Kansas State football gains commitment from state's top 2024 high school running back

While Kansas State basketball made the biggest recruiting waves Tuesday with a commitment from blue-chip guard David Castillo, the Wildcat football team quietly continued its in-state dominance with a pledge from Kansas' top high school running back.

John Price, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound junior from Blue Valley High School and the No. 4-ranked player in the state, announced on social media that he will join the Wildcats in 2024. He is K-State's fifth commitment in the class.

Price, the No. 1-ranked running back in the state, chose K-State over offers from Kansas, Iowa, Oklahoma State and Minnesota. He has made several unofficial visits to Manhattan, the most recent in early April.

More: Why Kansas State football running backs coach Brian Anderson likes the Wildcats' prospects

Price, a three-star prospect who started his high school career at Lincoln Prep in Missouri, rushed for 1,004 yards and 13 touchdowns with a 7.1-yard average for Blue Valley during an injury-plagued junior season last fall. He joins Mill Valley offensive tackle Gus Hawkins to give K-State commitments from two of the top four players in the state, and also represents another recruiting victory in the all-important Kansas City metro area for coach Chris Klieman and his staff.

Price also is the third K-State recruit from Blue Valley in as many years, joining 2022 wide receiver Sterling Lockett and 2023 receiver Andre Davis. Kansas State also is in the mix for Junction City linebacker Michael Boganowski and Topeka High athlete BJ Canady.

In addition to Price and Hawkins, K-State has secured commitments from athlete/safety Jake Stonebraker from Castle Rock, Colorado; Erie, Colorado, quarterback Blake Barnett; and offensive lineman Ryan Howard of Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Howard is the younger brother of K-State starting quarterback Will Howard.

Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State football gets commitment from Blue Valley's John Price