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Aug 23, 2025; Dublin, IRELAND; Iowa State player Carson Hansen is tackled by Rex Van Wyhe of Kansas State during the Aer Lingus Classic between Iowa State and Kansas State at Aviva Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO via Imagn Images | INPHO via Imagn Images
Note
I’m using the same introduction for all of these articles. If you read any of the articles below, you’ve already read it. I’d recommend skipping ahead to the table.
Offense
Quarterback
Wide Receiver
Running Back
Tight End
Interior Offensive Line
Offensive Tackle
Defense
Defensive End
Interior Defensive Line
I’m going to move forward with the idea that the new “age-based” NCAA eligibility model will stick around in some form once all the legal challenges are exhausted. It makes sense, and I’m not sure the schools are interested in the constant court battles over eligibility. I get the feeling that some high-up folks went to check on the college athletics golden goose, and while it wasn’t dead, it was missing some feathers. This age-based model is an attempt to limit some long-term financial damage from disillusioned fans (mostly middle-aged and older) who were once the backbone of college athletics. It feels like this is the first bone they’ve thrown the die-hard fans who care about this sort of stuff in a long while.
I wrote an article explaining the age-based model here. The basic idea is that athletes get 5 seasons of eligibility if they enroll in school by age 19. It prevents 27-year-old Euro pros from dominating college basketball as true freshmen and does away with the archaic redshirt rules in both football and basketball. In theory, it also gets around the arbitrary NCAA eligibility “waiver” system, but I’ll believe it when I see it in action. The schools like hard-and-fast rules right up until the point when they think they should get an exception from said rules.
Anyways, this is how the new “age-based” model affects the football team moving forward. I’ll go through the roster by position group, and at the end I’ll put it all together into a coherent roster with a bunch of information beyond what you find on other sites.
So, without further ado….
Position Group
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| # | Name | Pos | Recruiting Class | HS/JuCo/Portal | Home State | High School | HS Rating | Juco/Port | JuCo/Port Rating | Seasons at KSU | Eligibility | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | Rex Van Wyhe | WLB | 22 | JuCo | IA | Central Lyon | NR | Iowa Central C.C. | 3*(89.5) | 3 | 1 | Rex Van Wyhe |
| 35 | Gabe Powers | MLB | 22 | Port | OH | Marysville | 4*(94) | Ohio St. | 3*(87.7) | 1 | 1 | Gabe Powers |
| 4 | Mekhi Mason | MLB | 22 | Port | FL | Monsignor Pace | 3*(83.6) | Syracuse/La Tech | 3*(87) | 0 | 1 | Mekhi Mason |
| 23 | Asa Newsom | WLB | 23 | HS | IA | Waverly-Shell Rock | 3*(88.3) | NA | NA | 3 | 2 | Asa Newsom |
| 20 | Jacobi Oliphant | WLB | 24 | Port | MO | St. Louis University | 3*(86.4) | Oklahoma State | 3*(85.5) | 0 | 3 | Jacobi Oliphant |
| 44 | Weston Polk | WLB | 25 | HS | TX | Coppell | 3*(87.2) | NA | NA | 1 | 4 | Weston Polk |
| 26 | Sawyer Schilke | MLB | 25 | HS | NE | Kearney | 3*(85.1) | NA | NA | 1 | 4 | Sawyer Schilke |
| 6 | Darien Whitaker Jr. | MLB | 25 | HS | NE | Boys Town | 3*(86) | NA | NA | 1 | 4 | Darien Whitaker Jr. |
| 41 | Ashton Moore | MLB | 25 | HS | KS | Louisburg | 3*(84.5) | NA | NA | 1 | 4 | Ashton Moore |
| 16 | DJ Ackerson Jr. | WLB | 26 | HS | OK | Putnam City | 3*(87.7) | NA | NA | 0 | 5 | DJ Ackerson Jr. |
Eligibility Changes
Weston Moore should receive an extra season of eligibility after being a key special-teams contributor as a true freshman. He now has 4 seasons remaining instead of 3.
Thoughts
Kansas State is moving from a three-linebacker base defense (3-3-5) to a two-linebacker base defense (4-2-5). The new defense will feature a middle and weak-side linebacker. In theory, new defensive coordinator Jordan Peterson should have everything required to get two solid linebackers on the field, but that’s more of a theory than a fact at this point.
Louisiana Tech (via Syracuse) transfer Mekhi Mason was the talk of the spring and seems poised to secure a starting spot heading into fall camp. I still think both linebacker positions are open, but it would take Mason falling off or someone else stepping up to keep him out of the middle. Mason was Second Team All-Conference USA last season after putting up 68 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. He’s the only guy on the roster with real starting experience.
