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27 DAYS TO 2025 KICKOFF: Ben Wheeler

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#27 Jordy Nelson
You simply can’t profile a walk-on safety who became a wide receiver, even a relatively unheralded walk-on such as Ben Wheeler, on 27 days until kickoff without using a picture of K-State legend Jordy Nelson (27), who did the very same. | Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images

In which BracketCat counts down the 27th day until the 2025 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State wide receiver Ben Wheeler.

#27 Ben Wheeler

Redshirt Freshman | 6-0 | 185 lbs. | Olathe, Kansas
Ben Wheeler
Courtesy Kansas State Athletics
Ben Wheeler
  • Position: Wide Receiver
  • Previous College: None
  • Projection: Scout Team
  • Status: Preferred Walk-On

Benjamin Wheeler (b. Aug. 30, 2005) is a walk-on safety-turned-wide receiver from St. James Academy Catholic High School in Lenexa who redshirted and did not play in 2024.

Wheeler, who is majoring in kinesiology, switched positions during spring practices.

He prepped under head coach Tom Radke, helping the Thunder to earn state championships as both a sophomore and junior.

Wheeler primarily played offense in high school, throwing for 1,674 yards and 15 touchdowns, rushing for 449 yards and seven touchdowns, and hauling in nine passes for 130 yards and another two yards.

He also served as the team’s punter as a senior, averaging 36.8 yards on 30 punts en route to all-state honors from Sports in Kansas.

Wheeler prepped at the same high school as former K-State running back La’James White.

He also competed in track and field, setting school records for 100 meters and long jump.

Wheeler chose walking on at K-State as a safety (and originally as a quarterback) over scholarship offers from Army, Holy Cross and UTEP, as well as interest from South Carolina.

His primary recruiters were linebackers coach Steve Stanard and former wide receivers and then fullbacks/tight ends coach Jason Ray.

Wheeler’s father, Sean, and uncle, Mike, both were wide receivers at K-State in 1989, while his older brother, Sammy, was a tight end for the Wildcats from 2018 through 2022.

Their sisters Lauren (Wichita State) and Ellie (Bentley) both played college volleyball.