Nebraska transfer Kade Warner emerging as playmaker, leader for Kansas State Wildcats
From afar, it might not seem like Kade Warner has made much of an impact with the Kansas State football team during his first seven games as a Wildcat.
The Nebraska transfer has caught five passes for 65 yards as a receiver, he has made a few important blocks and, well, that’s where his list of tangible contributions comes to an end.
The biggest change K-State has experienced with Warner on the roster has been the presence of his famous father at games. Someone is always tweeting a picture of Hall of Fame NFL quarterback Kurt Warner from the stands.
Still, K-State players have a much different opinion of Warner within the locker room. The way they talk about him, you would think Warner led the Big 12 in touchdown catches.
“What an awesome guy,” K-State center Noah Johnson said. “He’s awesome to talk to, he’s funny and from a football aspect he is an incredibly hard worker, just ridiculously smart. I’ve learned a lot from him, and I know that he’s had a big effect on our team, just the way he works and the knowledge that he brings. He’s been a real blessing to our team.”
It was easy for Warner to make an impact on his new teammates, despite spending the past three seasons at Nebraska.
When he announced his intentions to transfer last spring, a few K-State players went out of their way to tell coaches they needed to recruit Warner. Everyone on the team with connections to the Cornhuskers had heard great things about him. He was a captain at Nebraska and one of the most popular players on the roster. They wanted him to wear purple, even if it meant he would only catch a few passes before moving on to the next stage in his life.
Some were surprised when Warner left Nebraska. His career stats were low (30 catches for 236 yards), but he was a captain there and he made the Big Ten’s all-academic team three times.
“It was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” Warner said. “To leave a team that I love so much after putting all the work I could, it was a tough decision. It hurt to have to leave those guys ... But I am also super excited about being part of a team and culture like this.”
As expected, he hit the ground running in Manhattan.
Warner grew a “winning streak mustache” and maintained it during K-State’s 3-0 start. Teammates say it belongs in the pantheon of all-time great facial hair. He is also already considered a leader in the locker room. There is no one better to ask for football advice, considering he gets unlimited pointers from his father.
“He is obviously a high IQ player,” K-State quarterback Skylar Thompson said. “With his dad being Kurt Warner, you can tell he’s been around the game. He understands the game. Having that type of guy in the receivers room has been very helpful.”
Turns out, K-State coaches didn’t need any prodding to pursue Warner in the transfer portal.
Head coach Chris Klieman used to play alongside Kurt Warner when they were both students at Northern Iowa, and they remain friends today. There was no way Klieman was letting Kade Warner transfer to a different school without a fight.
Once Warner visited campus and saw the culture within K-State’s locker room, he was sold.
“He’s been great for us,” Klieman said. “He’s been a tremendous leader. He’s getting more and more comfortable in the offense. He has a great rapport with with Skylar and he’s made a few impact plays. I’m hopeful that the confidence between the two can make more impactful plays, because he’s got really good hands and he creates separation.”
Warner has been doing more on the field lately. He has caught a pass in four straight games and is coming off his first multi-catch game in a K-State uniform. The 26-yard pass he snagged from Thompson was important during last week’s narrow victory over Texas Tech.
K-State trailed by 14 points at halftime in that game. Warner hasn’t been a part of many comebacks, but he never doubted the Wildcats would win. None of his teammates did, either.
Anytime someone asks what he likes most about playing for the Wildcats, he points to that as his answer.
“Here at K-State when bad things happen, like in the first game when we throw a pick, the defense went out and there wasn’t a change in momentum,” Warner said. “There wasn’t a change in emotions. That was really cool to see the vibe of ‘we’re going to win this game no matter what.’ It’s something that’s refreshing and new. I won’t take it for granted.”
This story was originally published October 28, 2021 at 11:10 AM with the headline "Nebraska transfer Kade Warner emerging as playmaker, leader for Kansas State Wildcats."