Kansas State's football recruiting class showcases NFL bloodlines

MANHATTAN — Head football coach Bill Snyder released Kansas State’s 2011 recruiting class Wednesday with the announcement of 32 student-athletes who plan on joining or already are a part of the Wildcats program.

Kansas State’s class of 2011 includes 21 players from the high school ranks, eight junior college players and three four-year transfers. Of the group, 13 are currently enrolled at Kansas State and will participate in spring practice.

“As we’ve always maintained, it takes one or two years to accurately assess the quality of a recruiting class and the young men who represent it,” Snyder said. “Hopefully we have assessed the skills, capabilities and intrinsic values of these young people accurately. As always, time will tell. Part of the value of this class lies in the fact that 13 of these student-athletes either have been or will be in classes and participate in our out-of-season program and spring practice.

“As it has in past years, hopefully this will greatly enhance the level of Division I experience at a young age. We have been impressed by the desire of each of these young men to become the best person, best student and best athlete possible as they seem committed to work hard. This class represents 10 states with three four-year transfers, eight community college transfers and 21 high school graduates. Those presently in the program have been well received by their teammates and the Kansas State football family and seem to fit in extremely well. Some in this class will begin their careers in community colleges and some will enter Kansas State next January. We greatly appreciate the coaches, faculty members and administrators throughout the state of Kansas and the United States who have received our coaches and our program so very graciously over these past two years, and I am especially proud of the Kansas State faculty for their assistance in conveying the great support services and equally great education provided by this university.”

Overall, on the defensive side of the ball, the 2011 class includes eight total defensive linemen, three linebackers and five defensive backs. K-State’s offensive recruiting haul also includes three quarterbacks (or players listed as Athletes who have played QB), two running back/fullbacks, four wide receivers, one tight end and four offensive linemen.

Kansas State’s class of 2011 also shows how broad and thorough Snyder and his staff were on the recruiting trail as all 32 players hail from 10 different states, plus Washington D.C., including seven from the state of Kansas, seven from Texas, five from Oklahoma, four from California, three from Georgia, one from the Washington D.C. area, one from Utah and also one each from Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana and New York.

Perhaps no other school in the nation boasts as many recruits with NFL ties as K-State in 2011. Justin Tuggle is the son of long-time NFL linebacker Jessie Tuggle, Glenn Gronkowski currently has three brothers (Dan, Rob and Chris) in the NFL, Ian Seau is the nephew of long-time NFL linebacker Junior Seau and Marquel Bryant is the cousin of NFL wide receiver Dez Bryant. Also, Tyler Lockett is the son of former Wildcat great Kevin Lockett and the nephew of Aaron Lockett, both of whom played in the NFL.

Class Breakdown

By State:

Arkansas (1): Samuel Harvill

California (4): Tanner Burns, Allen Chapman, Nigel Malone, Ian Seau

Colorado (1): Kyle Klein

Georgia (3): Angelo Pease, Justin Tuggle, Meshak Williams

Kansas (7): Arthur Brown, Bryce Brown, Morgan Burns, Jade Cathey, Curry Sexton, Boston Stiverson, Cody Whitehair

Louisiana (1): Daniel Sams

New York (1): Glenn Gronkowski

Oklahoma (5): Dante Barnett, Tyler Davidson, Hunter Davis, Tyler Lockett, Shaun Simon

Texas (7): Marquel Bryant, Kip Daily, Kason Hostrup, Brandon Mickens, Mike Moore, Destin Mosely, Dillon Wilson

Utah (1): Vaikalafi Lutui