Linkon Cure making a good first impression at K-State, despite preseason injury
.jpg "Detailed view of a Kansas State Wildcats helmet prior to the Rate Bowl at Chase Field.")
It’s hard for Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman to keep his mind in the present whenever he witnesses a big play from Linkon Cure.
Even though the freshman tight end hasn’t yet played in a college football game or made many catches against defenders who are running at full speed and tackling with max force, Cure is already flashing potential in his new purple jersey at training camp.
“The physical skills are all there,” Klieman said. “You can tell he is a guy that can really run, that can go and catch the football, that can be physical at the point of attack and handle contact.”
All that and more was to be expected from Cure. The five-star recruit from Goodland is one of the highest-rated prospects that the Wildcats have ever signed out of high school. He chose K-State over heavy interest from Oregon and many other national powers.
Expectations have been sky high for him ever since the moment he first committed to Klieman and K-State. But some have wondered how quickly he will be able to contribute for the Wildcats as a summer enrollee who spent his final semester of high school playing basketball and breaking state track records, especially now that he is sidelined with an injury to his right knee.
With four other proven tight ends already on the roster, he is facing an uphill battle for playing time regardless of his talent.
K-State tight ends Garrett Oakley (22 catches for 236 yards and five touchdowns), Will Anciaux (seven catches for 62 yards and three touchdowns), Will Swanson (nine catches for 66 yards and three touchdowns) and Brayden Loftin (11 catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns) all piled up impressive stats last season.
Spreading the ball around to an extra tight might not be easy.
“It’s a great problem to have,” K-State tight ends coach Luke Wells said. “I have had years coaching where you have maybe two guys you are hoping to win with. Here at K-State, we have multiple guys.”
Klieman isn’t ready to predict when Cure will catch his first touchdown pass at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. But the 6-foot-5 athlete is up to 240 pounds as a true freshman. Klieman is confident it will happen at some point in the near future.
“He has put on some great weight,” Klieman said, “from the end of track season to where we’re at now.”
It’s safe to say Cure has made a good first impression.
When reporters were allowed to watch K-State football practice early on in training camp, Cure effortlessly ran athletic routes and caught passes from quarterback Avery Johnson during drills all across the field. He didn’t look like a freshman.
Those close to him say Cure is also putting in work behind the scenes.
“Linkon is doing a nice job for us,” Wells said. “It’s really tough, generally, for a freshman to come in. There are a lot of things we do at the tight end position and there are a lot of skill sets that they are going to do physically and a lot of assignments they need to learn. Linkon is doing pretty well as far as spending the extra time with me or with the graduate assistants or the signal guys or watching tape. He’s learning a new system, but I have been proud of how he has been coming to work every day.” Cure’s work ethic was also obvious from the sideline of a recent practice. Even though he was unable to participate with a brace on his right knee, he was eager to participate in agility drills with K-State’s strength and conditioning staff. In between workouts, he made sure to watch his teammates and take mental reps as they moved up and down the field.
He is not expected to be out long.
Expectations will remain high when he returns to action.
This story was originally published August 6, 2025 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Linkon Cure making a good first impression at K-State, despite preseason injury."