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 Draft Scout College Football Player News: Kansas State
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  Avery Johnson threw two touchdown passes and Kansas State got contributions from all three phases of the game to lead the No. 18 Wildcats to a season-opening 41-6 win over UT Martin on Saturday night. The Wildcats' defense dominated early and often, allowing the Wildcats' offense to find its footing. Kansas State limited the Skyhawks to 134 total yards (2.4 yards per play). K-State also befuddled UT Martin's passing attack by sacking Kinkead Dent three times. The Wildcats finished with four sacks, led by sophomore defensive end Tobi Osunsanmi's 1 1/2.

Meanwhile, the Wildcats' offense had its moments behind Johnson, a sophomore who became K-State's second-youngest quarterback to start a season opener. He made his mark in the first quarter when he connected with tight end Brayden Loftin for a 23-yard touchdown to cap a seven-play, 80-yard drive that gave K-State an early 7-0 lead. Johnson finished 14 of 21 for 153 yards and two TDs with an interception. He also ran for 37 yards on three carries. DJ Giddens gouged UT Martin's defense with a team-high 124 yards on 13 carries, averaging 9.5 yards per attempt. As a team, the Wildcats totaled 283 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries. - AP College Football


Jr/2027 QB Avery JohnsonKansas State
News Source: AP College Football
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  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

rSr/2024 OG Cooper BeebeKansas State
News Source: Kansas State Football
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  2023 ALL-MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL HONORABLE MENTION: OL Easton Kilty,...Started every game at left tackle...Behind his blocking, UND sits No. 3 in the MVFC and No. 4 nationally in completion percentage (70.3)...UND quarterbacks have the No. 15 passing efficiency rating in the FCS (153.02) with the help of his blocking...Helped the Fighting Hawks pile up over 500 yards of offense twice, highlighted by 652 yards against Drake...Entered the year as an honorable mention Preseason All-MVFC selection. - North Dakota Football

rSr/2025 OG Easton KiltyKansas State
News Source: North Dakota Football
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  2023 GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Ralph Ortiz, West Florida,...Ortiz earned top freshman defensive honors after a solid debut season campaign for the Argonauts. A three-time GSC Freshman of the Week honoree, Ortiz finished the season with 35 tackles, good for fifth among UWF leaders. He also recorded 11 solo stops, six tackles for loss and one sack. Among GSC leaders, the redshirt-rookie linebacker was tied-fourth with three interceptions and was one of just five players with a pick-six. Ortiz is the first West Florida recipient of the award since Trent Archie (2016). - Gulf South Football

rJr/2027 OLB Ralph OrtizKansas State
News Source: Gulf South Football
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  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


rSr/2024 FB Jax DineenKansas State
News Source: The Kansas City Star
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  Standing on the sideline, cornerback Donte Martin shook his head and laughed when asked about the receivers he just spent the last two hours working to stop. "Their speed, how they came out of the breaks - way different than what we had last year," he said. And head coach Danny Gonzales? If he didn't share the laugh, he at least had the same thought. "The secondary around here has not had to work as hard, I guess," he said. "That's no longer. They've got to come every single day because there's some guys on the outside that can run by them; there's some guys that can make some competitive catches."

Caleb Medford is one of those guys. The TCU transfer and former three-star recruit shined in his first day out for the Lobos, working a 6-foot-3, 205 pound frame up to head-turning speed for some of the cleanest routes of the day. Maybe it was having some familiarity going up against a 3-3-5 (the Horned Frogs and New Mexico share the same base defense) or maybe it was simply the defense seeing him live for the first time. But there's a smoothness to his play and production that pairs well with an easygoing personality. If anybody generated some hype on day one, it was Medford. - Albuquerque Journal


rSr/2026 WR Caleb MedfordKansas State
News Source: Albuquerque Journal
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  Dante Cephas announced Sunday that he's transferring from Kent State to Penn State. Cephas, one of the best players available in the transfer portal, could become the Nittany Lions' No. 1 wide receiver in 2023 after racking up 130 catches for 1,984 yards and 12 touchdowns the past seasons with the Golden Flashes. The former Penn Hills star is slated to finish classes at Kent State before enrolling at Penn State in the summer. Cephas will have two years of eligibility remaining. Cephas was near the top of James Franklin's portal wish list and with reason.

