38 DAYS TO 2016 KICKOFF: Winston Dimel

Winston M. Dimel (b. Oct. 9, 1995) is a second-generation Wildcat whose father, Dana, was an offensive lineman for K-State from 1984 to 1986, and is the current co-offensive coordinator and running backs/tight ends coach.

Dimel is a local product who absolutely shined in his first season on the field as a blocker, receiver and rusher. He started every game during his rookie campaign and will look to continue starting duties as a sophomore in 2016.

A three-year letter-winner for Manhattan High School under head coach Joe Schartz, Dimel helped the Indians to earn an 8-3 record and a trip to the sectional round of the Kansas Class 6A playoffs in 2013.

Dimel was a two-time honorable mention all-state selection by The Topeka Capital-Journal and The Wichita Eagle after catching 13 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns.

He was named to the 2013 all-state team by Hovpensports.com, as well as to the All-Centennial League team as both a junior and senior. Dimel was rated the 14th-best fullback nationally by Scout.com, 22nd-best tight end/H-Back by ESPN and 10th-best player in the state by Rivals.com. He also lettered in basketball at Manhattan.

But none of those accolades, nor Dimel's two-touchdown performance in the 2015 spring game, could have prepared fans for his stellar breakout redshirt freshman season.

A 13-game starter at fullback who went on to earn first-team All-Big 12 honors from the league’s coaches, Dimel became the first Wildcat freshman ever to earn first-team All-Big 12 honors (since the league's formation in 1996).

Dimel recorded six rushing touchdowns to rank third in school history among freshmen, while he also finished his initial campaign ranked fifth in school history in receiving yards (261) and scoring (48) among freshmen.

He had a pair of two-touchdown games, which came in the season opener against South Dakota and at Kansas.

His 261 receiving yards came on only eight receptions, good for a 32.6-yard average, which is the highest average among all players in school history with eight or more receptions. Six of his catches went for 27 or more yards.

Dimel also had a 4-yard touchdown reception against Iowa State, which was thrown by fellow fullback and future Bills signee Glenn Gronkowski, in addition to a 48-yard score in the 2016 AutoZone Liberty Bowl against Arkansas.

In addition to being the only freshman named to the All-Big 12 first team by the league's coaches, Dimel also earned first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors and is a 2016 preseason All-Big 12 honoree.