#34 Alex Barnes — Today’s number has more traditionally been reserved for running backs, such as Alex Barnes (34) and James Gilbert, or tight ends like Ben Sinnott. But freshman linebacker Weston Polk will try to make it defensive standout digits instead. | Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images

In which BracketCat counts down the 34th day until the 2025 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State linebacker Weston Polk.

Yes, I know today is actually 33 days until kickoff. Please bear with me this week as I work to catch back up. I had a medical emergency Friday night and have been out of commission for the past three days. In order for me to keep up with the Countdown, I will be taking an indefinite hiatus from the Protest Playoff posts until I’m feeling better.

#34 Weston Polk

True Freshman | 6-1 | 221 lbs. | Coppell, Texas

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

Weston Polk (b. Jan. 17, 2006) is a speedy young linebacker from Coppell (Texas) High School who plans on majoring in agribusiness. He is likely to redshirt and not play in 2025.

Polk prepped under head coach Antonio Wiley at Coppell, where he was rated the 24th-best inside linebacker in the country for the Class of 2025 by ESPN.

Named the district defensive player of the year as a senior, he also was a first-team all-district honoree as a junior and an honorable mention pick as a sophomore.

Polk tallied 183 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, seven sacks, an interception, four passes defended, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in his career, which included an 86-tackle, 15-TFL effort as a senior, leading Coppell to the regional round of the state playoffs. He also competed in track and field in high school.

Polk signed with K-State over offers from Arkansas State, California, Houston, Iowa State, Memphis, North Texas, Oregon State, TCU, Texas State, Tulsa and UTEP, as well as interest from Notre Dame. His lead recruiters were defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman and his new position coach, Steve Stanard.

Said Gabe Brooks of 247Sports, regarding Polk’s athletic potential at the next level:

Athletic second-level defender with experience at linebacker, safety, and even edge. Perhaps his most impressive trait is ability to suddenly redirect in pursuit. Combine testing data reflect that attribute as well. More of a space defender than man defender at this point, but owns the athletic makeup to succeed in both in the long term.

Instincts. Simply put, Polk is a natural at his position. You don’t rack up the statistics that he did at that level in Texas without having a true feel of the game. Physical between the tackles, Polk processes his angles quickly and times his blitzes well. Watching his game is incredibly fluid for a high school linebacker. Rarely makes the wrong read.