80 DAYS TO 2026 KICKOFF: Will Anciaux
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#80 Will Anciaux
Redshirt Junior | 6-6 | 257 lbs. | Wichita, Kansas
- Position: Tight End
- Previous College: None
- Projection: Co-Second-String
- Status: On Scholarship
Will Anciaux (b. Nov. 5, 2004) is a strong tight end from Wichita who is majoring in kinesiology with hopes of becoming an orthopedic surgeon in the future.
Although he excels at catching and route running, he redshirted and did not play in 2023 in order to add weight.
But oh, did he ever break onto the scene in 2024, playing in all 13 games, including his first career start against Kansas, and catching seven passes for 62 yards and three touchdowns on the year. (And now he’s all grown up and filming commercials with Avery Johnson!)
Anciaux tied for second nationally among freshman tight ends in receiving touchdowns and tied for sixth among all Big 12 tight ends, and he was part of a K-State tight end unit that led the nation with a combined 13 touchdown receptions last season.
His touchdowns came against Oklahoma State, West Virginia and Kansas, while he had a season-high two receptions against the latter two foes and totaled a season-high 29 yards — including a season-long catch of 24 yards — against the Jayhawks.
In all, Anciaux played on 182 offensive snaps during the year, including a season-high 32 at Colorado, and he was named to the Academic All-District team by College Sports Communicators in addition to earning Academic All-Big 12 honors following the season.
Last season, he played in all 12 games with eight starts, collecting six receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown over 331 offensive snaps and 97 special teams plays.
Anciaux tallied a season-high 28 receiving yards at Baylor, which included a career-long catch of 25 yards.
He recorded a 3-yard touchdown against UCF and again picked up Academic All-District honors from College Sports Communicators in addition to All-Big 12 accolades.
This season, he will vie with Garrett Oakley and Linkon Cure for those competitive touchdown catches in 2026.
“(Linkon Cure) and Will Anciaux haven’t missed a snap all spring, and that’s a credit to their toughness and how they prepared themselves,” head coach Collin Klein said earlier this year during a spring press conference.
A three-year letter-winner and two-year captain at Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School under head coach Weston Schartz, Anciaux was viewed as the 28th-best tight end in the Class of 2023 by ESPN and the 10th-best overall player in the state of Kansas by 247Sports.
He earned first-team all-state honors as a junior and senior from Sports in Kansas, while also picking up first-team honors in 2022 from both The Wichita Eagle and KSHSAA Covered.
Anciaux also was an honorable mention all-state pick as a junior by KSHSAA Covered and the Eagle, while he earned all-city accolades as a sophomore, junior and senior.
He totaled 58 receptions for 911 yards and nine touchdowns during his prep career, which included three scores as both a junior and senior.
Anciaux helped the Crusaders to earn city league, sectional and regional championships in 2021, while they were regional champions in 2020. He also played basketball, in which he was a two-time captain and helped Kapaun to earn a pair of sub-state championships.
Anciaux chose K-State over offers from California, Iowa State, Kansas, Liberty, Memphis, Michigan State, Minnesota and Nebraska, as well as interest from Wisconsin. His primary recruiter was director of player personnel and high school relations Taylor Braet.
Here’s what former tight ends coach Luke Wells had to say about Anciaux last spring:
Will Anciaux is one of the more-improved guys. Will is a young guy and just from seeing what he did (in 2024) and watching tape with him, man, he’s continuing to improve. He’s a good in-line blocker with length and really good hands. He’s been taking steps in the right direction this spring and has continued to improve.
This year, Anciaux and Brian Lepak are reuniting as coach and player, adding to a long history going way back:
Will Anciaux was my first commit when I was officially the tight ends coach. … Will was the first one I went to the high school to actively recruit.
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