K-State football transfer tracker: These Wildcats players are entering the portal
College football players can’t technically enter the NCAA transfer portal until next week, but that hasn’t stopped several members of the Kansas State roster from announcing their intentions to play elsewhere next season.
Two days after the Wildcats ended the regular season with a frustrating loss to Iowa State, nearly half a dozen K-State football players announced that they were on the move and looking for new homes.
Some of the departing players were big names, such as starting quarterback Will Howard. Others were walk-ons who have rarely played.
This was likely just the beginning. More K-State football players are sure to transfer between now and when the Wildcats play in their bowl game. Some will do so afterward. The NCAA transfer portal will open on Dec. 4 and won’t close until Jan. 2.
Transfers are a growing part of college sports. Every team is affected, including K-State.
Here is a complete rundown of all the K-State players who are on the move:
Kansas State outgoing transfers
Will Howard: The senior quarterback is by far the biggest name that K-State will lose to the transfer portal during this cycle. But his departure is not unexpected with talented freshman QB Avery Johnson ready to take over the offense next season. There is a chance Howard will decide to turn pro rather than play another season of college football, but for now he is evaluating his options.
Several prominent schools such as Auburn, Louisville, Washington, Missouri and Kentucky are interested in Howard, according to a report from On3.
It will be interesting to see where he plays next season.
Jake Rubley: Things never went according to plan for Rubley with the Wildcats. He is one of the highest-rated recruits to ever sign with K-State, but the sophomore quarterback was never able to climb up the depth chart. A transfer became inevitable when Johnson surpassed him as Howard’s primary backup this season.
Adryan Lara: K-State coaches have been complimentary of Lara and his big arm, but there was no clear path for him to earn playing time with the Wildcats. His departure leaves them with only Jacob Knuth and Johnson at quarterback for the bowl game.
Treshaun Ward: This departure was a bit of a surprise when you consider that Ward had an important role on this year’s team. He rushed for 643 yards and five touchdowns on 124 carries. Many were pleased with how he played after he came in from Florida State during the offseason. But he was always going to be second fiddle compared to lead running back DJ Giddens, who topped 1,000 yards this season.
Shane Porter: The sophomore wide receiver will look to play for a new team after playing in 21 games for the Wildcats, mostly on special teams.
Will Lee: K-State lost its sixth transfer over the course of two days when Will Lee let it be known that he planned to enter the portal on Tuesday. The redshirt sophomore cornerback will depart Manhattan after just one season with the Wildcats. He made 42 tackles and grabbed a pair of interceptions while playing in 11 games this year. Lee was a priority addition for Chris Klieman during the last recruiting cycle, as he was a touted junior college recruit from Iowa Western.
Jordan Wright: His name was added to the transfer portal on Wednesday. Wright will say goodbye to the Wildcats after playing in nine games this season as a cornerback. He made five tackles and defended two passes. Wright is a 6-foot and 178-pound redshirt junior from Memphis who came to K-State after a stop in junior college.
Wesley Watson: The 6-foot-1 and 190-pound freshman wide receiver intends to transfer after spending one season with the Wildcats. Watson signed with K-State out of College Station, Texas last year as a three-star recruit. He didn’t record any stats or play in any games while he was in Manhattan.
Collin Dunn: The freshman linebacker from Tuscaloosa, Alabama has decided to enter the transfer portal after just one season in Manhattan, which he spent on the sideline as a redshirt.
Christian Moore: The 6-foot-2 and 237-pound fullback played in 31 games for the Wildcats and scored his first college touchdown when he caught a pass from Will Howard this season.
Wildcats ready to turn pro
Ben Sinnott: All signs point to the junior tight end forgoing his final year of college football and turning pro. Sinnott said after Saturday’s game that he hasn’t completely made up his mind on the future, but his actions suggest otherwise.
Sinnott has accepted an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl, an all-star game of former college players that takes place in front of hordes of NFL scouts. He also chose to be honored during K-State’s senior day ceremony against Iowa State.
The 6-foot-4 and 245-pound tight end appears ready for the NFL after catching 49 passes for 676 yards and six touchdowns this season.
Khalid Duke: The talented defensive end is in the same position as Sinnott. Even though he has not publicly declared his intentions for the future he has accepted an invitation to play in the East/West Shrine game, which means his focus is on turning pro.
This story was originally published November 28, 2023 at 2:38 PM with the headline "K-State football transfer tracker: These Wildcats players are entering the portal."