#26 Jarell Childs — Incoming freshman linebacker Sawyer Schilke will wear No. 26, a number he inherited from portal-departed Terry Kirksey Jr. and which evokes memories of the great Jarell Childs (26) in 2012. | Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images

In which BracketCat counts down the 26th day until the 2025 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State linebacker Sawyer Schilke.

#26 Sawyer Schilke

True Freshman | 6-2 | 234 lbs. | Kearney, Nebraska

Position: Linebacker
Previous College: None
Projection: Redshirt
Status: On Scholarship

Sawyer Schilke (b. May 9, 2007) is a highly touted young linebacker from Kearney, Nebraska, who seems likely to redshirt and may or may not play in 2025.

He prepped under head coach Brandon Cool at Kearney High School, where he was regarded as the 46th-best inside linebacker in the Class of 2025 and the eighth-best overall prospect in the state of Nebraska by ESPN.

Schilke finished high school career with 207 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks; set the school record for career TFLs; and tallied 114 tackles during his senior campaign.

He earned Super State first-team honors as a junior and senior from the Lincoln Journal Star, while he was a first-team all-state performer both years by the Omaha World-Herald.

Schilke, who plans on majoring in business, rushed for 163 yards and eight touchdowns during his prep career, and he also competed in wrestling.

He signed with K-State over scholarship offers from North Dakota State and Northern Illinois (to which he previously was committed), as well as strong recruiting interest from Iowa State, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota State and Wyoming.

Schilke’s lead recruiters were his new position coach, linebackers coach Steve Stanard, and defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman.