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Football
Christmas a week early?! No, it’s just the start of the official early signing period for college football! We caught you up yesterday with where K-State stood with recruits headed in to today, and we’ve got your updated thread rolling today with the commitments as they officially sign with K-State.
Between the two posts, there were a couple of changes to the class. First, Bishop Miege lineman Taylor Poitier committed to K-State (and has signed this morning), and had just been waiting on K-State to call with an offer to commit to the Cats (Gates, GPC).
This morning, we got news that Ball State runningback James Gilbert announced that he would be transferring to K-State (Robinett, Eagle). Gilbert gradauted this past weekend from Ball State, will enroll at K-State for the spring 2019 semester, and will be immediately eligible to play for the Wildcats. Gilbert was First Team All-MAC as a sophomore in 2016, along with some dude named Kareem Hunt.
Then, we learned that Mansfield, TX high school DB William Jones had flipped his commitment from Cal to come to K-State (and how now officially signed for the Wildcats) (Hall, KSO).
It’s been a fun morning.
On a non-recruiting note, K-State’s Sports Extra had a Q&A with new head coach Chris Klieman on Tuesday afternoon, discussing Klieman’s history with K-State, current experience, and new job “things”.
Around the state, the new rules in the Jayhawk Conference (JUCO) allowing more scholarships and more out-of state players has had the effect that many Kansas high school coaches feared: Kansas high school players are increasingly out of luck when it comes to playing at the next level, with numbers dropping by 80% in just the last two years (Eldridge, Eagle). There are now more players from Georgia and Florida than Kansas high school kids, and Kansas kids are increasingly being ignored by Kansas JUCO coaches.
Basketball
Now to slightly less fun. Dean Wade will be unavailable for tonight’s basketball game against Southern Miss, and may be out until late February after partially tearing a ligament in his foot during K-State’s 71-59 win over Georgia State last weekend (Black, Mercury).
But the show must go on, and the WeberCats will face the Golden Eagles of Southern Miss tonight at 7pm CST from Bramlage Coliseum. Southern Miss is 7-3 on the season, and last time out they fell in Wichita to WSU 63-60 on Saturday. But Doc Sadler’s bunch does hold wins over SMU and Troy so far this season, and Sadler is no stranger to Manhattan or the Wildcats (though he’s only got a 3-7 record coaching against K-State).
Tomorrow, the MittieCats return to action for their last game before the Christmas break, hosting the Sugar Bears from Central Arkansas in a 7pm tilt from Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats are 7-3 so far this season, with losses to Top 25 teams Syracuse, DePaul, and Arizona State, all on the road at neutral sites.