#83 Will Swanson — Tight end Will Swanson (83) had his most productive season year in 2024, with three touchdowns. In 2025, he will provide a steady veteran presence to balance our young tight ends. | Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

In which BracketCat counts down the 83rd day until the 2025 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State tight end Will Swanson.

NOTE: Kansas State has elected to advance players’ classification even though the 2020 season did not affect eligibility. Those who wish to take advantage of this extra year will be listed as a (“super”) senior again after their original eligibility would have been exhausted.

#83 Will Swanson

Redshirt Super Senior | 6-5 | 243 lbs. | Papillion, Nebraska

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

William Henry Swanson (b. March 5, 2002) is a smart, tough tight end from La Vista High School South in Papillion, Neb., who is majoring in construction science and management.

Entering 2025, Swanson will continue his role balancing out the other starting tight end, who usually will be Garrett Oakley but occasionally could be another talented young player.

Head coach Chris Klieman said his veteran presence will be extremely helpful to them:

Will Swanson coming back was really important for us to have that experienced guy along with a lot of young, good players. … It’s going to be a lot of guys contributing in the tight end room.

He redshirted and did not see any game action in 2020 after arriving for spring practices.

Swanson played in four games in 2021 as a blocking tight end against Iowa State, TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia. He helped K-State to tie for second in the Big 12 with 29 rushing touchdowns, while the Wildcats’ 4.83 yards per rush ranked sixth in school history.

In 2022, Swanson played in every game as both a reserve tight end and on special teams for the eventual Big 12 champions. He hauled in his first two career receptions for 23 yards against South Dakota, including an 18-yard catch, and also hauled in one at TCU.

Swanson saw time in all 13 games in 2023, with four starts at tight end, in addition to being a member of the kickoff return, field goal and extra point blocking units on special teams.

He had five receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown on the season, scored his first career touchdown catch against TCU, and had a career-long catch of 21 yards against Houston.

Swanson’s contest against the Horned Frogs included a career-high two catches. He was named a second-team Academic All-Big 12 honoree following the regular season.

Last season, Swanson played in every game with four starts, hauling in nine receptions for 66 yards and three touchdowns over his 362 offensive snaps as he earned All-Big 12 honorable mention accolades from the league’s coaches.

His three touchdown receptions tied for sixth among Big 12 tight ends, helping the K-State tight end unit to score a nation-best 13 touchdowns. His touchdown receptions came against Tulane, Arizona and Cincinnati, and he tied his career high with two receptions each against Tulane and Arizona, the first of which resulted in a season-high 18 yards.

A three-year letter-winner for the Titans under head coach Tim Clemenger, Swanson was regarded as the 24th-best tight end (Y) prospect in the Class of 2020 by ESPN, while he was rated No. 37 by Rivals and No. 41 by 247Sports. He also lettered one year in baseball.

Viewed as the third-best prospect in the state of Nebraska by both ESPN and 247Sports, and No. 5 by Rivals, he hauled in 45 receptions for 542 yards and three touchdowns during his prep career, including his senior season, when he went for 381 yards on 33 receptions.

Swanson picked K-State over offers from Kent State, Missouri State, South Dakota State and Wyoming, as well as interest from Eastern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Illinois State, Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northern Illinois, South Dakota, Western Illinois and Western Michigan. His main recruiter was ex-offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham.