Just months after enrolling at Kansas State University, highly-touted freshman safety Noah King has decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal, according to multiple reports on Thursday. The four-star recruit from Hamilton, Ohio, was one of the headline names in K-State’s 2025 signing class and was seen as a major pickup for head coach Chris Klieman and his staff.
King, who committed to the Wildcats over offers from programs like Kentucky, Nebraska, and West Virginia, was ranked as the No. 216 overall prospect and the 26th-best cornerback in the country by 247Sports. His commitment marked a milestone for K-State, as he was the first player from Ohio to sign with the program since 2004.
Despite the excitement surrounding his arrival in Manhattan, King never suited up for the Wildcats. He enrolled in January, taking part in team activities and beginning off-season training. However, something changed over the course of the spring semester, prompting King to look elsewhere for the next step in his football journey.
The reasons behind King’s sudden decision to transfer remain unclear, though such early exits are becoming more common in the current college football landscape. With the transfer portal offering players more flexibility and mobility than ever before, top prospects are increasingly making moves if they feel a different environment might better suit their development.
For Kansas State, losing a player of King’s caliber is a tough blow, especially given the anticipation surrounding his role in the secondary. Still, the Wildcats have a deep roster and a strong recruiting pipeline under Klieman, and they will now shift focus to filling the gap and maintaining momentum in the 2025 recruiting cycle.