The Pittsburgh native has the ability to change Penn State's offensive trajectory in 2023, just as he did with Penn Hills four years ago. "They're getting the complete package in Dante," former Penn Hills coach Jon LeDonne said. "He's a big, long, athletic receiver. Very, very explosive. He's not afraid to go across the middle. He's a strong individual as well." LeDonne called Cephas "a happy guy who's always in a good mood." The coach never had any issues with him in their two seasons together, only fond memories. LeDonne, now the coach at Pine-Richland, remembers arriving at Penn Hills in June 2017. One of the first things he did was watch tape from the 2016 junior varsity team to see if he had any up-and-comers. Cephas jumped out right away. "Some of these one-handed catches he was making and going up for everything and running after the catch," LeDonne said, "we knew we had a special player." - Tribune Review


rSr/2025 WR Dante CephasKansas State
News Source: Tribune Review
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  Heir apparent Drew Allar has a new target. Dante Cephas, one of the best wide receivers available in the transfer portal, announced on Sunday that he will continue his career at Penn State. Cephas, a Pittsburgh native and Penn Hills graduate, joins the Nittany Lions after securing 130 catches for 1,984 yards and 12 touchdowns the past two seasons at Kent State. An All-MAC honoree, Cephas has two years of eligibility remaining.

Cephas' announcement came less than an hour after Penn State confirmed that it relieved wide receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield of his duties. Cephas is a significant addition to a Nittany Lion offense that loses three of its top targets entering the 2023 season. Wide receiver Parker Washington and tight end Brenton Strange left early for the NFL while Mitchell Tinsley ran out of eligibility, prompting Penn State to aggressively pursue playmakers in the portal. Cephas was always near the top of Penn State's list of targets, if not at the top. The 6-foot-1 receiver announced that he was entering the portal on Dec. 4, and he had an offer from head coach James Franklin and area recruiter Terry Smith a day later. - Tribune Review


rSr/2025 WR Dante CephasKansas State
News Source: Tribune Review
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  Cephas is a significant addition to a Nittany Lion offense that loses three of its top targets entering the 2023 season. Wide receiver Parker Washington and tight end Brenton Strange left early for the NFL while Mitchell Tinsley ran out of eligibility, prompting Penn State to aggressively pursue playmakers in the portal. Cephas was always near the top of Penn State's list of targets, if not at the top. The 6-foot-1 receiver announced that he was entering the portal on Dec. 4, and he had an offer from head coach James Franklin and area recruiter Terry Smith a day later.

Cephas also fielded offers from Georgia, Notre Dame, Pitt, Oklahoma, Miami and more, making him one of the most sought-after players in the portal. Cephas was ranked No. 24 overall among portal players, according to on3. This level of attention is a nice change of pace for Cephas, who was lightly recruited coming out of Penn Hills. The former teammate of Penn State cornerback Daequan Hardy didn't receive any Power Five offers a few years ago, garnering interest from only Kent State, Bowling Green, Toledo, Eastern Kentucky and Howard. Now, Cephas immediately becomes the most prolific receiver in Penn State's room. The Nittany Lions also have KeAndre Lambert-Smith (389 yards, four TDs in 2022) and Harrison Wallace III (273 yards, one TD) at receiver as well as a crop of freshmen from the 2022 recruiting class. Tight end Theo Johnson is expected to return, too. - Tribune Review


rSr/2025 WR Dante CephasKansas State
News Source: Tribune Review
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  Heir apparent Drew Allar has a new target. Dante Cephas, one of the best wide receivers available in the transfer portal, announced on Sunday that he will continue his career at Penn State. Cephas, a Pittsburgh native and Penn Hills graduate, joins the Nittany Lions after securing 130 catches for 1,984 yards and 12 touchdowns the past two seasons at Kent State. An All-MAC honoree, Cephas has two years of eligibility remaining.

Cephas' announcement came less than an hour after Penn State confirmed that it relieved wide receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield of his duties. Cephas is a significant addition to a Nittany Lion offense that loses three of its top targets entering the 2023 season. Wide receiver Parker Washington and tight end Brenton Strange left early for the NFL while Mitchell Tinsley ran out of eligibility, prompting Penn State to aggressively pursue playmakers in the portal. - Penn Live


rSr/2025 WR Dante CephasKansas State
News Source: Penn Live
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  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


rSr/2024 LS Randen PlattnerKansas State
News Source: The Kansas City Star
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  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


rSr/2024 ILB Daniel GreenKansas State
News Source: Salina Journal
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  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

Jr/2023 DE *Felix Anudike-UzomahKansas State
News Source: Topeka Capital Journal
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  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

Jr/2023 DE *Felix Anudike-UzomahKansas State
News Source: WIBW TV, Kansas
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  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


rSr/2024 WR Phillip BrooksKansas State
News Source: Topeka Capital Journal
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