In which BracketCat counts down the 44th day until the 2025 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State defensive end Tobi Osunsanmi.

#44 Tobi Osunsanmi

Redshirt Junior | 6-3 | 250 lbs. | Wichita, Kansas

Position: Defensive End
Previous College: None
Projection: Co-Starter
Status: On Scholarship

Tobi Osunsanmi (b. March 19, 2004) is an intense young linebacker-turned-defensive end from Wichita High School East who is majoring in construction science and management.

He played in four games during the 2022 Big 12 Championship season as he preserved his redshirt, collecting tackles on kickoff coverage against Oklahoma State and Kansas.

Osunsanmi saw time in all 13 games in 2023 as a reserve linebacker, as a rush end on passing downs and on special teams — and he was so impressive in that middle role that it became his primary position during the 2024 season.

He tied for team-high honors with five tackles on kickoff coverage, including two against Baylor; carded two tackles at Oklahoma State; had a sack that forced a fumble against Troy; and officially converted from linebacker to defensive end toward the end of the season.

Last season, Osunsanmi saw action in all 13 games as a reserve defensive end and on special teams, recording 19 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble over 303 defensive snaps and 31 special teams plays.

He tallied a career-high four tackles against both Houston and Cincinnati, as both performances included a sack; carded a career-high 1.5 sacks in the season opener against UT Martin; recovered a fumble against Houston; and saw time on a career-high 32 defensive snaps against Oklahoma State and 31 in the Rate Bowl against Rutgers.

Osunsanmi prepped under head coach Ene Akpan at Wichita East, where he was regarded as the 232nd-best overall player in the nation for the Class of 2022 by 247Sports, which also rated him the 18th-best linebacker and second-best overall player in the state of Kansas.

Osunsanmi earned all-state honors from the Kansas Football Coaches Association after totaling 74 tackles, two forced fumbles and a blocked punt for the Aces. He also competed in track — winning state in the 4×100 — and basketball.

A consensus three-star prospect as a safety and linebacker by the major recruiting services, Osunsanmi chose K-State over scholarship offers from Akron, Kansas, Northern Iowa and South Dakota State, as well as interest from Iowa State, Nebraska and South Dakota.

His primary recruiters were recruiting coordinator Taylor Braet and his former position coach, linebackers coach Steve Stanard.

Here is what head coach Chris Klieman had to say about Osunsanmi on his signing day:

Tobi is a linebacker from … East High School in Wichita, Kansas. He came to camp, really excited us at camp and did a phenomenal job. His high school coach is Shaq Reed, who played here. Tobi is a long, really explosive, fast athlete that has that size already. Tobi is going to be a really big kid. He’s 6-foot-3, 210 (pounds) already, and he’ll be a 230-pound guy before you know it. Really excited to get a guy out of Wichita East High School.

And here is what defensive ends coach Buddy Wyatt had to say after spring 2024 practices:

Tobi brings us some juice off the edge, and he’s stronger and more stout against the run than you’d think. Tobi has a chance to be a really special pass-rush guy. He really does. And he’s still learning the ins and outs of playing defensive end. I’ve been impressed with Tobi’s ability to play the run. I knew he could rush the quarterback. I’ve been more impressed with his physicality

Tobi has a huge frame. He’s strong and stout, and he can carry a lot of weight. He can be an every-down player for us at defensive end. You look at some of the guys we’ve had in the past, and they weren’t even as big as Tobi is right now.

Add to that defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman’s praise (and also light criticism):

Tobi Osunsanmi is phenomenal, and he may be as gifted of an athlete as we have in the program.

I think sometimes he’s a little inconsistent with his footwork in the run game. You bet — he can get off the ball and be really disruptive. He is a physical player. It’s not like he can’t play the run. It’s just that’s all new to him. We’ve got to keep that in mind with the different things that he sees. Obviously, he’s been going against our offense in the spring and fall camp and all those things. Sometimes he sees some run schemes that our offense doesn’t do. So, for him to get some game time in those concepts is a big deal for him. He’s just going to keep getting better, too.

Not to mention assistant head coach Van Malone’s glowing assessment of him in 2023:

The other name is Tobi Osunsanmi. Tobi has been very impressive just because of his physicality and his ability to be able to run.

Man, that’s a lot to get you excited for this guy’s future! Here’s hoping the man with the “silent walking statue” celebration pose finally breaks through as a starter-level player.