Why Taylor Poitier’s 7th & final season with K-State football could be his best
Taylor Poitier hopes his college football career is aging like a fine wine.
The senior offensive lineman has been at Kansas State for as long as head coach Chris Klieman (six years), and his time in Manhattan has been filled with ups and downs. Low points included missing out on back-to-back seasons with devastating knee injuries. But the highs were noticeable last year, when Poitier had his most productive campaign in a purple uniform.
The product of Bishop Miege in Kansas City has one season left with the Wildcats. He is ready to make it the best one yet.
“Let’s go out with a bang,” Poitier said. “I feel the best I have felt in a while. So I’m really excited for this year.”
Poitier feels good both mentally and physically.
On the mental front, he says: “For years I always felt like something was kind of holding me back and I couldn’t really figure it out. Right now, mentally, I feel a whole lot better.”
Perhaps he is playing with new levels of confidence now that he is set to return as K-State’s starting right guard, with more than 1,200 career offensive snaps under his belt.
It also helps that he is in the best shape of his life. Poitier has gained eight points of muscle and has lost five pounds of fat since K-State closed out the 2024 season with a victory in the Rate Bowl. He has cut down on fast food and he has spent more time in the weight room.
His position coach has noticed a big difference.
“I see (him) as a guy who is in his seventh year after a couple injuries and is now completely recovered from those,” K-State offensive line coach Brian Lepak said. “He’s a guy who is moving around like he has a second lease on life.
“It’s exciting, because he’s a guy who is in his seventh year and has experience, but we are seeing some things that were the young (player) that I remember from when I first got here. It is exciting to see that.”
It was not a given that Poitier would return for an extra year.
He has been a student-athlete at K-State since all the way back in 2019, and he needed to receive a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA to continue playing. Last December, he said he wasn’t sure if he would return even if it was approved. Maybe it was time for him to move on to the next chapter in his life.
At one point, he remembers telling his brother that he was likely done with college football.
But he ultimately decided to return.
“I just kept thinking to myself, was this my last ride?” Poitier said. “It really wasn’t. So I’m glad to be back for another year.”
Poitier could be one of the most important players on the entire K-State roster this season.
The Wildcats are losing several starters on the offensive line, so they will be relying on him to help anchor the interior of the unit and provide valuable leadership to the entire team.
Seventh-year players are rare in college football. K-State is glad to have one like Poitier, who has a chance to play his best the longer the stays in school.
“He is such a great personality and such a great character,” fellow K-State offensive lineman Andrew Leingang said. “I’ve learned so much from him as a person. He’s gotten through so much, so many ups and downs at K State with his injuries. His story is remarkable. And it’s really cool to have Taylor back for another year.”
This story was originally published April 22, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Why Taylor Poitier’s 7th & final season with K-State football could be his best."