White Put in the Work This Offseason
Aug 19, 2026 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Brandon White entered the Vanier Family Football Complex on Tuesday. The 5-foot-7, 168-pound fifth-year senior transfer from Hawaii, who previously spent three seasons at Kentucky, and who set track records while at Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, probably didn't know it. Or maybe he did. On a Kansas State roster full of new faces and exciting talents and featuring players from the east coast to Hawaii, White is one of the guys.
White is one of the guys that everybody is talking about.
"The thing with Brandon," K-State head coach Collin Klein says, "is understanding that he's extremely motivated."
K-State senior quarterback Avery Johnson starts out discussing White's talents this way: "He's just so elusive with the ball in his hands."
Standing surrounded by reporters for the first time after preseason practice, White appears plenty happy on a K-State offense guided by Klein and that features the electric Johnson and a host of pass catchers seemingly destined to help take the Wildcats places in the fall.
"It's fun, man," White says. "We throw the ball a lot. That's the biggest thing. Everybody is involved. Special teams and offense is doing your job, and if you do that, then the rest is good for everybody."
White was kept relatively quiet during his first four seasons of college football. During his three seasons at Kentucky, he played against Georgia and Alabama in 2023, and he returned a kickoff 19 yards against Murray State in 2024. Last season at Hawaii, he had 38 catches for 399 yards and two touchdowns, had four carries for 36 yards, and returned one kickoff for 21 yards. He saw time on 472 total offensive snaps, recorded multiple catches in 11 of his 12 games played, and had six receptions of 20 or more yards and three catches or at least 30 yards.
Against Air Force, White had a career-high seven catches for 50 yards and one touchdown. The next game against Utah State, he had three catches for a career-high 63 yards, including a career-long catch of 46 yards. He also had a 45-yard reception at San Jose State.
Now, White has immersed himself in the K-State playbook and has turned heads in practice. He's certainly captured the attention of Klein, the 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist who has an eye for talent and who coached special talents as offensive coordinator at Texas A&M the past two seasons.
"He's worked extremely hard," Klein says. "Watching how he's gotten his body in shape and how hard he's worked on our offense and playbook to be able to be the weapon that he wants to be is a credit to him. He's got very, very good twitch, change direction, and top end (speed), and that's even improved since he's gotten here. He's putting it to use."
White, the blazer from Archbishop Moeller, who ran a 10.30 100-meter dash and broke the indoor Cincinnati state meet 60-meter dash record with a time of 6.73 seconds, appears eager — and prepared — to shine in the Little Apple.
"Coach does a good job of getting the running game involved, but we definitely throw the ball a lot, which is exciting," White says. "Being a receiver, we love being able to get the ball thrown a lot. It's definitely fun."
White, who appears to be every bit of 5-foot-7 and 168 pounds on video, has been motivated all his life. One of those motivations? How people talked about his slight size on the football field.
"It's been a motivator for a long time," he says. "It's always been like that. You get told a lot of times you're too small, too short, but you use it as motivation and continue to work with your head down."
It's paying off in practice for the Wildcats.
And there's more: White could also shine as a return specialist.
"It feels good, man," White says. "I just thank the coaches for allowing me to be in that position. That makes me excited, you know, them being able to utilize me in every way that they can. It means a lot."
White is one of several talented wide receivers on a 2026 roster that features standout returner Jaron Tibbs, and fellow FBS transfers Josh Manning (Missouri) and Izaiah Williams (Texas A&M).
"I fit in pretty good with those guys," White says. "We have a great group of guys. I'm excited for what's to come. We have a lot of young talent as well, but a lot of older guys, so it's a good mix. We're going to do some good things."
But there's just something about White.
He's one of the guys that everybody is talking about.
"He's the type of guy where you get it to him and he can take a five-yard gain and turn it into 50," Johnson says. "Being able to have a YAC guy who's as explosive and elusive as he is with the ball in his hands and really be a really good route runner and take the top off the defense is going to really big.
