In which BracketCat counts down the 20th day until the 2025 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State linebacker Ralph Ortiz.
#20 Ralph Ortiz
Redshirt Junior | 6-1 | 226 lbs. | Jacksonville, Florida
Courtesy Kansas State Athletics
- Position: Linebacker
- Previous College: University of West Florida
- Projection: Co-Third-String
- Status: On Scholarship
Ralph Ortiz (b. Feb. 9, 2004) is a transfer linebacker from West Florida who is majoring in management. Expect him to make an impact as a reserve linebacker and on special teams.
Out of high school, Ortiz committed to Division II West Florida, where he redshirted and did not play in 2022. He played in 12 games during the 2023 season with 11 starts for the Argonauts as he was named the Gulf South Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year.
Ortiz collected 40 tackles, seven tackles for loss, a sack, three interceptions and 10 total passes defended as a redshirt freshman, and he tied for third in the conference in interceptions, sixth in passes defended and first in interception-return touchdowns.
He earned Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Week honors in three consecutive weeks following games against West Georgia (where fellow defensive transfer Qua Moss started out his career), North Greenville and Shorter.
Ortiz recorded a season-high seven tackles at Mississippi College, while he had five at both Florida A&M and Delta State. He posted a season-best 2.0 TFLs, which included a sack, at McKendree and returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown against West Georgia.
Ortiz tallied a career-high three pass breakups at North Greenville, while he had an interception and a pass breakup against Shorter.
He then started all 10 games en route to first-team All-Gulf South Conference honors last year, totaling 33 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, an interception, a pass breakup and a forced fumble on the season.
Ortiz tied for ninth in the Gulf South Conference in sacks, while he finished ninth in tackle for loss and tied for first in interception-return touchdowns. He started the season strong with 26 tackles and 6.0 tackles for loss during the first three games of the season.
Ortiz opened last year with a career-high 10 tackles and three tackles for loss against McKendree, while he returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown and also broke up another pass and forced a fumble against the Bearcats.
He had seven tackles and 2.0 TFLs against West Alabama before tallying nine tackles and a TFL at Grand Valley State, and also recorded sacks against Delta State, Chowan and Erskine.
Ortiz prepped under head coach Walter Banks at Lake Minneola High School in Minneola, Fla., where he was named an all-area defensive back by the Leesburg Daily Commercial in addition to being named the most valuable defensive back.
He helped to lead the Hawks to the state championship game as a junior and was selected to participate in the Cure Classic All-Star Game between Orange and Seminole counties.
Ortiz came away with 104 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, seven sacks, three interceptions and eight total passes defended during his prep career.
An unrated prospect, he originally committed to West Florida out of high school over an offer from Florida Atlantic. He enrolled at K-State last winter in time for spring practices.
Ortiz’s lead recruiter was his new position coach, linebackers coach Steve Stanard.