Kansas State Wildcats kick returner leaves football team after spring practice
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Bryce Noernberg, K-State kick returner, is no longer with the football program.
- Noernberg averaged 29 yards on 16 kickoff returns and had a 99-yard touchdown.
- Stanton Weber listed four candidates to return kicks.
The Kansas State football team will have a new primary kick returner next season.
Bryce Noernberg, a 5-foot-10 and 167-pound athlete from Olathe who averaged 29 yards on 16 kickoff returns last season, is no longer with the program, according to a team spokesperson.
Noernberg’s father, Scott, explained his son’s departure from the K-State football roster in a post on social media.
“It was an amazing couple years in Manhattan,” he wrote, “but then DI college football did what it does. New (head coach) Collin Klein brought in all new coaches and players, paid them accordingly, and No. 21 (Noernberg) found himself at the bottom of the depth chart.”
The post went on to explain, in colorful language, that Noernberg chose to leave the team rather than “start over again as a true walk-on freshman.”
Noernberg is a product of Olathe South. He played quarterback in high school, throwing for 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior. He also rushed for 1,520 yards and 31 touchdowns that season.
He committed to K-State as a walk-on and quickly found playing time on special teams. As a freshman, he totaled 91 yards on four kickoff returns late in the season. As a sophomore, he appeared in eight games and increased his career average on kickoff returns to 27.8 yards, a number that ranked sixth in school history.
His biggest highlight came on a 99-yard touchdown return against Army last season.
Fans will also remember that he lost a fumble on the opening kickoff against Kansas before the Wildcats shrugged off a disappointing start and won 42-17.
He was unable to play the entire season due to injuries.
His role for the 2026 season was not defined.
K-State special teams coordinator Stanton Weber said he was looking at other players to return kicks near the end of spring practices. Four players he mentioned as candidates: Brandon White, Izaiah Williams, Monterrio Elston and Rodney Fields.
It is unclear what Noernberg plans to do next. But the transfer portal is closed until January, so his college football options will be limited for the upcoming season.
This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 2:49 PM with the headline "Kansas State Wildcats kick returner leaves football team after spring practice."