"Something special to watch this year."
Brandon White entered the Vanier Family Football Complex on Tuesday. The 5-foot-7, 168-pound fifth-year senior transfer from Hawaii, who previously spent three seasons at Kentucky, and who set track records while at Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, probably didn't know it. Or maybe he did. On a Kansas State roster full of new faces and exciting talents and featuring players from the east coast to Hawaii, White is one of the guys.
White is one of the guys that everybody is talking about.
"The thing with Brandon," K-State head coach Collin Klein says, "is understanding that he's extremely motivated."
K-State senior quarterback Avery Johnson starts out discussing White's talents this way: "He's just so elusive with the ball in his hands."
Standing surrounded by reporters for the first time after preseason practice, White appears plenty happy on a K-State offense guided by Klein and that features the electric Johnson and a host of pass catchers seemingly destined to help take the Wildcats places in the fall.
"It's fun, man," White says. "We throw the ball a lot. That's the biggest thing. Everybody is involved. Special teams and offense is doing your job, and if you do that, then the rest is good for everybody."
White was kept relatively quiet during his first four seasons of college football. During his three seasons at Kentucky, he played against Georgia and Alabama in 2023, and he returned a kickoff 19 yards against Murray State in 2024. Last season at Hawaii, he had 38 catches for 399 yards and two touchdowns, had four carries for 36 yards, and returned one kickoff for 21 yards. He saw time on 472 total offensive snaps, recorded multiple catches in 11 of his 12 games played, and had six receptions of 20 or more yards and three catches or at least 30 yards.
Against Air Force, White had a career-high seven catches for 50 yards and one touchdown. The next game against Utah State, he had three catches for a career-high 63 yards, including a career-long catch of 46 yards. He also had a 45-yard reception at San Jose State.
Now, White has immersed himself in the K-State playbook and has turned heads in practice. He's certainly captured the attention of Klein, the 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist who has an eye for talent and who coached special talents as offensive coordinator at Texas A&M the past two seasons.
"He's worked extremely hard," Klein says. "Watching how he's gotten his body in shape and how hard he's worked on our offense and playbook to be able to be the weapon that he wants to be is a credit to him. He's got very, very good twitch, change direction, and top end (speed), and that's even improved since he's gotten here. He's putting it to use."
White, the blazer from Archbishop Moeller, who ran a 10.30 100-meter dash and broke the indoor Cincinnati state meet 60-meter dash record with a time of 6.73 seconds, appears eager — and prepared — to shine in the Little Apple.
"Coach does a good job of getting the running game involved, but we definitely throw the ball a lot, which is exciting," White says. "Being a receiver, we love being able to get the ball thrown a lot. It's definitely fun."
White, who appears to be every bit of 5-foot-7 and 168 pounds on video, has been motivated all his life. One of those motivations? How people talked about his slight size on the football field.
"It's been a motivator for a long time," he says. "It's always been like that. You get told a lot of times you're too small, too short, but you use it as motivation and continue to work with your head down."
It's paying off in practice for the Wildcats.
And there's more: White could also shine as a return specialist.
"It feels good, man," White says. "I just thank the coaches for allowing me to be in that position. That makes me excited, you know, them being able to utilize me in every way that they can. It means a lot."
White is one of several talented wide receivers on a 2026 roster that features standout returner Jaron Tibbs, and fellow FBS transfers Josh Manning (Missouri) and Izaiah Williams (Texas A&M).
"I fit in pretty good with those guys," White says. "We have a great group of guys. I'm excited for what's to come. We have a lot of young talent as well, but a lot of older guys, so it's a good mix. We're going to do some good things."
But there's just something about White.
He's one of the guys that everybody is talking about.
"He's the type of guy where you get it to him and he can take a five-yard gain and turn it into 50," Johnson says. "Being able to have a YAC guy who's as explosive and elusive as he is with the ball in his hands and really be a really good route runner and take the top off the defense is going to really big.
"Something special to watch this year."
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