Five thoughts on Kansas State’s 2023 early signing day class: Recruit list, takeaways

Bill Snyder used to have a great line about Kansas State’s recruiting classes. Whenever someone asked him to analyze his newest crop of football players on signing day he would always respond by saying “ask me again in four years.”

It is impossible to know for sure how good or bad any recruiting class truly is before the players in that recruiting class show up on campus.

That being said, it is never too early to project such things. And K-State’s 2023 recruiting class looks like it might be the best group of incoming prospects to descend upon Manhattan in quite some time ... at least on paper.

The Wildcats haven’t produced a top 40 recruiting class since Ron Prince was roaming the sidelines, until now. Depending on which recruiting service you prefer, K-State’s 2023 class ranked anywhere from 30th (at Rivals and at 247Sports) to 39th (at On3) as of Wednesday morning. Any way you slice it, this looks like the best K-State recruiting class in nearly 15 years.

Like Snyder used to remind us, we will have to wait and see how much they win with the Wildcats. But fans have every reason to feel excited about this group as they sign with the Wildcats on Wednesday and the team welcomes them to the roster with a barbecue sauce theme of announcements on social media.

Here are five thoughts on the recruiting class:

Avery Johnson makes this recruiting class special

K-State has never landed a recruit like Avery Johnson before.

The 6-foot-2 quarterback from Maize is the highest rated prospect in the Sunflower State. He is also a highly ranked four-star recruit who could end up with five stars when all is said and done. For years, K-State has watched the best players in its home state look elsewhere for college. Not this cycle. Johnson could have gone just about anywhere, but he wanted to stay home and play for Chris Klieman.

Not only are the Wildcats getting the best player in the state, they are getting the best quarterback in the state.

He is the definition of a game-changer.

Now, K-State won’t need him to contribute immediately like many originally expected. Will Howard looks like both the quarterback of the present and the future after he led the Wildcats to a Big 12 championship this season. So it may be a year or two before we get to see what Johnson can do in a purple uniform.

But fans will be expecting big things from him whenever that day comes.

Strong Kansas connections

K-State has clearly made an impression on recruits in its own backyard.

The Wildcats landed six in-state recruits this cycle, and they all will have a chance to make an impact at the next level.

Olathe South defensive end Jordan Allen, Blue Valley wide receiver Andre Davis, Collegiate athlete Wesley Fair, Kapaun Mt. Carmel tight end Will Anciaux, Piper offensive linemane Camden Beebe and Johnson will bring both talent and a local connection with them to college.

Disappointing as it was to lose Derby running back Dylan Edwards to Notre Dame, and then Colorado, this is an impressive group of in-state prospects.

Perhaps that will open up more doors for the Wildcats in the future.

Fireworks on signing day?

K-State remained in the hunt for three uncommitted players late in the process and ended up landing all three by the time singing day came to an end on Wednesday.

Tre Spivey, a three-star receiver, was the final one of the three to sign with the Wildcats.

K-State got good news earlier when three-star linebacker Asa Newsom committed to Chris Klieman’s team over Iowa, Kentucky and Nebraska. The 6-foot-4 and 205-pound athlete from Waverly, Iowa could help the Wildcats at an important position as early as next season.

Terry Kirksey, a 6-2 linebacker from Hutchinson Community College, also chose the Wildcats on Wednesday. Those late additions made K-State’s recruiting class even better than it was projected to be.

Bright future at tight end

Ben Sinnott gave K-State fans a taste of what a home-grown tight end can do in Collin Klein’s offense as both a blocker and an explosive target in the passing game.

Look for incoming tight ends Will Anciaux and Andrew Metzger to fit that same mold. Both players are tall and athletic. Both players were heavily recruited by other power-conference teams.

They could both be X-Factors for the offense as they develop within the K-State offensive system.

Expect more incoming transfers

Klieman has already lined up a pair of incoming transfers.

Iowa wide receiver Keagan Johnson will try to make an impact on the offense next season. North Dakota State defensive back Marques Sigle will try and do the same on the opposite side of the ball.

Fans should expect K-State to sign a few more transfers after the Sugar Bowl is over with. It’s unlikely the Wildcats would look to the high school ranks to fill any remaining holes on the roster during the traditional signing period in February. But transfers and junior-college players could both be options.

The Wildcats have already lost five players to the transfer portal and Klieman has said he expects them to lose a handful more.

Kansas State’s 2023 recruiting class

These players signed with the Wildcats on Wednesday

HIGH SCHOOL

Jordan Allen: 4-star defensive end from Olathe

Will Anciaux: 3-star tight end from Wichita

Camden Beebe: 3-star offensive lineman from Kansas City

Jayce Brown: 3-star wide receiver from Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Andre Davis: 3-star wide receiver from Stilwell

Ryan Davis: 3-star defensive end from Glendale, Arizona

Collin Dunn: 3-star defensive back from Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Jack Fabris: 3-star defensive back from Bogart, Georgia

Wesley Fair: 3-star athlete from Wichita

Jackson Fullmer: 3-star offensive lineman from Meridian, Idaho

Joe Jackson: 3-star running back from Davenport, Florida

Avery Johnson: 4-star quarterback from Maize

Donovan McIntosh: 3-star defensive back from Saint Louis

Andrew Metzger: 3-star tight end from Aurora, Colorado

Asa Newsom: 3-star linebacker from Waverly, Iowa

Chiddi Obiazor: 3-star defensive lineman from Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Austin Romaine: 3-star linebacker from Hillsboro, Missouri

Kameron Sallis: 3-star defensive back from Kennedale, Texas

Tre Spivey: 3-star wide receiver from Chandler, Arizona

Asher Tomaszewski: 3-star defensive lineman from Chicago

Kanijal Thomas: 3-star defensive back from Oklahoma City

Devin Vass: 3-star offensive lineman from Lakeland, Florida

Wesley Watson: 3-star wide receiver from College Station, Texas

JUNIOR COLLEGE

Terry Kirksey: 3-star linebacker from Hutchinson C.C.

Will Lee: 3-star defensive back from Iowa Western C.C.

Rex Van Wyhe: unrated linebacker from Iowa Central C.C.