With spring practice right around the corner, Drew continues to look at the new faces on the Kansas State roster.
I understand it’s a bit frosty in Manhattan today (it’s a sunny but blustery 38 in Athens, Georgia, but I doubt y’all will have much sympathy), but spring practice starts in a little over a month! I will use that time to help familiarize myself and everyone else with the new faces on campus. I’m starting with the portal additions because those guys should be in action this spring. I’ll keep a running list of links at the bottom of each article, and you’ll be able to find everything in the “Roster Reset” story stream.
Now, let’s get this party started.
Caleb Medford – 6’3”, 190 – RS-JR – New Mexico Lobos
As a Recruit
Hailing from Henderson, Texas, and a product of Henderson High School, Caleb Medford was rated as a composite mid-three-star recruit (84.73) and was considered the 107th best player in Texas, the 152nd best wide receiver in the nation, and the 917th best overall player in the 2020 recruiting class. As a senior at Henderson High School, Medford pulled down 45 receptions for 850 yards (18.9 per reception) and 12 touchdowns. He was also a member of the Henderson High School 4 x 100 and 4 x 200 relay squads in track. He committed to TCU over offers from Ole Miss, Purdue, Missouri, and Baylor.
At TCU
Medford entered TCU in the cursed 2020 recruiting class and never managed to gain traction in his three seasons in Forth Worth. He saw his most game action as a sophomore in 2021 when he appeared in five games but didn’t record a catch. His playing time was limited to a single game in 2022.
He entered the transfer portal at the end of 2022 and signed with New Mexico.
At New Mexico
Medford is coming to Manhattan mainly on the strength of his 2023 season at New Mexico. He pulled down 30 receptions for 551 yards and two touchdowns. He didn’t catch many passes, but when he got ahold of one, he tended to run a long way. The best game of his season came on the road against Fresno State. Caleb and the 4-7 Lobos knocked off the 8-3 Bulldogs 25-17, in part on the strength of Medford’s six receptions for 122 yards and one touchdown. His 33-yard touchdown reception with 9:00 minutes remaining helped secure the upset.
The 2023 season wasn’t as productive for the big-play receiver. He appeared in 11 games but only tallied 18 receptions for 336 yards and three touchdowns. Despite not getting a large volume of opportunities, Medford made the most of the chances he did receiver, averaging a robust 18.7 yards a reception. His best game came late in the season in yet another upset. This time, the 5-6 Lobos went on the road to play the 19th-ranked Washington State Cougars. Medford pulled down a 42-yard touchdown pass with 5:31 remaining in the second quarter to help New Mexico tighten the score to 21-14 after New Mexico scored the game’s first touchdown and then gave up 21 straight points. Caleb lined up in the slot, ran past the corner and safety, and glided into the endzone with five yards of grass between himself and the nearest defenders.
What He Brings to Kansas State
Medford is coming to Manhattan, Kansas, to take the top off of defenses. He joins 6’3”, 210-pound Purdue transfer Jaron Tibbs and 6’5”, 200-pound Boston College transfer (next up to profile) Jerand Bradley in a transfer class that prioritized size on the outside. Out of the three portal receivers, Medford is the best deep threat. He’s never been a high-volume receiver, and I don’t expect him to be a high-volume receiver at Kansas State, but what he can do is create space for Avery Johnson and company to operate and, on occasion, make a huge play.
Looking at his film from New Mexico, the thing that stands out the most is his easy, deep speed. He ran track in high school because of his smooth acceleration. He eats up ground with his long strides. You don’t realize he’s moving fast until you notice that the defenders can’t keep up once he’s even. It looks like he has decent hands and can go up and get it over smaller defenders down the sidelines.
The coaching staff is making a low-level gamble on a player who flashed some potential at New Mexico. It’ll be interesting to see what Medford looks like with Avery Johnson pulling the trigger on downfield throws. I expect him to compete for time at the boundary receiver spot, and it could be a situation sub when the offense gets the ball around midfield and wants to take a shot at the endzone.