By Tim Everson

The group, which had been tutored by the current Wildcat offensive line coach Brian Lepak up to last season, is now being led in his first year in Manhattan by Luke Wells, a former tight ends coach at Tulsa, Texas Tech, Utah State and Iowa State, and the brother of associate head coach and offensive coordinator Matt Wells.

“So far, it’s been great,” Luke Wells said. “We’ve had a lot of fun out there. This is a fun group to coach. These guys are excited to play every day. I love the culture of this football program, and we’ve got a bunch of tough kids that love playing football and love showing up to work. It’s a really good environment to be around.”

Wells got quite the present when he arrived in Manhattan. K-State’s tight end room may be the most veteran-laden and talented on the roster, and just turned in a season where they recorded 13 touchdowns as a whole, which led the nation. Those 13 scores were split up between the top four returners, led by junior Garrett Oakely who tied with sophomore wide receiver Jayce Brown for a team-high five touchdowns in 2024.

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MANHATTAN, Kan. (K-State Athletics) – Luke Wells, a veteran offensive coach who has worked for three prior Big 12 programs over the course of his career, has been hired at Kansas State to work with the Wildcat tight ends, head coach Chris Klieman announced Monday. His hiring is pending a successful background check.

“Luke brings an extensive amount of coaching experience and recruiting energy to our tight end room, which of course has been a big piece to our recent offensive success,” Klieman said. “I have known Luke for quite a while and even visited with him during previous position openings, and we are thrilled to have him and his family in our program.”

Wells, a 2002 graduate of Oklahoma who both played and coached for the Sooners, most recently coached in college at Tulsa in 2022, while he has also spent time coaching receivers and tight ends at Iowa State and Texas Tech during his career.

“I am grateful for the opportunity from Coach Klieman to help this staff and be a part of the winning culture at K-State,” Wells said. “I can’t wait to get to work with our talented group of tight ends.”

While at Texas Tech, Wells all but built the tight end position from scratch while helping three players from his position room earn All-Big 12 accolades in tight end Donta Thompson and inside receiver Dalton Rigdon in 2019 as well as inside receiver KeSean Carter in 2020.

Prior to arriving at Texas Tech, Wells served as Utah State’s co-offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator from 2013 to 2016, working with the tight ends the first three years and then the quarterbacks in 2016. He shifted back to overseeing Utah State’s tight ends and inside receivers his final two years in Logan where the Aggies boasted one of the nation’s top offenses. It was the first time he worked under his brother, Matt, K-State’s current offensive coordinator who was the head coach at both Utah State and Texas Tech.

Wells mentored one of the top tight ends in Utah State history in Wyatt Houston, who tallied 86 receptions for 933 yards and nine touchdowns over the 2013 through 2016 seasons, as all three of his marks ranked second in school history among tight ends. Houston earned All-Mountain West Honorable Mention accolades as a senior in 2016.

Prior to Houston, fellow tight end D.J. Tialavea thrived under Wells’ direction before signing a rookie free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2014. Tialavea went on to join the Falcons’ organization a year later and was a member of the franchise when Atlanta played in Super Bowl LI. Another Wells pupil, Jefferson Court, joined the professional ranks in 2015 as he was the 37th player selected in the CFL Draft by the Ottawa Redblacks.

Offense was a prevalent theme of Utah State’s success during Wells’ final two seasons as the Aggies averaged 47.5 points per game in 2018, which trailed only Oklahoma for the top spot in the country. The Aggies racked up 618 points on the season, snapping the Mountain West and Utah State single-season records in the process.

Utah State scored at least 40 points in 13 different games over his final two seasons, including 10 times with 50 or more points. The Aggies reached the 50-point mark a school-record seven times in 2018 alone en route to breaking almost every offensive record in Utah State history.

In Wells’ first season, the Aggies set school records for completions (297), total plays (1,073), touchdown passes (30) and first downs (310). Utah State scored 445 points that season and attempted 481 passes, which both ranked second in school history. Utah State’s tight ends also set the single-season school record for touchdown receptions with nine, topping the previous record from 1993.

Prior to his time at Utah State, Wells was the wide receivers and tight ends coach at Iowa State from 2009 through 2012, helping the Cyclones advance to three bowl games in four years.

