#35 Taiten Winkel — Backup place kicker (and presumptive new punter) Simon McClannan got to see the field a little bit in 2023 on a couple of kickoffs. This isn’t him, though; rather, it’s predecessor Taiten Winkel (35) kicking an extra point way back in 2021. | Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images

In which BracketCat counts down the 35th day until the 2024 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State kicker/punter Simon McClannan.

#35 Simon McClannan

Redshirt Freshman | 5-11 | 190 lbs. | Omaha, Nebraska

Position: Kicker/Punter
Previous College: None
Projection: Co-Third-String (Kicker) / Starter (Punter)
Status: Preferred Walk-On

Simon McClannan (b. March 28, 2005) is a preferred walk-on kicker and punter from Millard High School South in Omaha, Nebraska, who is majoring in business administration.

McClannan kicked off twice during the 2023 season — once at Texas and once against NC State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl — as he retained his redshirt. He also was named to the Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team for the 2023-24 school year.

McClannan prepped under coaches Andy Means and Ty Wisdom at Millard South, where he was rated the 23rd-best punter and 45th-best kicker in the Class of 2023 by Kohl’s Kicking.

He earned consecutive all-state honors from The Lincoln Journal Star in addition to all-metro team accolades, and twice was named an honorable mention all-state pick in soccer.

McClannan graded out as a top 20 punter in the 2023 class, according to Kohl’s Kicking, and he is one of the few Class of 2023 players to be ranked top 50 in both categories. (See more of his highlights here.)

He picked K-State over a competing preferred walk-on offer from home-state school Nebraska, plus recruiting interest from Peru State, South Dakota and South Dakota State.

I project him to replace Jack Blumer as our starting punter this year and also be available for emergency kicking duties.