Versatility, Height and Length Highlight Early Signing Class
Dec 21, 2023 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Kansas State's 2024 Signing Day theme was "All Aboard" and featured a graphic of a steam-engine locomotive. The Wildcats appear to be staying right on the rails with the signing of 15 prospects, including 13 high school players and two community-college transfers, who should help the program go full steam ahead for years to come.
Once again, the foundation of the class began in the state of Kansas with the signing of four in-state prospects: safety Callen Barta (Topeka), offensive linemen Gus Hawkins (Shawnee) and Kaedin Massey (Lyndon), and running back JB Price (Overland Park).
It marks the 15th-straight season that K-State has signed at least four in-state high school players.
"It's really important that we do that," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said during a signing class news conference on Wednesday. "We're signing four Kansas kids and have done a tremendous job as well as getting a bunch of Kansas kids committed from a walk-on standpoint. Those guys will be just as important to the class as everybody else. That's why we've had success with the Hayden Gillums who walk on an earn a scholarship and Austin Moore, who grew up wanting to be a Wildcat, in giving them the opportunity and then those guys taking advantage of it."
K-State cast a wide net as the 15 signees hail from nine different states. Of the 15 overall players, nine players are on offense and six are on defense. There are four offensive linemen, three defensive backs, two linebackers, two running backs, two wide receivers, one defensive lineman and one quarterback.
"Offensive line was the huge group," Klieman said. "We're losing all those (five starting) offensive linemen. That's why it was so important for us to continue to develop. Offensive line is a position where you need to have guys in the program. You'll occasionally get the transfer to come in and help you, but we're trying to continue to develop that, and Coach (Conor) Riley is the best offensive coach in the country. He's continued to develop guys that we have (so the) next group is waiting in the wings."
The offensive linemen offer height and length. Hawkins, who was rated as the No. 1 prospect in the state of Kansas by On3, is a 6-foot-7, 270-pounder who was voted to the Top 11 team among all classes in the state by the Kansas Football Coaches Association. Massey, the No. 3-rated prospect in the state of Kansas by 247Sports, is a 6-foot-8, 270-pounder who was named 2023 Sports in Kansas Offensive Lineman of the Year among small classes while helping Lyndon High School to a 13-0 record and a state championship. Ryan Howard, younger brother of Will Howard, is a 6-foot-7, 315-pounder who was rated as the 56th-best offensive tackle in the Class of 2024 by ESPN.
"Ryan is on his own journey," Klieman said. "This is his journey and story, and he has to write his own story. We didn't recruit him because of his brother, we recruited him because of Ryan. It was the right fit for him. It's so cool to watch these offensive linemen that we've signed and they're best friends already. They've really helped each other stay committed and stay together. (Ryan Howard) has a tremendous relationship with Coach Riley."
The quarterback of the class, Blake Barnett is rated as the sixth-best dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2024 by Rivals. He joins community-college transfer defensive lineman Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder, Barta, Howard, linebacker Boone Morris, offensive lineman Kyle Rakers, running back DeVon Rice, wide receiver Jacques Spradley-Demps and community-college transfer safety Dante Thomas as prospects who are expected to enroll at K-State for the 2024 spring semester.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Barnett, a native of Erie, Colorado, brings eye-popping statistics to the quarterback room while he also won the Colorado state championships in the 100 meters. Barnett threw for 7,518 yards and 88 touchdowns and rushed for 3,420 yards and 68 touchdowns in his career. His 159 total touchdowns broke the state record previously held by San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffery.
"I love his ability to run the football, he throws the ball exceptionally well, and he's smart and knows how to lead," Klieman said. "He won a state championship, and they had a tough road every game. He played his last game on a turned ankle and found a way. That competitiveness is something that really attracted us to Avery (Johnson), too. Guys who love to compete are going to be really good quarterbacks, and that's one of the things that Blake really loves to do."
K-State currently has true freshman starter Avery Johnson and redshirt freshman Jacob Knuth on its roster as the 25th-ranked Wildcats, 8-4, prepare to face No. 18 NC State, 9-3, in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on December 28.
Quarterbacks Will Howard, Jake Rubley and Adryan Lara all entered the transfer portal following the end of the regular season, meaning that Barnett will gain valuable reps during player-led 7-on-7 drills over the winter months ahead of spring practice.
"Something we talked about with (Barnett) even during the recruiting process was there might be some change in that room, and that change is going to open up an opportunity. Then when a change did happen with a couple of guys leaving, I think it excited him even more to say, 'Boy, I get to come here,'" Klieman said. "He knew he was coming in midyear anyway, but the fact that he's going to get a ton of reps in the spring to learn how to play college football (is beneficial)."
Klieman indicated that adjustments could be in store for the Wildcats' defensive front. That, in particular, makes Alcorn-Crowder a welcome addition. The 6-foot-6, 295-pound transfer from Butler Community College was regarded as the fifth-best overall community-college prospect and the second-best defensive tackle in the Class of 2024 by ESPN. He had 28 tackles, 10.0 tackles for a loss, 7.0 sacks and two forced fumbles this season.
"We've had really good success with guys from Butler," Klieman said. "We're going to make some adjustments with our defensive front moving forward. It probably won't happen in the bowl game because our limited numbers, but we're trying to find some size with some guys that can play either inside or outside. We're trying to find some speed guys with guys we have with Brendan Mott, those types of guys.
"We're going to try to make some adjustments, but I like that Malcolm can play at nose or at end. That's the versatility we're excited about."
