NOTE: Kansas State has elected to advance players’ classification even though the 2020 season did not affect eligibility. Those who wish to take advantage of this extra year will be listed as a (“super”) senior again after their original eligibility would have been exhausted.

#93 Jaylen Pickle

Redshirt Junior | 6-4 | 313 lbs. | Cimarron, Kansas

Courtesy Kansas State Athletics

• Position: Defensive Tackle
• Previous College: None
• Projection: Starter
• Status: On Scholarship

Jaylen Brian Pickle (b. July 4, 1999) is an experienced three-tech defensive tackle from Cimarron High School who is majoring in business administration and was the first commitment in the Wildcats’ Class of 2018.

He redshirted in 2018 and played against Bowling Green in 2019, but recorded no statistics.

That changed in 2020, when Pickle played in eight games with starts against Oklahoma and Texas Tech, the first two starts of his career.

He totaled 10 tackles, half a tackle for loss and three pass breakups on the year.

Pickle’s season high point was a career-high four tackles in K-State’s win at No. 3 Oklahoma, a game in which he tipped a pass that was intercepted on the Sooners’ first possession.

He also batted down a pair of passes against Texas Tech, and had three stops and half a tackle for loss at West Virginia.

Pickle selected K-State over offers from South Dakota, Southern Illinois, UCF and Western Illinois, as well as strong regional interest from Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma State.

A four-year letter-winner for the Bluejays, including the final year under head coach Greg Koenig, Pickle was regarded as the third-best prospect in the state of Kansas and the 44th-best defensive tackle in the nation for the Class of 2018 by Rivals.

He also was rated the fourth-best player in the state of Kansas by 247Sports.

Pickle picked up honorable mention all-state honors as a junior in 2016 and as a senior in 2017 from The Topeka Capital-Journal and The Wichita Eagle, leading Cimarron to league and district championships each year.

He also was a four-year all-league player who totaled 50 tackles, including four tackles for loss, as a senior and a high school teammate of current K-State quarterback Nick Ast.

Pickle also lettered four years in basketball — earning all-league and all-state honors — three years in track and field, and one year in golf.