I hate the transfer portal. College football free agency is lessening my enjoyment of the sport. But dwelling on it and getting my blood pressure up about it isn’t going to help at all. The transfer portal is here to stay, and all the coaches and fans can do is embrace it and try to make the best of it. Chris Klieman has mostly done a good job of navigating the transfer portal every year he has coached at K-State, adding pieces to the roster that have mostly been successes. I expect him to do it again this year.

Here are five positions of need that I would like to see K-State nab in the portal.

1) A speedy running back

The Wildcats lost backup running back Treshaun Ward to the portal but still have starter DJ Giddens for 2024. Giddens is a solid back but is not really a threat to take an 80-yard run to the house. I’d like K-State to have an explosive back in the backfield. K-State lacked explosive plays in the 2023 season, and it would be nice to have someone in the backfield who is always a threat to take it to the house.

2) A tall, speedy wide receiver

This one may be hard to get, but the Wildcats are losing a couple of wide receivers, RJ Garcia (transfer) and Phillip Brooks (graduation). K-State has some young talent at wide receiver with Jayce Brown and incoming freshmen Trae Davis and Jacques Spradley-Demps, but having a wideout with quite a bit of division one experience may help the receiver room come together more quickly. A breakaway threat at wide receiver would be a welcome addition. One would think they can find someone by using the sales pitch of Avery Johnson throwing them the ball.

3) An edge rusher

Defensive end Nate Matlack entered the portal, and all of a sudden K-State is very thin at the defensive end position. Losing Felix Anudike-Uzomah to the NFL at the end of 2022 hurt, and the team was not able to replace his production at the defensive end position. Finding someone to rush the passer with the size, motor, and aggression that Uzomah did would be great for the defense in 2024.

4) A stud linebacker

Injuries at linebacker hurt the Wildcats in 2023, but it was a pretty solid position overall. It would be nice to get a linebacker or two to come in. Not only do they need the depth, but they need continued improvement at that position to find success in 2024.

5) An experienced safety

K-State’s top safety, Kobe Savage, entered the portal this week. He will be missed. The Wildcats also lost cornerback Will Lee to the portal. Chris Klieman has had a lot of success finding transfers to come in and play well in the secondary, and he needs to do it again this year. There is a lot of young talent at this position on the team, but finding an upperclassman to fill Savage’s spot would be nice.