Kansas State University

Kansas State adds football transfers from Georgia and Oregon after playoff exits

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  • Kansas State adds defensive back Adrian Maddox from Georgia to bolster secondary.
  • Maddox preserved a redshirt after four games and logged play in Sugar Bowl.
  • K-State targets depth with roughly 20 portal arrivals as staff rebuilds roster.

Kansas State’s latest pair of football transfers were both chasing a national championship earlier this month.

The Wildcats have secured commitments from a defensive back who played in the Sugar Bowl with Georgia and a running back who appeared in multiple playoff games with Oregon.

Adrian Maddox, a 6-foot-1 and 200-pound defensive back who made one tackle against Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff, was the first to pledge his allegiance to the Wildcats.

He was the first transfer that K-State head coach Collin Klein has added this week, but the Wildcats are closing in on 20 newcomers from the portal this month.

Maddox is a senior who is no stranger to new situations. The safety began his college football career at Alabama State. He spent two seasons there and then transferred up to UAB, where he made 44 tackles as a junior. He also had one interception that season, which he returned 99 yards for a touchdown.

His play with Alabama State and UAB made him an attractive option as a transfer last season, which paved the way for him to move to Georgia.

Maddox didn’t see as much playing time as he hoped with the Bulldogs, as he only played in four games. But one of them was the Sugar Bowl against Ole Miss, which the Rebels won 39-34. By playing in just four games, he was able to preserve a redshirt. He made four tackles with the Bulldogs.

At K-State, he will look to add talent to a secondary that is looking to reload under a new coaching staff.

Jay Harris is the other new incoming transfer. He is a 6-foot-2 and 224-pound running back who gained 277 yards and scored three touchdowns over the past two seasons with the Ducks.

His best game came during a 56-22 loss to Indiana in the Peach Bowl, as he rushed for 35 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries to go along with 32 yards and three catches as a receiver.

Harris began his college football career at the Division II level with Northwest Missouri State before he transferred to Oregon. He is originally from St. Louis.

He will join returning starter Joe Jackson and Oklahoma State transfer Rodney Fields in the K-State backfield next season.

Jay Harris #22 of the Oregon Ducks runs against Jamari Sharpe #22 of the Indiana Hoosiers during the first quarter in the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 09, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Jay Harris #22 of the Oregon Ducks runs against Jamari Sharpe #22 of the Indiana Hoosiers during the first quarter in the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 09, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. Kevin C. Cox Getty Images

K-State football transfer tracker

Incoming (19)

Charlie Adams (offensive lineman from Cal Poly)

Koy Beasley (defensive back from Miami of Ohio)

Jayden Bryant (defensive end from Coastal Carolina)

Kamari Burns (defensive lineman from Cincinnati)

Dylan Davidson (punter from Emporia State)

Jaxson Duffield (long snapper from Oklahoma State)

Rodney Fields (running back from Oklahoma State)

Robert Hammond (kicker from Toledo)

Jay Harris (running back from Oregon)

De’Arieun Hicks (defensive lineman from Gardner-Webb)

Keiton Jones (offensive lineman from Missouri)

Adrian Maddox (defensive back from Georgia)

Joshua Manning (wide receiver from Missouri)

Mekhi Mason (linebacker from Louisiana Tech)

Tanner Morley (offensive lineman from Colorado State)

Delvin Morris (offensive lineman from Akron)

Jacobi Oliphant (linebacker from Oklahoma State)

Kaleb Patterson (defensive back from Illinois)

Ja’Son Prevard (defensive back from Virginia)

Austin Ramsey (defensive tackle from Kentucky)

Izaiah Williams (wide receiver from Texas A&M)

Outgoing (31)

Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder (defensive line) to SMU

Callen Barta (wide receiver) to Emporia State

Jayce Brown (wide receiver) to LSU

Teagan Cobb (punter) to Southeast Missouri State

Daniel Cobbs (defensive back) to Baylor

Ryan Davis (defensive end) to Baylor

Dylan Edwards (running back)

Amarion Fortenberry (defensive back) to USF

Truman Griffith (defensive end) to North Dakota State

Garrett Harstad (wide receiver)

Hudson Hutcheson (quarterback)

Will Kemna (offensive line) to Missouri

Brayden Loftin (tight end) to UCLA

Antonio Martin (running back)

Kaedin Massey (offensive line) to James Madison

Colby McAlister (defensive end) to Baylor

Andrew Metzger (tight end) to Ohio

Qua Moss (defensive back) to Tennessee

Chiddi Obiazor (defensive end) to Indiana

Ralph Ortiz (linebacker)

Tobi Osunsanmi (defensive end) to Indiana

JB Price (running back)

DeVon Rice (running back)

Maguire Richman (linebacker)

Austin Romaine (linebacker) to Texas Tech

Jayden Rowe (defensive back) to Baylor

Jacques Spradley-Demps (running back)

Amos Talalele (offensive line)

Kanijal Thomas (defensive back) to Oklahoma State

Asher Tomaszewski (defensive line)

Devin Vass (offensive line) to West Virginia

This story was originally published January 12, 2026 at 12:28 PM.

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Kellis Robinett
The Wichita Eagle
Kellis Robinett covers Kansas State athletics for The Wichita Eagle and The Kansas City Star. A winner of more than a dozen national writing awards, he lives in Manhattan with his wife and four children.
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