The Kansas State Wildcats have added an unexpected piece to their 2026 roster, with former Temple cornerback Ben Osueke committing to the program after receiving an additional year of eligibility.
The move comes after the college football season has already begun, making the timing particularly notable as Kansas State continues to build its roster.
Osueke is expected to arrive in Manhattan and join the Wildcats’ defense, giving the program another experienced option in the secondary.
Osueke brings significant college experience to Kansas State after spending the past three seasons at Temple following two years at Blinn Junior College.
During his Temple career, he recorded 51 tackles, defended 12 passes and intercepted one pass. His 2025 season was particularly productive, as he started every game for the Owls and earned third-team All-American Athletic Conference honors after finishing with 30 tackles, one interception and eight passes defended.
The addition could provide valuable depth for a Kansas State secondary that entered the season with some uncertainty. Zashon Rich and Kaleb Patterson started at cornerback in the Wildcats’ 71-3 season-opening victory over Nicholls, while Garrick Dixon and Damion Miller were listed as backups.
The team has also been dealing with an injury to defensive back Donovan McIntosh, creating another opening for an experienced player such as Osueke to potentially compete for snaps.
Osueke’s path to a sixth college season is also unusual. He was recently granted additional eligibility through a court order after previously benefiting from the eligibility changes connected to the Diego Pavia case.
That ruling opened the door for Osueke to continue his career, and he has now chosen Kansas State as his next destination. With the Wildcats preparing for the remainder of the season, Osueke gives new head coach Collin Klein another veteran defensive back to work into the roster.
