**Thursday Insider: Kansas State Football Lands a Historic WR Recruit, Ohio Five-Star Flips Commitment from Notre Dame and Texas**
Kansas State Football just pulled off a seismic move on the recruiting trail—and it’s making waves across the college football landscape.
In a stunning development, five-star wide receiver Malik Owens out of Cleveland, Ohio, has flipped his commitment from Notre Dame to Kansas State, turning down the Texas Longhorns in the process. Owens, widely regarded as one of the most electric playmakers in the 2025 class, becomes the highest-rated wide receiver commit in Kansas State history. But what makes this move even more significant isn’t just his talent—it’s the story behind his decision.
Owens had long been linked to Notre Dame. His family has deep ties to the program; his uncle played linebacker for the Irish in the early 2000s, and Malik grew up watching games in South Bend. It was widely assumed that his early commitment to Notre Dame in January was the final word. But behind the scenes, Kansas State had been building something different: a relationship rooted in trust, fit, and a shared vision.
Offensive coordinator Collin Klein and wide receivers coach Matthew Middleton were relentless in their pursuit. They sold Owens not just on catching passes, but on becoming the face of a modern Kansas State offense that’s evolving into a balanced, dynamic attack. They showed him tape, talked scheme, and even had him sit in on offensive install sessions during his visit last month. Owens left Manhattan impressed—and more importantly, intrigued.
What truly sealed the deal, though, was head coach Chris Klieman’s personal connection. Owens has a younger brother diagnosed with autism, and during an in-home visit, Klieman spent time talking with the family about how Kansas State’s campus supports students with disabilities. It wasn’t a recruiting pitch—it was a moment of genuine humanity. That, according to sources close to the family, moved the needle in a way X’s and O’s never could.
Flipping a blue-chip player from two storied programs like Notre Dame and Texas is rare territory for Kansas State, but this isn’t just about recruiting rankings. Owens brings game-breaking speed, elite ball-tracking ability, and a mature route-running tree that will elevate the Wildcats’ offense from day one. He’s the kind of player that forces defensive coordinators to game-plan around him—something Kansas State hasn’t had at wide receiver in years.
With this commitment, K-State not only secures a generational talent but also sends a message: the Wildcats are not just building for the Big 12—they’re positioning themselves as a future powerhouse in the expanded College Football Playoff era.
Malik Owens’ flip isn’t just a win on paper. It’s a program-defining moment—rooted in persistence, vision, and heart. And for Kansas State, it’s only the beginning.
