Kansas State might be cooking up something serious in the transfer portal, and Southern Miss linebacker Chris Jones is the name to watch. According to On3, the Wildcats are in the mix for Jones alongside Florida State and Ole Miss, and that’s some pretty elite company to be keeping.
Jones isn’t just another name in the portal. He was named an All-American at the Group of 5 level this past season and racked up 133 total tackles, which put him sixth in the entire country. He added 3.5 sacks, forced a fumble, picked off a pass, and haunted opposing offenses all year long. He’s one of the most productive defenders in the country, and he’s about to cash in.
At 6-foot, 230 pounds, he’s built for Power Four football. In addition to his size, he’s young in his career, coming off a dominant sophomore season. For Kansas State, it just makes sense. They just lost Austin Romaine to the portal and need a proven guy to slide in. If they can land Jones, that’s an instant answer and potentially an upgrade.
Now, it’s not going to be easy. Florida State and Ole Miss are both going to be aggressive, and you’d expect some other big-name schools to come sniffing around. But Kansas State has been in these battles before, and with Collin Klein now at the helm, the Wildcats are punching up in their recruiting weight class.
Jones would make a ton of sense in Manhattan, but it will be a grind to bring home the elite linebacker. He brings experience, production, and a little bit of an edge to a defense that’s looking for leadership and toughness right now. If the Wildcats can get this one across the finish line, it might end up being one of the best under-the-radar pickups of the portal cycle.
