Ervin Jr. Details ‘Easy Decision’ to Join the Wildcats
Feb 06, 2025 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Gabe and Varhonda Ervin called it "bus mode." Gabe Ervin Jr. was 5 years old. He would run late getting out of the house and tear down the street to the bus stop, which was "like a mile away."
"I used to run that thing like it was nothing," Gabe Jr. says. "That triggered that I was going to be an athlete. My parents said, 'We have to put him in sports.' So, when I got ready for games or track meets, dad said, 'bus mode.' It all just came together."
The 6-foot, 220-pound Ervin anticipates everything coming together at Kansas State as the graduate transfer running back, who earned the starting job at Nebraska in 2023 before an injury cut his season short, prepares to help the Wildcats' ground game next fall.
"I couldn't ask for a greater gift than to come here to Kansas State," Ervin says.
K-State comes off a 9-4 season capped by a victory in the Rate Bowl and enjoyed one of its most fruitful seasons in history rushing the football.
Ervin, who committed to join K-State in early January, brings size akin to NFL-bound DJ Giddens, and he appears to be an ideal complement to returning running backs Dylan Edwards and Joe Jackson. Timed at a 4.4 40, according to On3, Ervin can run downhill or bounce it outside, and spin and juke.
"He brings his ability, his vision, his ability to break tackles and his ability to get yards after contact," says K-State running backs coach Brian Anderson, who maintains contact with Giddens as he prepares for the NFL Draft. "The biggest thing for Gabe is staying healthy. If he can stay healthy and continue to grow as a player, he's going to do a lot of good things for us."
Ervin hasn't always able to show off his abilities. He suffered season-ending injuries in 2021 and 2023. He played in 23 games with four starts over a span of four seasons and rushed 109 times for 455 yards (4.2 yards per attempt) and five touchdowns at Nebraska.
"I'm so determined," he says. "I'm probably the most determined I've been my whole college career. I'm trying to prove myself to everybody and remain confident that my ability is just going to take over."
He seeks a refresh at K-State.
"Man, it's been a great process coming to Kansas State," he says. "It's exactly what I need here, all the different types of qualities that Kansas State brings and the culture and just being around a group of guys that know how to win football games."
Exactly how can Ervin fit in the Wildcats' offense?
"I can definitely fit in there with the power, speed and elusiveness, and all the run concepts that Kansas State comes with is my style," he replies. "I can definitely see myself in the offense and cannot wait to be on the field with the guys doing stuff that I love."
A candidate for the 2020 Sports Illustrated All-America team and rated as the 23rd-best running back in the Class of 2021 by Rivals, Ervin earned first team all-state honors at Buford (Ga.) High School while leading the Wolves to a state championship. He chose Nebraska over Arkansas, Florida State, Georgia, Ole Miss and Tennessee, according to 247Sports.
He became the first true freshman running back to start a season opener in the modern era of Nebraska football and had 12 carries for 33 yards in his college debut against Illinois.
"Coach (Scott) Frost recruited me well out of high school," Ervin says. "I played my first year. I felt like that was a school where I could get some touches my first year. I took a chance on it, and it was good."
The injuries… not so good.
When healthy — watch out.
"I'm a power runner who can make moves," he says. "I want to develop myself to catch passes out of the backfield because that's what NFL scouts look at these days — is he versatile? We're going to go to work. I make one, two cuts, and I get vertical. I have some speed and some versatility. What I'm working on is routes and being more effective in the passing game. It's been smooth."
What sold Ervin on K-State? His conversations with Anderson, who will enter his seventh season as K-State's running backs coach in 2025. Anderson has coached an All-Big 12 running back in each of his first six seasons on staff. That includes Giddens, who capped his three-year career with 3,087 rushing yards, which ranks third all-time in K-State history.
"Coach Anderson knows the game of football to another level to where you can understand it," Ervin says. "Everybody has talent and ability, but what can you do mentally with that ability? That's what he brings to the table. He knows a lot about the game. Before the play even happens, he knows where the ball is going to end up based on the defensive structure. He wants knowledge in the game. That's what's going to take my game to the next level. That's what drove me to come here, man, just to learn more about the game and be around a great group of guys."
Anderson has yet to be on the field with Ervin, but he has shared a classroom with his newest running back, and he has a respect for his talents and his story.
"He's got a great personality, and he fits our room, and he fits our team," Anderson says. "He's been through it already, the highs and lows of college football, and he brings a lot of maturity to our football team. I've been in the classroom with him and he's a really, really smart kid.
"I like everything about him."
And Ervin seems to like everything about his decision to join the Wildcats.
"It was an easy decision," he says. "This is a winning school. Who wouldn't want to be a part of this program? They're on the rise for another championship. Who wouldn't want to be a part of this culture? The team is close, the culture is close, and they know how to win. They're right there. I come in during a transition to go get another Big 12 Championship. I'd love to be a part of it."
Ervin says his college experience has taught him patience, but with one year of eligibility remaining, he appears eager to help in a hurry.
"I've learned that everybody's career and everybody's pathway is different," he says. "I really just had to learn how to be patient and remain positive. I look at things from a different perspective now, I look at the game from a different perspective, and I take advantage of every day, you know? Every time I get on that field, I treat it like it's my last. I take that perspective, and I've definitely matured in that way. A lot of people take it for granted.
"I'm like, 'I get to do this.'"
Just six months until K-State and the rest of college football gets to see Ervin in "bus mode."
