Kansas State University Athletics
Wednesday Was ‘A Really Good Day’
Dec 05, 2024 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Wearing a dress shirt and purple blazer, Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman appeared to be all business as he sat down at his Wednesday news conference to discuss the signing of 26 prospects in the early 2025 signing period.
When Klieman opened his mouth, he broke into grin.
"We had a really good day," he said.
Highlighted by the signing of Linkon Cure, the No. 1-rated tight end in the country, K-State hauled in 24 high school prospects and two community-college transfers. The class includes quarterback Dillon Duff, running back Monterrio Elston, Jr., and safety Noah King — one of seven defensive backs signed by Klieman and his staff.
The class concluded with the late signing of 6-foot-1, 185-pound wide receiver Larry Porter IV, who led the state of Missouri with 92 catches for 1,410 yards and 18 touchdowns his senior season at Raytown (Mo.) High School.
"Guys, we were lucky," Klieman said. "We got everybody we thought we were going to sign, plus three. We were fortunate in what we were able to do."
In this day in age in college football recruiting, where everything becomes increasingly fluid, not every FBS school was likely as fortunate.
"You see too much of the flips, and that becomes the en vogue thing to do," Klieman said. "We do a really good job giving kids space but also communicating with the ones who've committed and the ones we have relationships with."
Cure, a 6-foot-6, 220-pound all-state selection from Goodland High School, generated much buzz nationally when he committed to K-State in June. Rated as the 32nd-best overall player in the Class of 2025 by 247Sports, Cure had 1,049 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns in addition to 208 rushing yards and six scores as a senior.
His hype was followed by interest from other schools, causing K-State fans to hold their breath in recent weeks until Cure officially signed with the Wildcats on Wednesday.
"We're really thrilled," Klieman said. "You get a five-star in state. There aren't very many of those that come from the state of Kansas. I'm thrilled for the Cure family, thrilled for our program and fan base that the kid did a great job doing his due diligence. That's what young men are doing now and I'm good with that.
"There were conversations the whole time, but in the end, it came down to what his heart told him, where he committed to. He went through this whole process in the summer and found a school that he wanted to be at."
K-State recently produced tight end Ben Sinnott, who was drafted by the Washington Commanders. K-State tight ends have been highly productive this season as well.
"(Cure) can be a flex guy, he can be a pseudo-wide receiver as he develops from a weight and strength standpoint to be an in-line tight end," Klieman said. "His versatility is going to be so important for what we do offensively, and we can highlight guys like that. The fact that he's one of the best athletes in the country, speed, size, strength, ability to jump and run — we're excited to get him."
Cure could have a gunslinger in his class. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Duff has thrown for 1,863 yards and 15 touchdowns in addition to rushing for 595 yards and eight scores to lead De Smet (Mo.) Jesuit High School to the state championship game on Saturday.
"The kid is a stud," Klieman said. "The guy's an athlete, and he spins it, and he can run it. He's a leader. He's reached out to so many of these kids in this class. That's what you want your quarterback to do. He's going to be a tremendous fit here."
The signing class features 15 players on defense, 10 on offense, and one specialist. There are five linebackers, four safeties, four wide receivers, three offensive linemen, two cornerbacks and defensive ends, one defensive back, one defensive tackle, one kicker/punter, one quarterback, one running back, and one tight end.
A total of 14 signees expected to enroll at K-State for the 2025 spring semester. The list includes safety Logan Bartley, wide receiver Nunu Concepcion, Trinity Valley CC wide receiver Jemyri Davis, Duff, running back Monterrio Elston Jr., safety Noah King, wide receiver Adonis Moise, kicker Cub Patton, linebacker Weston Polk, wide receiver Porter IV, linebacker Sawyer Schilke, defensive end Brad Stanyer, Hinds CC defensive tackle Patrick Tackie and offensive lineman Dylan Villarouel.
Standouts such as Elston and Noah could benefit from participating in spring workouts.
Elston Jr. is regarded as the 53rd-best running back in the Class of 2025 by ESPN and the 5-foot-8, 185-pound all-state selection has helped Parkview Magnet High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, to the state championship game on Friday. As a junior, he totaled 1,854 all-purpose yards (847 rushing, 887 receiving, 120 return) while helping Parkview to a second straight state title. The first K-State signee from the state of Arkansas since 2011, Elston Jr. finished fifth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.03 at the state meet.
