While the program's 2027 group has slowly developed into one of the nation's top recruiting units, the horizon view in Manhattan reveals a deliberate, foundational pivot. Kansas State football is working to secure its first commitment for the 2028 class, laying early groundwork where it matters most: the line of scrimmage.
Recent offers underscore a clear institutional priority. Jerry Richmond, an offensive lineman from East St. Louis High School in East St. Louis, Illinois, announced his sixth Division 1 offer following a conversation with assistant coach Mike Schmidt. Richmond joins a growing ledger of trench prospects that also features Axton Lange out of Chaparral High School in Temecula, California, and Asher Megonnell from Ankeny Centennial High School in Ankeny, Iowa.
This heavy emphasis on early line development is far from accidental. Last season's regression laid bare a glaring vulnerability in the trenches. A unit that struggled to establish chemistry and failed to create consistent holes for the ground game contributed significantly to a difficult start relative to the rest of the Big 12. Establishing a reliable run game has historically remained a vital staple of the Kansas State playbook, making the offseason overhaul under new coach Collin Klein and offensive line coach Mike Schmidt a high-stakes rescue mission. With senior tackle John Pastore entering his final campaign, the imperative to pipeline future reinforcements is absolute.
“After a Great Conversation with Coach Schmidt, I am beyond grateful to receive my 6th Division 1 offer from Kansas State University,” Jerry Richmond tweeted following the news.
Beyond the offensive front, the Wildcats' broader 2028 board reveals a methodical spread across positions of future need:
- Kason Williams: A three-star running back from Alexandria High School in Alexandria, LA, who compiled 1,260 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns alongside 363 receiving yards last season.
- Hudson Tomcheck: A three-star quarterback from Southlake Carroll High School in Southlake, TX, drawing attention as the program looks toward a post-Johnson era.
- AJ Criss: A 6-foot-7, 205-pound tight end from Krum, TX, who hauled in 34 receptions for 574 yards and eight scores.
- RJ Cruz III & Ronald Crawford: Interior defensive line targets aimed at filling gaps left by departures like Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder.
- Antonio Dural: A two-way athlete from Klein Oak High School in Spring, TX, recruited by cornerbacks coach Marcel Yates after logging time on both sides of the ball.
Although signing day for the 2028 cycle remains a distant milestone, the underlying architecture of these early overtures signals that Kansas State is refusing to get caught flat-footed in the trenches again. By attacking the problem years in advance, the staff is signaling that future offensive identities in Manhattan will be non-negotiable at the point of attack.
Sources
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- roundtable.io original
- sports.yahoo.com original
- Drew Galloway original
