Receiver Kade Warner has evolved into ‘a highlight machine’ for Kansas State Wildcats

As one of the oldest wide receivers in all of college football, there isn’t much that can be considered new for Kade Warner.

But even he wasn’t sure how to react when he caught five passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns during Kansas State’s 48-0 victory over Oklahoma State on Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

Believe it or not, that was the first time he reached the end zone and his team won on the same day.

“It’s been a blast to be able to help a team out,” Warner said afterward. “It’s great to look at my individual performance and see all the success, but it’s more great just to have a positive impact on the team. That is why I came here.

“I told my teammates, ‘I don’t care about individual statistics. I don’t care how much I play. I just want to help a team win a football game.’”

Warner took a long journey to this point. He began his college football career as a walk-on at Nebraska all the way back in 2017 and played in 23 games there before deciding to transfer to K-State as a senior. Then he caught 14 passes for 166 yards while the Wildcats won eight games last season, and he decided to extend his time in Manhattan and stay in school as a “super senior.”

That is starting to look like a wise choice. Warner has looked like an All Big 12 receiver at times this season, as he has beaten defenders for 21 catches for 270 yards and four touchdowns. He was at his best against the Cowboys when he reeled in a 38-yard pass from Will Howard for the game’s opening score and later rumbled 41 yards for another touchdown on a screen pass.

His famous father, former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner, had plenty to cheer about over the weekend.

“Kade is a highlight machine,” K-State football coach Chris Klieman said. “He will tell you. I’m a big believer. That’s why I worked really hard to try and make sure he did come back for this, his sixth year here. You guys know my relationship with his father, and I couldn’t be more excited for Kade, because Kade just makes plays and he made a couple really big plays (on Saturday). He’s one of the best leaders that we have.”

Warner has always been known for his leadership. He was a captain with the Huskers before he opted for a fresh start. Now he is also a captain with the Wildcats. But he has never been known for anything more than a possession receiver until recently.

He has played in 44 games, and his first touchdown catch came in Game 40.

K-State quarterbacks are beginning to target him with confidence, and he is responding by making big plays. His previous touchdown catches against Tulane and TCU were both things of beauty.

“He is as good of a leader and a football mind as I have been around,” Howard said. “He loves talking ball ... He is a football junkie. Having a dude like that in the receivers room is huge. He brings a knowledge to that position and he spreads that to the other guys. That room has gotten so much better and smarter because of him.”

Everything came together for him against Oklahoma State.

“Having those two touchdowns earlier and losing those ball games was tough,” Warner said. “I wasn’t really able to celebrate, because I didn’t feel like I did enough, even though I did score in those games. To be able to come out here and help us win a game like this is awesome.”

He seems destined for more celebratory locker rooms before his eligibility expires. Offensive coordinator Collin Klein has asked him to do it all this season. Warner has caught long passes, grabbed short throws, carried the ball on misdirection runs and even had a chance to throw the ball on a trick play earlier this year.

The Wildcats might ask him to do even more in their next game. Warner has spent six years in college, but his future has never appeared brighter.