"He can do a lot of things — catch the ball, return for us, explosive kid, phenomenal high school that he's playing at," Klieman said. "He's had high success at that high school. He's a mid-year, which really helps us to get that running back involved quickly to see if he can help us. I think we all know unless you're an offensive lineman or defensive lineman that's undersized, all these kids are looking for an opportunity to play early.
"Do we promise a kid that he's going to start for us? No. But our track record has been that freshmen have been contributors for us and have played for us. If you can come in mid-year, it gives you a better opportunity."
King will likely seek an opportunity to see the field early as well. At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, King is the 26th-best cornerback in the Class of 2025 and the seventh-best overall player in the state of Ohio. As a senior, he had 41 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, one sack, one interception and four pass breakups at Hamilton High School in Cincinnati. He is the first K-State signee from the state of Ohio since 2004.
He apparently caught the eye of K-State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman.
"Klanderman did a phenomenal job of saying we'd like you to come out here but we'd like you to come to our camp," Klieman said. "Noah said, 'I'll come and compete.' That kid sends me videos all the time of him working out. He's a football junkie. If you want to play for Coach Klanderman, you'd better be a football junkie and better love football. Noah loves football. He brings the ability to play multiple positions. He could play corner or all three safety spots.
"He's a tremendous competitor, and for a kid from Ohio, it was really neat that he was one who was contacting so many guys in this class. You're always looking for leadership out of that freshman class. We're not asking you to lead the whole football team, but you do need to lead your class. That's a guy like Noah."
The state of Kansas led the charge again, as five signees hail from the Sunflower State.
Brock Heath is a 6-foot-5, 260-pound offensive lineman from Blue Valley Northwest who was rated as the sixth-best overall prospect in the state of Kansas.
"We're really excited about him," Klieman said. "He's one of the best offensive linemen in the Midwest — long and very athletic. The thing that excited me about Brock is he played both ways at a big school. When you play both ways at Blue Valley Northwest, you're a friggin' good football player. We're going to use him as an offensive lineman. He has a high, high ceiling."
Martel Jackson is a 6-foot-2, 175-pound cornerback from Derby High School. He was rated as the 56th-best cornerback in the class of 2025 by ESPN. He earned all-state honors after collecting 32 tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery, and a 44.0-yard average on five kickoff returns. He also finished third at the state meet in the 200-meter dash.
"He's long, athletic and can really run," Klieman said.
Ashton Moore is a 6-foot, 205-pound linebacker from Louisburg High School. Ashton, the younger brother of current K-State senior linebacker Austin Moore, is the 48th-best inside linebacker in the Class of 2025 by ESPN. The all-state selection had 125 tackles his junior season.
"For us to have a chance to have a Moore on this team, man, we were never going to pass that up," Klieman said. "Ashton came up here and competed his tail off in camp. I knew he was a good football player. You look at the pedigree of what his brother did and I saw the way he competed, and I said, 'Ashton is a better athlete than Austin coming out of high school, not even close.' I couldn't be more excited for the entire Moore family."
Maguire Richman is a 6-foot-2, 210-pound linebacker from Blue Valley High School. He is viewed as the 80th-best inside linebacker in the Class of 2025 by ESPN and as the eighth-best overall prospect in the state of Kansas.
"The kid is one of the best athletes in the state," Klieman said. "He can play a number of different spots. At linebacker, he had a really good year and he's one of the better leaders. We're really excited about getting him."
Klieman emphasized that in this day in age of recruiting, and with the transfer portal, K-State remains committed to its reputation as a developmental program.
"We hit on all the positions that we wanted to from the high school developmental side of things as well as a couple of transfers," Klieman said. "We know we're moving into the next phase of the transfer portal, but we're still going to build this thing through the high school ranks. We're really thrilled about the class we were able to sign."
K-State may add more prospects to the Class of 2025 during the regular signing period, which opens on February 5.
"We had a really good day and even had a couple guys flip last night back to us," Klieman said. "It's a strange, strange world of recruiting right now, especially with where the signing day is, and especially with the coaching changes. It's different."