Wells arrived in Ames following six seasons at Louisiana-Monroe where he began as an offensive graduate assistant in 2003 before being promoted to tight ends coach for the 2004 through 2006 seasons and then tutoring the Warhawks’ wide receivers in 2007 and 2008. He coached first team all-conference tight end Joey Trappey in 2005 and second-team honoree Zeek Zacharie in 2006 before producing an honorable mention wide receiver in Anthony McCall a year later. Wells also served as ULM’s recruiting coordinator over his final two seasons, helping Monroe sign its highest-rated class in school history at that time.

Wells earned his first full-time coaching position managing the wide receivers at Denton (Texas) High School in 2002. He began his collegiate coaching career as a student assistant at Oklahoma from 1999 through 2001, helping the Sooners claim the 2000 Big 12 Championship and BCS National Championship.

Wells earned his bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma in secondary education in 2002. He and his wife, Coby, have a son, Walker, and a daughter, Kinsley.

THE LUKE WELLS FILE
Hometown: Sallisaw, Oklahoma
College: Oklahoma – Bachelor’s in Secondary Education (2002)
Family: Wife: Coby; Children: Walker, Kinsley
Playing Career: Oklahoma (Quarterback), 1997-99

COACHING CAREER TIMELINE
1999-2001, Oklahoma (student assistant)
2002, Denton [TX] High School (wide receivers)
2003, Louisiana-Monroe (graduate assistant)
2004-06, Louisiana-Monroe (tight ends)
2007-08, Louisiana-Monroe (wide receivers/recruiting coordinator)
2009-10, Iowa State (wide receivers)
2011-12, Iowa State (tight ends)
2013-15, Utah State (co-offensive coordinator/tight ends/recruiting coordinator)
2016, Utah State (co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks/recruiting coordinator)
2017-18, Utah State (inside receivers/tight ends)
2019-21, Texas Tech (inside receivers/tight ends)
2022, Tulsa (tight ends)
2023-24, Bixby [OK] High School

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On this episode of The Game, we discuss whether K-State basketball’s winning streak will continue through their upcoming road trip to Utah. Plus, don’t miss interviews with new K-State football offensive line coach Brian Lepak and BYU insider Mitch Harper, as they provide insights into the latest developments with the Wildcats and the Cougars. Tune in for all the sports analysis, updates, and expert commentary!

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Hour 1

Seg 1 – Bad start for Bat Cats / How long does KSU’s win streak last?
Seg 2 – Interview with BYU Insider Mitch Harper
Seg 3 – Meet K-State O-line transfer Amos Talalele

Hour 2

Seg 1 – Interview with K-State offensive line coach Brian Lepak
Seg 2 – MitchPom vs. BYU / Ask Us Anything

The post The Game 2/14/25 – How long does KSU’s win streak last & interview with KSU O-line coach Brian Lepak appeared first on News Radio KMAN.

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Being featured in the first college football game of the 2025 season, hosting a service academy for the first time in nearly 40 years and closing out the season by playing Big 12 rival Colorado in Manhattan for the first time since 2009 are just some of the highlights of the 2025 football schedule that was announced Tuesday by K-State Athletics and the Big 12 Conference.

The 2025 season commences with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic as the Wildcats take on Iowa State on August 23, inside Avivia Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. It is the first time the Wildcats will open a season against a conference opponent since the inaugural Big 12 game against Texas Tech in 1996. It is also just the second international game ever for K-State after playing against Nebraska in Tokyo, Japan, in 1992.

The Wildcats’ six-game slate inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium begins with consecutive games against non-conference foes as they host North Dakota on August 30, and Army on September 6. It is the first meeting ever between K-State and UND, while the Wildcats are taking on Army for the first time since 1987. It is also the first time Kansas State has played a service academy since taking on Navy in the 2019 Liberty Bowl and the first in the regular season since the aforementioned game against the Black Knights 38 years ago.

Kansas State completes its non-conference slate at Arizona on September 13. This is the second game of a home-and-home series that was scheduled prior to Arizona joining the Big 12. K-State, which won last year’s meeting at home, 31-7, will play in Tucson for the first time since 1978.

