Kansas State Adds Interior Offensive Lineman From San Diego State

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As nan assemblage shot world continues to thin heavy into nan transportation portal, Kansas State shot has made 1 point very clear. The Wildcats are building from nan wrong out. While splashy skill-position additions often drawback headlines, Kansas State has stayed locked successful connected nan trenches, treating nan portal arsenic a semipermanent roster-building instrumentality alternatively than a speedy fix.

That attack softly continued pinch nan summation of San Diego State violative lineman Chase Duarte. He announced his committedness to Kansas State connected Instagram connected Jan. 14.

Why Chase Duarte Makes Sense for Kansas State

One of nan biggest factors down Duarte’s move to Manhattan is his relationship to Kansas State’s violative statement room. Duarte followed violative statement coach Mike Schmidt, who coached him astatine San Diego State during nan 2025 season.

Schmidt already knows Duarte’s habits, strengths, and areas that request refinement. That firsthand knowledge allows Kansas State to bring him successful pinch a clear improvement scheme alternatively than projecting blindly. It besides speaks to nan staff’s assurance that Duarte fits what they want to build up front.

From a roster building standpoint, Duarte checks respective important boxes. He appeared successful six games arsenic a existent freshman astatine San Diego State and arrives astatine Kansas State pinch 3 years of eligibility remaining, positive his redshirt still intact. That elasticity gives nan Wildcats options arsenic they proceed shaping nan violative statement for nan future.

Listed astatine 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds, Duarte already has nan size expected of an interior violative lineman astatine nan Big 12 level. Because of his eligibility situation, he is wide viewed arsenic a redshirt campaigner for nan 2026 season.

Duarte’s on-field usage arsenic a freshman was constricted but intentional. According to Pro Football Focus, he logged 52 full snaps during nan season. Of those, 44 came successful run-blocking situations, while 8 were successful walk protection. He did not play immoderate snaps connected typical teams.

Those numbers overgarment a clear image of really San Diego State viewed his early development, focusing him almost wholly connected interior violative statement work. Kansas State appears fresh to proceed that aforesaid attack arsenic he transitions into a Power Four program.

High School Success Built nan Foundation

Before reaching nan assemblage level, Duarte was a standout astatine Clayton Valley Charter successful Concord, California. He was a four-year missive victor and squad captain. He helped lead nan programme to 4 North Coast Section Division 1/Open playoff appearances. And that included a title crippled quality successful 2022.

As a senior, Duarte anchored an violative statement that powered a rushing onslaught averaging 205.3 yards per game, 25 touchdowns, and 6.8 yards per carry. He was rated arsenic a three-star imaginable by some 247Sports and On3 and classed arsenic nan No. 169 violative tackle successful nan 2025 recruiting class. Duarte chose San Diego State complete offers from Fresno State, Portland State, Sacramento State, and UC Davis.

Duarte’s summation fits neatly into a broader violative statement overhaul successful Manhattan. Kansas State has utilized nan portal aggressively, adding Tanner Morley from Colorado State, Delvin Morris from Akron, Charlie Adams III from Cal Poly, and Keiton Jones from Missouri.