Kansas State's 2024 Signing Day theme was "All Aboard" and featured a graphic of a steam-engine locomotive. The Wildcats appear to be staying right on the rails with the signing of 15 prospects, including 13 high school players and two community-college transfers, who should help the program go full steam ahead for years to come.
Once again, the foundation of the class began in the state of Kansas with the signing of four in-state prospects: safety Callen Barta (Topeka), offensive linemen Gus Hawkins (Shawnee) and Kaedin Massey (Lyndon), and running back JB Price (Overland Park).
It marks the 15th-straight season that K-State has signed at least four in-state high school players.
"It's really important that we do that," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said during a signing class news conference on Wednesday. "We're signing four Kansas kids and have done a tremendous job as well as getting a bunch of Kansas kids committed from a walk-on standpoint. Those guys will be just as important to the class as everybody else. That's why we've had success with the Hayden Gillums who walk on an earn a scholarship and Austin Moore, who grew up wanting to be a Wildcat, in giving them the opportunity and then those guys taking advantage of it."
K-State cast a wide net as the 15 signees hail from nine different states. Of the 15 overall players, nine players are on offense and six are on defense. There are four offensive linemen, three defensive backs, two linebackers, two running backs, two wide receivers, one defensive lineman and one quarterback.
"Offensive line was the huge group," Klieman said. "We're losing all those (five starting) offensive linemen. That's why it was so important for us to continue to develop. Offensive line is a position where you need to have guys in the program. You'll occasionally get the transfer to come in and help you, but we're trying to continue to develop that, and Coach (Conor) Riley is the best offensive coach in the country. He's continued to develop guys that we have (so the) next group is waiting in the wings."
The offensive linemen offer height and length. Hawkins, who was rated as the No. 1 prospect in the state of Kansas by On3, is a 6-foot-7, 270-pounder who was voted to the Top 11 team among all classes in the state by the Kansas Football Coaches Association. Massey, the No. 3-rated prospect in the state of Kansas by 247Sports, is a 6-foot-8, 270-pounder who was named 2023 Sports in Kansas Offensive Lineman of the Year among small classes while helping Lyndon High School to a 13-0 record and a state championship. Ryan Howard, younger brother of Will Howard, is a 6-foot-7, 315-pounder who was rated as the 56th-best offensive tackle in the Class of 2024 by ESPN.
"Ryan is on his own journey," Klieman said. "This is his journey and story, and he has to write his own story. We didn't recruit him because of his brother, we recruited him because of Ryan. It was the right fit for him. It's so cool to watch these offensive linemen that we've signed and they're best friends already. They've really helped each other stay committed and stay together. (Ryan Howard) has a tremendous relationship with Coach Riley."
The quarterback of the class, Blake Barnett is rated as the sixth-best dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2024 by Rivals. He joins community-college transfer defensive lineman Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder, Barta, Howard, linebacker Boone Morris, offensive lineman Kyle Rakers, running back DeVon Rice, wide receiver Jacques Spradley-Demps and community-college transfer safety Dante Thomas as prospects who are expected to enroll at K-State for the 2024 spring semester.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Barnett, a native of Erie, Colorado, brings eye-popping statistics to the quarterback room while he also won the Colorado state championships in the 100 meters. Barnett threw for 7,518 yards and 88 touchdowns and rushed for 3,420 yards and 68 touchdowns in his career. His 159 total touchdowns broke the state record previously held by San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffery.
"I love his ability to run the football, he throws the ball exceptionally well, and he's smart and knows how to lead," Klieman said. "He won a state championship, and they had a tough road every game. He played his last game on a turned ankle and found a way. That competitiveness is something that really attracted us to Avery (Johnson), too. Guys who love to compete are going to be really good quarterbacks, and that's one of the things that Blake really loves to do."
K-State currently has true freshman starter Avery Johnson and redshirt freshman Jacob Knuth on its roster as the 25th-ranked Wildcats, 8-4, prepare to face No. 18 NC State, 9-3, in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on December 28.
Quarterbacks Will Howard, Jake Rubley and Adryan Lara all entered the transfer portal following the end of the regular season, meaning that Barnett will gain valuable reps during player-led 7-on-7 drills over the winter months ahead of spring practice.
"Something we talked about with (Barnett) even during the recruiting process was there might be some change in that room, and that change is going to open up an opportunity. Then when a change did happen with a couple of guys leaving, I think it excited him even more to say, 'Boy, I get to come here,'" Klieman said. "He knew he was coming in midyear anyway, but the fact that he's going to get a ton of reps in the spring to learn how to play college football (is beneficial)."
Klieman indicated that adjustments could be in store for the Wildcats' defensive front. That, in particular, makes Alcorn-Crowder a welcome addition. The 6-foot-6, 295-pound transfer from Butler Community College was regarded as the fifth-best overall community-college prospect and the second-best defensive tackle in the Class of 2024 by ESPN. He had 28 tackles, 10.0 tackles for a loss, 7.0 sacks and two forced fumbles this season.
"We've had really good success with guys from Butler," Klieman said. "We're going to make some adjustments with our defensive front moving forward. It probably won't happen in the bowl game because our limited numbers, but we're trying to find some size with some guys that can play either inside or outside. We're trying to find some speed guys with guys we have with Brendan Mott, those types of guys.
"We're going to try to make some adjustments, but I like that Malcolm can play at nose or at end. That's the versatility we're excited about."
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