Following a bye, the Wildcats return to Big 12 action for the first of three-straight games, two of which will be played in Manhattan. K-State hosts UCF on September 27, as it looks to improve to 3-0 all time against the Knights and 2-0 in Big 12 play after a 44-31 win in Manhattan two years ago.

K-State will take on Baylor in Waco, Texas, on October 4, after not seeing the Bears last year. The Wildcats won at home in 2023, 58-25, and they are looking for consecutive wins in Waco as they earned a 31-3 victory in 2022. Another Big 12 foe that K-State did not play last year, TCU, visits Manhattan on October 11. K-State defeated the Horned Frogs, 41-3, in Manhattan two years ago, which came on the heels of a 31-28 overtime victory over TCU in the 2022 Big 12 Championship.

Coming out of its second bye of the season, the Wildcats will face Kansas in the Dillons Sunflower Showdown in Lawrence on October 25, as the Wildcats put their 16-game winning streak over the Jayhawks on the line. K-State returns to Bill Snyder Family Stadium on November 1 to face Texas Tech in Manhattan for the first time since a 37-28 victory in 2022. K-State has won each of the last eight games against the Red Raiders – including a 38-21 victory in Lubbock two years ago – and 12 of the last 13.

The home stretch of the 2025 regular season sees the Wildcats return from a bye week with two road matchups beginning with a November 15 contest at Oklahoma State. Last season in Manhattan, the Wildcats defeated the Cowboys, 42-20, but the Wildcats are in search of their first win in Stillwater since 2017. K-State then travels to face Utah for the first time ever on November 22.

The 2025 regular-season finale will take place inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on November 29 when the Wildcats host Colorado for the first time since a 20-6 victory in 2009. The Wildcats won a thrilling game in Boulder a year ago, 31-28.

August 23 vs. Iowa State Dublin, Ireland
AUGUST 30 NORTH DAKOTA MANHATTAN
SEPTEMBER 6 ARMY MANHATTAN
September 13 at Arizona Tucson, Ariz.
SEPTEMBER 27 UCF* MANHATTAN
October 4 at Baylor* Waco, Texas
OCTOBER 11 TCU* MANHATTAN
October 25 at Kansas* Lawrence, Kan.
NOVEMBER 1 TEXAS TECH* MANHATTAN
November 15 at Oklahoma State* Stillwater, Okla.
November 22 at Utah* Salt Lake City, Utah
NOVEMBER 29 COLORADO* MANHATTAN

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The post K-State football announces 2025 schedule appeared first on News Radio KMAN.

By Tim Everson

Another substantial part of the Kansas State’s offense has hit the transfer portal.

Junior wide receiver Keagan Johnson is headed to this third school after transferring to K-State from Iowa heading into the 2023 season.

“Thank you Kansas State and the community of Manhattan for the overwhelming support during my time as a Wildcat,” Johnson said in a statement on social media. “I will forever cherish my time here, and I will keep these memories forever. With that being said, I have decided to enter the transfer portal.”

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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By Tim Everson

Another substantial part of the Kansas State’s offense has hit the transfer portal.

Junior wide receiver Keagan Johnson is headed to this third school after transferring to K-State from Iowa heading into the 2023 season.

“Thank you Kansas State and the community of Manhattan for the overwhelming support during my time as a Wildcat,” Johnson said in a statement on social media. “I will forever cherish my time here, and I will keep these memories forever. With that being said, I have decided to enter the transfer portal.”

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

Click here for more K-State sports news.

The post K-State WR Keagan Johnson enters transfer portal appeared first on News Radio KMAN.

By Tim Everson

Saturday was an offensive rejuvenation for Kansas State in almost every phase of Kansas State’s 41-15 win over Cincinnati.

In a sport like football where there are so many moving pieces at any one time, it’s impossible to say that only one decision made the difference between the Wildcats flailing on offense like they’ve done for the past month or soaring like they did Saturday night.

However, a slight coaching change may have been the spark that reignited the Wildcat offense Saturday evening.

To view the full story visit theMercury.com.

The post Offensive shakeup sparks K-State’s offense in Cincinnati win appeared first on News Radio KMAN.