Wearing a dress shirt and purple blazer, Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman appeared to be all business as he sat down at his Wednesday news conference to discuss the signing of 26 prospects in the early 2025 signing period.
When Klieman opened his mouth, he broke into grin.
"We had a really good day," he said.
Highlighted by the signing of Linkon Cure, the No. 1-rated tight end in the country, K-State hauled in 24 high school prospects and two community-college transfers. The class includes quarterback Dillon Duff, running back Monterrio Elston, Jr., and safety Noah King — one of seven defensive backs signed by Klieman and his staff.
The class concluded with the late signing of 6-foot-1, 185-pound wide receiver Larry Porter IV, who led the state of Missouri with 92 catches for 1,410 yards and 18 touchdowns his senior season at Raytown (Mo.) High School.
"Guys, we were lucky," Klieman said. "We got everybody we thought we were going to sign, plus three. We were fortunate in what we were able to do."
In this day in age in college football recruiting, where everything becomes increasingly fluid, not every FBS school was likely as fortunate.
"You see too much of the flips, and that becomes the en vogue thing to do," Klieman said. "We do a really good job giving kids space but also communicating with the ones who've committed and the ones we have relationships with."
Cure, a 6-foot-6, 220-pound all-state selection from Goodland High School, generated much buzz nationally when he committed to K-State in June. Rated as the 32nd-best overall player in the Class of 2025 by 247Sports, Cure had 1,049 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns in addition to 208 rushing yards and six scores as a senior.
His hype was followed by interest from other schools, causing K-State fans to hold their breath in recent weeks until Cure officially signed with the Wildcats on Wednesday.
"We're really thrilled," Klieman said. "You get a five-star in state. There aren't very many of those that come from the state of Kansas. I'm thrilled for the Cure family, thrilled for our program and fan base that the kid did a great job doing his due diligence. That's what young men are doing now and I'm good with that.
"There were conversations the whole time, but in the end, it came down to what his heart told him, where he committed to. He went through this whole process in the summer and found a school that he wanted to be at."
K-State recently produced tight end Ben Sinnott, who was drafted by the Washington Commanders. K-State tight ends have been highly productive this season as well.
"(Cure) can be a flex guy, he can be a pseudo-wide receiver as he develops from a weight and strength standpoint to be an in-line tight end," Klieman said. "His versatility is going to be so important for what we do offensively, and we can highlight guys like that. The fact that he's one of the best athletes in the country, speed, size, strength, ability to jump and run — we're excited to get him."
Cure could have a gunslinger in his class. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Duff has thrown for 1,863 yards and 15 touchdowns in addition to rushing for 595 yards and eight scores to lead De Smet (Mo.) Jesuit High School to the state championship game on Saturday.
"The kid is a stud," Klieman said. "The guy's an athlete, and he spins it, and he can run it. He's a leader. He's reached out to so many of these kids in this class. That's what you want your quarterback to do. He's going to be a tremendous fit here."
The signing class features 15 players on defense, 10 on offense, and one specialist. There are five linebackers, four safeties, four wide receivers, three offensive linemen, two cornerbacks and defensive ends, one defensive back, one defensive tackle, one kicker/punter, one quarterback, one running back, and one tight end.
A total of 14 signees expected to enroll at K-State for the 2025 spring semester. The list includes safety Logan Bartley, wide receiver Nunu Concepcion, Trinity Valley CC wide receiver Jemyri Davis, Duff, running back Monterrio Elston Jr., safety Noah King, wide receiver Adonis Moise, kicker Cub Patton, linebacker Weston Polk, wide receiver Porter IV, linebacker Sawyer Schilke, defensive end Brad Stanyer, Hinds CC defensive tackle Patrick Tackie and offensive lineman Dylan Villarouel.
Standouts such as Elston and Noah could benefit from participating in spring workouts.
Elston Jr. is regarded as the 53rd-best running back in the Class of 2025 by ESPN and the 5-foot-8, 185-pound all-state selection has helped Parkview Magnet High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, to the state championship game on Friday. As a junior, he totaled 1,854 all-purpose yards (847 rushing, 887 receiving, 120 return) while helping Parkview to a second straight state title. The first K-State signee from the state of Arkansas since 2011, Elston Jr. finished fifth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.03 at the state meet.
