will hear his name called in the 2023 NFL Draft if he decides to declare early as a junior, or in 2024, if he chooses to return to college for one more year. For now, he is torn on when he should make the leap. "I haven't really decided that yet," Anudike-Uzomah said Wednesday. "I'm still talking with my parents about it, just to make sure I finalize things and make the right decision on what I'm going to do. "Right now, I really want to focus on this. If you ask me questions about it after the game I can probably give you a better answer. But I'm still not 100% sure on it." - The Kansas City Star

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