Disclaimer: As the 2020 current football season still is technically set to proceed as planned in Manhattan on Sept. 5, we will continue the Countdown as normal for now.

#53 Jace Friesen

Redshirt Freshman | 6-1 | 220 lbs. | Basehor, Kansas

Courtesy Kansas State Athletics

• Position: Defensive End
• Previous College: None
• Projection: Scout Team
• Status: Preferred Walk-On

Jace Aaron Friesen (b. June 8, 2001) is a preferred walk-on defensive end from Basehor-Linwood High School who redshirted in 2019. He projects as a scout team player in 2020.

A four-year letter-winner at Basehor-Linwood under head coach Rod Stallbaumer, Friesen helped the Bobcats to earn a combined 30-5 record over his final three seasons, including a pair of league championships.

He picked up first-team all-state honors as a senior from The Topeka Capital-Journal and the Kansas Football Coaches Association, while he was an honorable mention pick by The Wichita Eagle as both a junior and senior.

Friesen was named the defensive Most Valuable Player of the United Kansas Conference as a senior and earned the Dylan Meier Get Busy Livin’ Award in 2018.

He also was a finalist for the Bobby Bell Award, which is presented annually to the most outstanding lineman or linebacker in the small-class high schools of the Kansas City area.

Friesen combined for 150 tackles and 14 sacks over his final two seasons, was selected to play in the Kansas Shrine Bowl, and also competed in basketball and track.

Born in Manhattan, he is the son of Andrew and Julie Friesen, both of whom attended K-State, and a cousin of Jon McGraw, who lettered at K-State from 1998 to 2001 and played 10 years in the NFL with the New York Jets, Detroit Lions, and Kansas City Chiefs.