Kansas State just pulled off a sneaky-good double dip in the JUCO market, and both moves came at the expense of Minnesota. The Wildcats flipped Derrick Salley Jr., the top-ranked JUCO wide receiver in the country, and Michael Graham Jr., the No. 1 JUCO safety, within a day of each other.
Let’s start with Salley Jr., who looks the part of a Big 12 problem already. He’s listed at 6’4” and over 220 pounds, and he plays like a guy who knows exactly how to use his size. He was cooking defenders at Hutchinson C.C. this season and racked up double-digit touchdowns while bullying DBs down the sideline. K-State getting him on board gives them a big-bodied target they’ve been missing, especially in red zone looks.
Graham Jr. brings something different, but just as important. He’s a downhill safety with a good nose for the football and enough speed to stay in phase over the top. At Northeast Mississippi, he showed range and physicality in coverage while also bringing some juice as a tackler. He wasn’t just making highlight plays; he was erasing mistakes and showing real discipline in space. That’s the kind of dude who can make the two-deep right away in Manhattan.
The best part? Neither of these guys were even on K-State’s radar a month ago. Both were locked in with Minnesota, but something changed, and that something was Chris Klieman and his staff closing the deal like pros. It’s not easy flipping two top-ranked guys from a Power Four program late in the game, but Kansas State made it look routine.
Despite a disappointing 2025 season, the Cats have built some real recruiting momentum, especially when it comes to the JUCO ranks. For now, K-State fans can smile for a job well done.
