By Millard South 2022 LB/ATH Gage Stenger camped at Kansas State last weekend in front of Wildcats’ head coach Chris Klieman and his coaching staff.
The workout went so well that Kansas State linebackers coach Steve Stanard gave Stenger a call on Sunday while he and his dad were on the road to Laramie, Wyo., where Stenger has a private workout with the Cowboys scheduled for Monday.
“I was talking to coach Stanard a little bit, and he was saying how he’s excited and he was going to have coach Klieman talk to me,” Stenger said of the conversation. “So coach Klieman was telling me how he was excited and let me know that I have an offer.”
After a great phone call with @CoachKli and @coachstanard I am excited to say I have received my 1st Power 5 offer from Kansas State University! pic.twitter.com/SvJWjnsPyr
— Gage Stenger (@StengerGage) June 20, 2021
The 6-foot-2, 197-pound Stenger said that Klieman likes what he could bring on the defensive side of the ball at the Sam linebacker position, where he’d use his versatility as a run stopper in the box on one play, and covering slot receivers on another.
Stenger will be heading back to Manhattan, Kan., sometime next week for an unofficial visit, where he’ll get to see more of Kansas State’s campus and classrooms.
“I’m just so excited,” Stenger said. “To be able to have a chance to play football in college, let alone in the Power Five, is something that I’ll never forget, receiving my first Power Five offer. Hopefully it’s not my last.”
Along with Kansas State, Stenger also has offers from South Dakota State, North Dakota and Illinois State University. He’s also planning on visiting Northern Illinois later this month.
As a junior, Stenger was third on Millard South’s defense in tackles with 51 and one interception. Offensively, the dynamic athlete racked up 793 total yards, catching 21 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns.
Stenger also saw time at quarterback, where he completed 65 percent of his passes (29 of 44) for 417 yards and two scores while rushing for 161 yards and one touchdown.
