In which BracketCat counts down the 43rd day until the 2024 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State linebacker Kaden McMahan.
#43 Kaden McMahan
True Sophomore | 6-4 | 219 lbs. | Georgetown, Texas
Courtesy Kansas State Athletics
- Position: Linebacker/Safety
- Previous College: None
- Projection: Redshirt
- Status: On Scholarship
Kaden McMahan (b. Nov. 8, 2003) is a 3-star JUCO linebacker who transferred in from Tyler Junior College, has four years to play three seasons and is majoring in business.
McMahan prepped under head coach Kent Walker at Liberty Hill (Texas) High School, where he earned all-district honors from his prep safety position as a senior after totaling 60 tackles, three tackles for loss, three interceptions and six pass breakups.
He also competed in track and basketball in high school.
McMahan then played one year for the Tyler Apaches under head coach Tanner Jacobson.
He was regarded as the ninth-best community college linebacker in the Class of 2024 by ESPN, while he is rated No. 15 by On3 and No. 16 by 247Sports.
McMahan totaled 29 tackles over his seven games played in 2023, including a season-high seven against Kilgore and six against both Trinity Valley and Blinn.
He also posted a tackle for loss against Kilgore, while he had a forced fumble and a pass breakup against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.
As a hybrid safety/linebacker at Tyler, McMahan was a community college teammate of two current K-State secondary members, safety Daniel Cobbs and cornerback Justice James.
He committed May 18 to K-State over offers from Angelo State, Houston, Iowa State, Louisiana Tech, Ohio, TCU (from which he decommitted last December) and UTSA. His primary recruiter was his new position coach, linebackers coach Steve Stanard.
McMahan originally committed to Army out of high school and also received offers from Air Force, Dartmouth, Navy, and New Mexico.