"He can do a lot of things — catch the ball, return for us, explosive kid, phenomenal high school that he's playing at," Klieman said. "He's had high success at that high school. He's a mid-year, which really helps us to get that running back involved quickly to see if he can help us. I think we all know unless you're an offensive lineman or defensive lineman that's undersized, all these kids are looking for an opportunity to play early.
"Do we promise a kid that he's going to start for us? No. But our track record has been that freshmen have been contributors for us and have played for us. If you can come in mid-year, it gives you a better opportunity."
King will likely seek an opportunity to see the field early as well. At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, King is the 26th-best cornerback in the Class of 2025 and the seventh-best overall player in the state of Ohio. As a senior, he had 41 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, one sack, one interception and four pass breakups at Hamilton High School in Cincinnati. He is the first K-State signee from the state of Ohio since 2004.
He apparently caught the eye of K-State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman.
"Klanderman did a phenomenal job of saying we'd like you to come out here but we'd like you to come to our camp," Klieman said. "Noah said, 'I'll come and compete.' That kid sends me videos all the time of him working out. He's a football junkie. If you want to play for Coach Klanderman, you'd better be a football junkie and better love football. Noah loves football. He brings the ability to play multiple positions. He could play corner or all three safety spots.
"He's a tremendous competitor, and for a kid from Ohio, it was really neat that he was one who was contacting so many guys in this class. You're always looking for leadership out of that freshman class. We're not asking you to lead the whole football team, but you do need to lead your class. That's a guy like Noah."
The state of Kansas led the charge again, as five signees hail from the Sunflower State.
Brock Heath is a 6-foot-5, 260-pound offensive lineman from Blue Valley Northwest who was rated as the sixth-best overall prospect in the state of Kansas.
"We're really excited about him," Klieman said. "He's one of the best offensive linemen in the Midwest — long and very athletic. The thing that excited me about Brock is he played both ways at a big school. When you play both ways at Blue Valley Northwest, you're a friggin' good football player. We're going to use him as an offensive lineman. He has a high, high ceiling."
Martel Jackson is a 6-foot-2, 175-pound cornerback from Derby High School. He was rated as the 56th-best cornerback in the class of 2025 by ESPN. He earned all-state honors after collecting 32 tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery, and a 44.0-yard average on five kickoff returns. He also finished third at the state meet in the 200-meter dash.
"He's long, athletic and can really run," Klieman said.
Ashton Moore is a 6-foot, 205-pound linebacker from Louisburg High School. Ashton, the younger brother of current K-State senior linebacker Austin Moore, is the 48th-best inside linebacker in the Class of 2025 by ESPN. The all-state selection had 125 tackles his junior season.
"For us to have a chance to have a Moore on this team, man, we were never going to pass that up," Klieman said. "Ashton came up here and competed his tail off in camp. I knew he was a good football player. You look at the pedigree of what his brother did and I saw the way he competed, and I said, 'Ashton is a better athlete than Austin coming out of high school, not even close.' I couldn't be more excited for the entire Moore family."
Maguire Richman is a 6-foot-2, 210-pound linebacker from Blue Valley High School. He is viewed as the 80th-best inside linebacker in the Class of 2025 by ESPN and as the eighth-best overall prospect in the state of Kansas.
"The kid is one of the best athletes in the state," Klieman said. "He can play a number of different spots. At linebacker, he had a really good year and he's one of the better leaders. We're really excited about getting him."
Klieman emphasized that in this day in age of recruiting, and with the transfer portal, K-State remains committed to its reputation as a developmental program.
"We hit on all the positions that we wanted to from the high school developmental side of things as well as a couple of transfers," Klieman said. "We know we're moving into the next phase of the transfer portal, but we're still going to build this thing through the high school ranks. We're really thrilled about the class we were able to sign."
K-State may add more prospects to the Class of 2025 during the regular signing period, which opens on February 5.
"We had a really good day and even had a couple guys flip last night back to us," Klieman said. "It's a strange, strange world of recruiting right now, especially with where the signing day is, and especially with the coaching changes. It's different."
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