Kansas State University Athletics
Staff Directory
Mark Vital Jr.
- Title:
- Graduate Student Manager
- Phone:
- (785) 532-6531
Mark Vital Jr. is in his first season as a graduate student manager at K-State in 2025-26.
A three-time All-Big 12 selection and a member of Baylor’s 2021 National Championship team, Vital played in 126 of the team’s 128 games over his last four seasons, including 105 starts. A defensive stalwart, he was a three-time Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection while he was twice a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award, including a finalist in 2020. As a senior, he led the Bears to their first Big 12 Championship en route to the national championship, as he broke the school record for career Big 12 victories (45) while finishing 10th in school history with 144 steals. He had 6 points and 11 rebounds in the National Championship game victory over then-unbeaten and top-ranked Gonzaga.
Following his college career, Vital played for the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2021 NBA Summer League. He made the transition to professional football later that year, signing first with the Seattle Seahawks practice squad as a tight end before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad. He was part of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl Team in 2023.
A native of Lake Charles, La., Vital was the top-ranked player in the Louisiana in the Class of 2016, playing his final two prep seasons for Ray Forsett at Advanced Prep International in Dallas.
Vital earned a bachelor’s degree in Health, Kinesiology and Leisure Studies from Baylor in 2021. He is working towards a master’s in counseling and student development at K-State.
A three-time All-Big 12 selection and a member of Baylor’s 2021 National Championship team, Vital played in 126 of the team’s 128 games over his last four seasons, including 105 starts. A defensive stalwart, he was a three-time Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection while he was twice a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award, including a finalist in 2020. As a senior, he led the Bears to their first Big 12 Championship en route to the national championship, as he broke the school record for career Big 12 victories (45) while finishing 10th in school history with 144 steals. He had 6 points and 11 rebounds in the National Championship game victory over then-unbeaten and top-ranked Gonzaga.
Following his college career, Vital played for the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2021 NBA Summer League. He made the transition to professional football later that year, signing first with the Seattle Seahawks practice squad as a tight end before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad. He was part of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl Team in 2023.
A native of Lake Charles, La., Vital was the top-ranked player in the Louisiana in the Class of 2016, playing his final two prep seasons for Ray Forsett at Advanced Prep International in Dallas.
Vital earned a bachelor’s degree in Health, Kinesiology and Leisure Studies from Baylor in 2021. He is working towards a master’s in counseling and student development at K-State.
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