As the Kansas State Wildcats begin planning for their future at quarterback beyond Avery Johnson’s final season, the coaching staff has intensified its recruiting efforts across multiple graduating classes. With uncertainty looming at the position and competition rising nationally, the Wildcats are casting a wide net in search of their next long-term signal-caller.
One of the newest targets in the pipeline is 2028 quarterback prospect Hudson Tomcheck, a three-star passer from Southlake Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas. Tomcheck recently picked up an offer from Kansas State after what he described as a positive conversation with assistant coach @PEllsworth_. He expressed excitement about the opportunity, joining a growing list of young quarterbacks drawing interest from the program.
Tomcheck is also receiving attention from other programs, including Arizona, Baylor, and Colorado State, highlighting an early but competitive recruiting battle. While he is still several years away from college, Kansas State’s early involvement shows how seriously the staff is treating long-term quarterback planning.
For the Wildcats, quarterback recruiting has not been a major concern in recent years due to the stability provided by Avery Johnson, who has consistently returned to the program and maintained continuity under center. However, that situation is now changing. With Johnson approaching his final season, Kansas State can no longer rely on returning experience at the position, making future recruiting classes even more important.
Adding to the urgency, offensive staff member Collin Klein has noted that no clear standout has emerged during spring practices, leaving the quarterback competition wide open heading into the next phase of the offseason. As a result, identifying and developing future talent has become a priority for the program.
Beyond quarterback, Kansas State has been aggressively expanding its recruiting board for the 2028 cycle, offering several highly regarded prospects across multiple positions.
One of those is defensive lineman RJ Cruz III, a three-star defensive tackle from McDonogh High School in Owings Mills, Maryland. Cruz recorded 28 total tackles, six tackles for loss, and three sacks last season, showing strong production in the trenches. Kansas State views defensive tackle as an area of growth and importance, especially after the departure of Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder to SMU. Coaches have emphasized that interior defensive line play has been one of the most competitive and improving positions during spring workouts.
At running back, the Wildcats have also extended offers to elite-level talent, including four-star prospect Elijah Cromwell from Cherry Creek High School in Englewood, Colorado. Cromwell posted 287 rushing yards and four touchdowns on just 44 carries last season while adding 172 receiving yards and two more scores. His dual-threat ability as both a runner and receiver has made him one of the most highly regarded backs in his class. Programs such as Kansas, Iowa State, and Miami are also pursuing him, making his recruitment highly competitive.
Another notable target is four-star running back Jayshawn Mitchell from Brennan High School in San Antonio, Texas. Mitchell recorded 255 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground last season, along with 26 receptions for 474 yards and eight receiving touchdowns. His versatility as a pass-catching back fits well with Kansas State’s offensive identity under Klein, which often emphasizes running backs as key contributors in the passing game.
As Kansas State continues building toward the future, these early offers reflect a clear strategy: identify versatile, high-upside athletes early and secure foundational pieces for upcoming recruiting classes before competition intensifies.
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