Ohio State transfer Gabe Powers should be able to slot into the reserve role at middle linebacker. Powers came into Ohio State as a highly regarded 4-star recruit but hasn’t been able to put it together over 4 seasons of college football. I’ve seen linebackers figure it out in their final year, but the odds are that Powers will work into the rotation and play some special teams, like he did last season.
Assuming Mason wraps up the middle linebacker spot, which is why he’s in Manhattan, the weak side linebacker spot could be one of the most hotly contested battles in fall camp. There are several options, but none are particularly proven; it’s going to come down to who best understands the defense. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a steady, situation-based rotation at the Will spot, with at least two and potentially three guys regularly playing. If I were forced to bet on who starts, at least initially, I would reluctantly put my money on Rex Van Wyhe. The 6’5”, 244-pound linebacker has the size to hold up against a power run game and can still run well enough to hold up on the outside. He was in the regular rotation last season, and he should be able to parlay that into the starting job. He wasn’t a world beater; in fact, at times he struggled, but don’t overlook the value of experience. I’d say most of his struggles were mental, as opposed to physical, and the game tends to slow down for players after a season of regular playing time. Throw in the fact that he was one of the guys Coach Klein brought with him to Big 12 media days, and it seems like Van Wyhe is a part of the defensive plan this season.
A player with the talent to dislodge him on the outside is Asa Newsom, but that’s with a huge caveat; Newsom has to get and stay healthy. Spring practice would have been extremely useful for a player who has spent the majority of his time in Manhattan injured, but no luck; he was out dealing with an injury. If he’s full go in fall camp, he could absolutely win the job. He has the sideline-to-sideline speed the position requires, and while he hasn’t finished a season without some sort of injury, he’s been on the field when he’s physically capable. I see him more as a rotation player than a starter, but he’s a player who could grow into the starting role, once again, if he can stay healthy as part of a rotation. Newsom playing to his potential in 2026 would be the ideal scenario.
The third potential starter at outside linebacker is Oklahoma State transfer Jacobi Oliphant Jr. He started two games for the dreadful Pokes and played well enough to deserve a chance to compete for the starting spot at weak-side linebacker. He’s got the size and speed, and some experience. I’d be surprised, but not shocked, if he won the job in fall camp.
Darien Whitaker Jr. is the wildcard of the group. The coaching staff raves about the second-year player’s athletic traits. He’s big, fast, and plays angry. He’s more of a middle linebacker than an outside linebacker, but he could force his way onto the field at some point. I don’t think he could overtake Mason, but there’s a chance Coach Peterson simply put two middle linebackers on the field, with one playing on the weak side. That’s not a bad idea, especially against a run-heavy team.
Basically, I expect Mekhi Mason to be on the field most of the time, but any number of guys could step up at the weakside spot and win the job in fall camp.
Moving Forward
Coach Klieman stocked up on linebackers in his final recruiting class, bringing in 4 in the 2025 class. Whitaker could be the present, but it certainly sounds like he’s the future at middle linebacker. Weston Polk was a fixture on special teams as a freshman last season, and because of the new age-based eligibility rule, he still has four seasons of eligibility. He could be a special-teams demon in 2026 with an eye on a regular spot in the linebacker rotation in 2027. Ahston Moore could do the same in his second season. He’s a little on the small side but could bring something a little different with his speed at weak-side linebacker. Finally, Sawyer Shilke was a tackling machine in high school. He’s probably a middle linebacker in this scheme but brings something extra to the pass rush. He finished his high school career with 30 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. Even if he doesn’t end up winning a starting job, he could, at minimum, function as a situational pass rusher.
Finally, DJ Ackerson Jr. was the lone linebacker in the 2026 class and could give us some insight into what this new defensive staff values. Ackerson is currently 6’1”, 207, which is more safety-sized than linebacker. He has speed to burn and is an elite athlete, while also showing up on film as a solid tackler. I’m sure Stanton Weber will give him a long, hard look on special teams this season. I’m not sure he can crack the linebacker rotation in his first season, but he could crack a few kick returners. This is one of the huge benefits of the new eligibility rule. You can use your best freshmen on special teams without having to burn a year of eligibility. He’s destined for the weakside and could fit nicely beside a run-stuffing middle linebacker.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see some attrition from this room heading into 2027, but Coach Klein has two more currently committed in the 2027 class. I get the feeling linebacker recruiting is going to pick up with new linebacker coach Nick Toth on the job.
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