Gabe and Varhonda Ervin will be so proud.
Gabe and Varhonda Ervin called it "bus mode." Gabe Ervin Jr. was 5 years old. He would run late getting out of the house and tear down the street to the bus stop, which was "like a mile away."
"I used to run that thing like it was nothing," Gabe Jr. says. "That triggered that I was going to be an athlete. My parents said, 'We have to put him in sports.' So, when I got ready for games or track meets, dad said, 'bus mode.' It all just came together."
The 6-foot, 220-pound Ervin anticipates everything coming together at Kansas State as the graduate transfer running back, who earned the starting job at Nebraska in 2023 before an injury cut his season short, prepares to help the Wildcats' ground game next fall.
"I couldn't ask for a greater gift than to come here to Kansas State," Ervin says.
K-State comes off a 9-4 season capped by a victory in the Rate Bowl and enjoyed one of its most fruitful seasons in history rushing the football.
Ervin, who committed to join K-State in early January, brings size akin to NFL-bound DJ Giddens, and he appears to be an ideal complement to returning running backs Dylan Edwards and Joe Jackson. Timed at a 4.4 40, according to On3, Ervin can run downhill or bounce it outside, and spin and juke.
"He brings his ability, his vision, his ability to break tackles and his ability to get yards after contact," says K-State running backs coach Brian Anderson, who maintains contact with Giddens as he prepares for the NFL Draft. "The biggest thing for Gabe is staying healthy. If he can stay healthy and continue to grow as a player, he's going to do a lot of good things for us."
Ervin hasn't always able to show off his abilities. He suffered season-ending injuries in 2021 and 2023. He played in 23 games with four starts over a span of four seasons and rushed 109 times for 455 yards (4.2 yards per attempt) and five touchdowns at Nebraska.
"I'm so determined," he says. "I'm probably the most determined I've been my whole college career. I'm trying to prove myself to everybody and remain confident that my ability is just going to take over."
He seeks a refresh at K-State.
"Man, it's been a great process coming to Kansas State," he says. "It's exactly what I need here, all the different types of qualities that Kansas State brings and the culture and just being around a group of guys that know how to win football games."
Exactly how can Ervin fit in the Wildcats' offense?
"I can definitely fit in there with the power, speed and elusiveness, and all the run concepts that Kansas State comes with is my style," he replies. "I can definitely see myself in the offense and cannot wait to be on the field with the guys doing stuff that I love."
A candidate for the 2020 Sports Illustrated All-America team and rated as the 23rd-best running back in the Class of 2021 by Rivals, Ervin earned first team all-state honors at Buford (Ga.) High School while leading the Wolves to a state championship. He chose Nebraska over Arkansas, Florida State, Georgia, Ole Miss and Tennessee, according to 247Sports.
He became the first true freshman running back to start a season opener in the modern era of Nebraska football and had 12 carries for 33 yards in his college debut against Illinois.
"Coach (Scott) Frost recruited me well out of high school," Ervin says. "I played my first year. I felt like that was a school where I could get some touches my first year. I took a chance on it, and it was good."
The injuries… not so good.
When healthy — watch out.
"I'm a power runner who can make moves," he says. "I want to develop myself to catch passes out of the backfield because that's what NFL scouts look at these days — is he versatile? We're going to go to work. I make one, two cuts, and I get vertical. I have some speed and some versatility. What I'm working on is routes and being more effective in the passing game. It's been smooth."
What sold Ervin on K-State? His conversations with Anderson, who will enter his seventh season as K-State's running backs coach in 2025. Anderson has coached an All-Big 12 running back in each of his first six seasons on staff. That includes Giddens, who capped his three-year career with 3,087 rushing yards, which ranks third all-time in K-State history.
"Coach Anderson knows the game of football to another level to where you can understand it," Ervin says. "Everybody has talent and ability, but what can you do mentally with that ability? That's what he brings to the table. He knows a lot about the game. Before the play even happens, he knows where the ball is going to end up based on the defensive structure. He wants knowledge in the game. That's what's going to take my game to the next level. That's what drove me to come here, man, just to learn more about the game and be around a great group of guys."
Anderson has yet to be on the field with Ervin, but he has shared a classroom with his newest running back, and he has a respect for his talents and his story.
"He's got a great personality, and he fits our room, and he fits our team," Anderson says. "He's been through it already, the highs and lows of college football, and he brings a lot of maturity to our football team. I've been in the classroom with him and he's a really, really smart kid.
"I like everything about him."
And Ervin seems to like everything about his decision to join the Wildcats.
"It was an easy decision," he says. "This is a winning school. Who wouldn't want to be a part of this program? They're on the rise for another championship. Who wouldn't want to be a part of this culture? The team is close, the culture is close, and they know how to win. They're right there. I come in during a transition to go get another Big 12 Championship. I'd love to be a part of it."
Ervin says his college experience has taught him patience, but with one year of eligibility remaining, he appears eager to help in a hurry.
"I've learned that everybody's career and everybody's pathway is different," he says. "I really just had to learn how to be patient and remain positive. I look at things from a different perspective now, I look at the game from a different perspective, and I take advantage of every day, you know? Every time I get on that field, I treat it like it's my last. I take that perspective, and I've definitely matured in that way. A lot of people take it for granted.
"I'm like, 'I get to do this.'"
Just six months until K-State and the rest of college football gets to see Ervin in "bus mode."
Gabe and Varhonda Ervin will be so proud.
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