Kansas State just landed a win on the recruiting trail, flipping three-star athlete Kaprice Keith from Iowa State to the Wildcats.
Keith, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound prospect out of Omaha Central, had been committed to Iowa State since July. But that commitment didn’t stick once Kansas State came knocking. He took a visit to Manhattan, liked what he saw, and just like that, he’s now part of the K-State class.
The flip itself is a statement. Not necessarily because Keith is some can’t-miss five-star, but because the Wildcats got him from a Big 12 rival during a time when the program’s going through a leadership transition. Chris Klieman has officially announced his retirement, but Collin Klein is widely expected to take over in the near future. And yet, even with all the noise around that, they’re still managing to win battles on the trail.
Keith is listed as an athlete, but he’s expected to land on the offensive side of the ball in Manhattan. He’s got legit size and length to play wide receiver and apparently prefers that spot over playing in the secondary, which is what Iowa State was projecting him as. Credit to the K-State staff for leaning into that and offering him a chance to do what he wants to do.
This is one of those flips that may not dominate headlines, but it adds up in the long run. The Wildcats have done a solid job building through development, and guys like Keith give you a mold to work with. He’s raw in some areas, but the frame and tools are there. With the right coaching, he could end up making a real impact down the line.
On Iowa State’s end, this one stings. Losing a long-time commit this late in the process isn’t ideal, especially to a conference rival. And while they’ll move on and attempt to fill the spot, it’s not a great look to lose a kid who’s been in the boat for five months, especially when the other school doesn’t even have its coaching situation fully settled.
For Kansas State, though, this is just another sign they’re not slowing down. Coaching change or not, the staff is still making moves. And for Kaprice Keith, this looks like a better fit all the way around.
