#48 Glenn Gronkowski — Today is always a great time to remember versatile fullback Glenn Gronkowski (48), who played an entirely different position and style than today’s profilee, former JUCO linebacker Zach Wittenberg. | Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

In which BracketCat counts down the 48th day until the 2024 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State linebacker Zach Wittenberg.

#48 Zach Wittenberg

Redshirt Junior | 6-2 | 225 lbs. | El Dorado, Kansas

Position: Linebacker
Previous College: Butler Community College
Projection: Special Teams
Status: Preferred Walk-On

Zach Wittenberg (b. April 19, 2003) is a community college transfer with two years left to play who is majoring in kinesiology.

He redshirted in 2022 and did not register any playing time as a member of the scout team.

In 2023, Wittenberg played in four games on kickoff coverage and as a reserve linebacker.

He recorded two tackles against both Houston and Baylor, also played against SEMO and in the Pop-Tarts Bowl against NC State, and finished as a first-team Academic All-Big 12 player.

Wittenberg played the 2021 season at Butler Community College under head coach and former K-State wide receiver Brice Vignery. Read more about his journey from there to here.

He totaled four tackles on the year for the Grizzlies, which included a pair of sacks against McDougle Technical Institute, and he also had solo stops at both Hutchinson and Highland.

Wittenberg, who was born in Wild Horse Plains, Montana, prepped under head coach Wes Bell at El Dorado High School, where he was named the 2020 Butler County Offensive Player of the Year, while he was an all-state linebacker and running back for those Wildcats.

He rushed for 1,239 yards and 13 touchdowns in just eight games during his COVID-shortened senior season in 2020, while he posted 39 career tackles, including 26 as a senior, and also competed in basketball, earning all-league honors his final three seasons.

Wittenberg was starting to attract interest from multiple FBS programs, according to the Butler County Times-Gazette, but shut his recruiting down early once K-State offered him.