In which BracketCat counts down the 54th day until the 2024 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State offensive lineman Hadley Panzer.

#54 Hadley Panzer

True Senior | 6-4 | 310 lbs. | Lakin, Kansas

Position: Offensive Line
Previous College: None
Projection: Co-Starter
Status: On Scholarship

Hadley Jack Panzer (b. May 10, 2001) was a Class of 2020 offensive line signee who “grayshirted” (deferring his enrollment to spring 2021), then did not ever redshirt in 2021.

As a true freshman who saw time in nine games as a reserve offensive lineman, exclusively at right guard, he helped K-State to tie for second in the Big 12 Conference in 2021 with 29 rushing touchdowns, while the Wildcats’ 4.83 yards per rush ranked sixth in school history.

Panzer played in all 14 games during the 2022 Big 12 Championship season, with starts at right guard in each of the final 13 contests following Taylor Poitier’s unfortunate injury.

He helped to lead an offensive unit that ranked 15th nationally with 208.3 rushing yards per game, the Wildcats’ best national rank since 2003 (ninth) and best mark since 2016 (231.8).

Panzer also helped K-State to rank third in school history in rushing yards per carry (5.12), fourth in total rushing yards (2,916) and 10th in rushing touchdowns (32).

The Wildcats also ranked second in school history in total offensive yards (5,863) and ninth in offensive yards per play (6.12). Panzer also took snaps at center and was a member of the Wildcats’ punt coverage team, while he earned first-team Academic All-Big 12 accolades.

He again started all 13 games at right guard in 2023, helping the K-State offensive line to earn semifinalist status for the Joe Moore Award as one of the top O-line units in the nation.

Panzer helped the WIldcats to rank in the top 30 nationally in 11 offensive categories, including scoring (10th; 37.1 points per game), rushing (11th; 204.1 yards per game), third-down conversions (11th; 47.9%), rushing touchdowns (12th; 32) and first downs (12th; 310).

He helped the offense to rank second in school history in total offense per game (445.2) and first downs, third in total offense (5,788), sixth in points per game and rushing yards per carry (4.98), seventh in total rushing yards (2,653), and 10th in rushing touchdowns.

Entering 2024, I think Panzer will be the starting left guard but also could slide over to start at center in place of Sam Hecht, in which case Andrew Leingang would be the left guard.

With Poitier, he’s now the “old man” of the group and needs to be a team leader this season:

“(Panzer) has got to take the next step,” K-State head coach Chris Klieman says. “Terrific football player. Can he take the next step as a player? Can he take the next step as a leader? Because we need him to.”

“Do I feel like a veteran?” Panzer says. “A little bit. Some of the new guys or younger guys ask, ‘Is this your fifth or sixth year?’ I reply, ‘This is my fourth year.’ I do feel a little bit like a veteran having been around and playing with so many older guys.”

Panzer played at Lakin High School under head coach and former Wildcat Chris Bamberger.

He was rated the 29th-best center in the Class of 2020 by 247Sports, and was a first-team all-state honoree as a senior by both The Topeka Capital-Journal and The Wichita Eagle.

A first-team selection as a senior from the Kansas Football Coaches Association, Panzer also earned first-team honors from the Capital-Journal and honorable mention accolades from the Eagle as a junior, while he was an honorable mention pick by both as a sophomore.

He was selected to play in the 2019 Blue-Grey All-American Bowl at Cowboys AT&T Stadium.

Panzer, who is majoring in entrepreneurship and innovation, also competed in high school wrestling, in which he was a state champion in 2019 and finished third in 2018.

He also was a two-year letter-winner in baseball and a league champion in the shot put.

Panzer chose K-State over offers from Air Force, Akron, Colorado State, Iowa State and North Dakota State, plus interest from Kansas and Tulane. His primary recruiters were his offensive line coach, Conor Riley, and Kansas State recruiting coordinator Taylor Braet.

To learn more about Panzer, check out this wonderful D. Scott Fritchen profile piece.