K-State defender Austin Romaine joins growing list of Wildcats’ football transfers
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- K-State loses standout linebacker Austin Romaine to transfer portal.
- Romaine recorded 66 tackles in 2024 and 96 as a sophomore, earning two All-Big 12 nods.
- Nearly 20 Wildcats entered the portal after Klieman’s retirement and Collin Klein hire.
The Kansas State football team is losing one of the best linebackers in the Big 12.
Austin Romaine, a 6-foot-2 and 245-pound junior from Hillsboro, plans to transfer away from the Wildcats and play elsewhere next season.
K-State has lost nearly 20 outgoing transfers since Chris Klieman unexpectedly retired and Collin Klein was hired to replace him as head football coach this month. Romaine is arguably the biggest name on the list.
Romaine made the Big 12’s all-conference second team in each of the past two seasons. He has also been one of the highest graded linebackers in the country at Pro Football Focus.
This past season, Romaine made 66 tackles in nine games for the Wildcats. He piled up a season-high 11 stops in a November game against Texas Tech, but he missed the remainder of the schedule with a season-ending injury to his hand.
As a sophomore, Romaine made 96 tackles in the middle of K-State’s defense. As a freshman, he finished with 22 tackles.
It will be interesting to see where Romaine plays next in college, or if he considers the NFL Draft. He will have suitors after putting up strong numbers over the past three seasons for K-State.
In other news, the Wildcats may have lured at least one player back from the transfer portal. Defensive back Donovan McIntosh previously announced his intentions to transfer, but he shared a message on social media over the weekend that stated he was ready to get to work for new K-State defensive coordinator Jordan Peterson.
Two notable K-State players who have announced they will be back next season are running back Joe Jackson and backup quarterback Blake Barnett.
K-State football transfer tracker
- Callen Barta (wide receiver)
- Jayce Brown (wide receiver)
- Teagan Cobb (defensive end)
- Ryan Davis (defensive end)
- Dylan Edwards (running back)
- Amarion Fortenberry (defensive back)
- Truman Griffith (defensive end)
- Brayden Loftin (tight end)
- Colby McAlister (defensive end)
- Andrew Metzger (tight end)
- Qua Moss (defensive back)
- Ralph Ortiz (linebacker)
- Tobi Osunsanmi (defensive end)
- JB Price (running back)
- Austin Romaine (linebacker)
- Jacques Spradley-Demps (running back)
- Devin Vass (offensive line)