There are many positive adjectives to describe Kansas State five-star tight end Linkon Cure, and a lot the team should be excited about.

But just in case anyone forgot, here’s a reminder. Cure reposted his highlight reel from his senior season at Goodland High School, where he had 54 receptions for 1,050 yards and 23 total touchdowns.

This compilation features the jaw-dropping plays that made Cure the 2025 class’s No. 1 tight end recruit: broken tackles, athletic downfield plays, and incredible catches, whether contested or climbing the ladder to pull down receptions. Cure has attributes similar to a receiver with his downhill speed and shifty moves to separate from his opponents.

Upon Cure’s initial signing, K-State coach Chris Klieman discussed all the ways the tight end could be utilized offensively.

“He can be a flex guy; he can be kind of a pseudo wide receiver as he develops from a weight and strength standpoint,” Klieman said after acquiring Cure in December. “His versatility is going to be so important for what we do offensively, and we can highlight guys like that and the fact that he’s one of the best athletes in the country—not just in the state, but in the country—speed, size, strength, ability to jump, run, all those things.”

The Wildcats need receiving help as some key receivers departed in the transfer portal. Cure could complement star receiver Jayce Brown as the team’s one-two punch.

Jayden Armant is a graduate of the Howard University School of Communications and a contributor to Kansas State Wildcats on SI. He can be reached at jaydenshome14@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.

Over the course of the season, Kansas basketball coach Bill Self has gone with some different starting lineups.

Of course, graduate center Hunter Dickinson, senior forward KJ Adams, and graduate guard Dajuan Harris Jr. have all been among the team’s five regular starters. But the combination with them hasn’t always been consistent. Ahead of this past Sunday’s game at UCF, four different guards had started with those three veteran Jayhawks at one point or another.

It might not come as much of a surprise then that, as Self has continued to work through what Kansas’ rotation will look like, for the UCF game graduate Shakeel Moore became the fifth guard to start with that veteran trio for Kansas at some point this season. That’s even as Moore has been limited at times this season due to injury.

In what became a 99-48 win for the now-No. 12 Jayhawks (10-3, 1-1 in Big 12 Conference), Moore played a season-high in minutes and collected six points, six assists, and three rebounds along the way.

College basketball rankings: Where Kansas basketball ranks in coaches poll after Week 9

“He really came in with a passion defensively,” Dickinson told reporters postgame about Moore. “I think that’s where he’s going to help us the best, is being a dog defender, being somebody who can pick up 94 feet and really change the game defensively, and really help (Harris) out.

Because (Harris) is a great defender, but having another guy out there with him — and then, he’s just a basketball player. He’s super athletic. Coming off ball screens and stuff like that adds a bit of athleticism that can always help with us offensively as well.”

Self, who acknowledged postgame he’d been struggling with which players to start, indicated Moore’s part in the starting lineup had to do with which opponent Moore could match up against. That, as Dickinson discussed, would help out Harris. So, one could wonder how much Kansas’ starting lineup could vary game-to-game as Self and company look to take advantage of the right matchups moving forward.

Self also talked about wanting guys who play hard and create havoc, because while someone might not always hit their shots if they don’t let the opponent score then they aren’t going to lose. Moore is someone who Self thinks gives the team a chance to have that mentality. Moore’s defensive prowess was talked about before he ever took the court for the Jayhawks this season, after transferring in from Mississippi State.

So far this season, Moore is averaging 2.5 points, 1.3 assists, and 1.2 rebounds per game — while averaging 8.1 minutes per appearance. While those numbers don’t pop off of a stat sheet, remember he’s played in just six games to date as he’s recovered from injury and just had his first start. Whether he continues to start or returns to having a role off of the bench, it’s not as if he approaches either with a different mindset.

“I actually don’t see a difference,” said Moore, who looks to bring energy regardless. “I’ve kind of been around the block, this is my fifth year, so I’ve just — I kind of know what to expect coming into the game or starting.”

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

Former Detroit Tigers All-Star Michael Lorenzen is coming back to the American League Central, signing a one-year deal with the Kansas City Royals.

Per Jeff Passan of ESPN on social media:

Right-hander Michael Lorenzen and the Kansas City Royals are in agreement on a one-year, $7 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Lorenzen, 33, was excellent down the stretch, and the deal includes a second-year mutual option for $12 million. Versatile arm, great clubhouse guy.

As Passan mentioned, Lorenzen has already been with the Royals, finishing the 2024 season with them after a trade deadline deal from the Texas Rangers.

He went 7-6 in 2024 with a 3.31 ERA but he was 2-0 with a 1.57 in 28.2 innings with the Royals as they advanced to the ALDS.

A 10-year veteran of the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Angels, Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, Rangers and Royals, he’s 47-44 lifetime with a 3.99 ERA. The Tigers traded him at the deadline into 2023 to the Phillies, who advanced to the NLCS. Lorenzen tossed a no-hitter with Philly in that season.

There had been little connection between Lorenzen and the Royals this offseason, but we did hear that Lorenzen could be an option for teams as a two-way player. Perhaps the Royals will let him get some at-bats as well. Lorenzen had previously been linked to the Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins.

It’s unknown what his role will be with the Royals. Seth Lugo, Cole Ragans, Michael Wacha and Kris Bubic figure to make up 4/5 of the rotation, so perhaps Lorenzen can slot into the five spot.

The Royals finished just ahead of the Tigers in the division a season ago. Both teams made the playoffs, with the Tigers losing to the Guardians in the ALDS.

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