K-State Wildcats lose junior-college transfer after football coaching change
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Andy Burburija de-commits from K-State, requests scholarship release.
- Klieman's retirement and Collin Klein hire triggered roster and recruit shifts.
- Burburija joins nearly 20 outgoing transfers reshaping K-State's roster.
One of the last football recruits who committed and signed to play for former head coach Chris Klieman earlier this month no longer intends to play for Kansas State.
Andy Burburija, a 6-foot-2 and 290-pound junior defensive tackle who spent the past two seasons at Iowa Western Community College, has asked for a release from his scholarship at K-State.
Burburija signed with the Wildcats before Klieman surprisingly decided to retire at the beginning of December. K-State hired Collin Klein as his replacement. The vast majority of K-State’s signing class for 2026 has remained loyal through the coaching change.
Until Monday, it appeared that the entire batch planned to play Klein next season.
But Burburija prefers a fresh start elsewhere.
“After a talk with my family and with multiple changes in the staff at K-State I’ve decided to de-commit,” he wrote on social media. “Thank you to K-State for the opportunity and as well as the support you’ve shown me. With that being said, my recruitment is now 100% open.”
Burburija made 78 tackles during his two seasons at Iowa Western. That earned him recruiting interest from several Division I schools. He originally decided to commit to Washington State, but Klieman convinced him to flip to K-State after me made a visit to Manhattan for the team’s regular-season finale against Colorado.
Jimmy Rogers was the coach at Washington State when Burburija originally committed there, but he has since been hired at Iowa State.
It won’t come as a surprise if the Cyclones are involved in his recruitment now that he is no longer heading to K-State.
He joins a group of nearly 20 outgoing transfers as K-State football players who have announced plans to suit up elsewhere next season.
K-State football transfer tracker
- Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder (defensive line)
- Callen Barta (wide receiver)
- Jayce Brown (wide receiver)
- Teagan Cobb (defensive end)
- Daniel Cobbs (defensive back)
- Ryan Davis (defensive end)
- Dylan Edwards (running back)
- Amarion Fortenberry (defensive back)
- Truman Griffith (defensive end)
- Brayden Loftin (tight end)
- Colby McAlister (defensive end)
- Andrew Metzger (tight end)
- Chiddi Obiazor (defensive end)
- Ralph Ortiz (linebacker)
- Tobi Osunsanmi (defensive end)
- JB Price (running back)
- Austin Romaine (linebacker)
- Jacques Spradley-Demps (running back)
- Kanijal Thomas (defensive back)
- Devin Vass (offensive line)
This story was originally published December 29, 2025 at 4:47 PM with the headline "K-State Wildcats lose junior-college transfer after football coaching change."