Kansas State football to lose LB Austin Romaine to transfer portal
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MANHATTAN — Kansas State football standout linebacker Austin Romaine will enter the transfer portal, according to a national report.
CBS Sports reporter Matt Zenitz broke the news, citing sources, saying Monday, Dec. 22, that Romaine immediately becomes one of the best defensive players in the portal.
Wildcats coach Collin Klein previously said that he wanted Romaine to be a piece K-State builds its defense around. Romaine apparently has other plans.
Romaine had 162 total tackles over the last two seasons, including 66 this past injury-shortened season. The Hillsboro, Missouri, native was voted to the Big 12’s second team in 2024 and 2025, while also earning All-Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honorable mention in 2023.
Romaine, with one remaining season of eligibility, will be the most significant piece to depart the Wildcats’ defense. He joins Tobi Osunsanmi, Qua Moss and others.
Kansas State announced the hiring of former Texas A&M co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Jordan Peterson as its defensive coordinator on Dec. 21, replacing Joe Klanderman, who left to become the defensive coordinator at Baylor.
Linebacker will be a position of need for the Wildcats this season, who also lose Des Purnell to graduation. Rex Van Wyhe and Gabe Powers are the most experienced linebackers on the Wildcats’ roster.
Klein, who no longer has to coach Texas A&M’s offense following its loss to Miami in the first round of the College Football Playoff, is in for a busy few months of player movement once the transfer portal opens on Jan. 2.
Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Austin Romaine to leave Kansas State for transfer portal
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