Kansas State star running back DJ Giddens officially declared for the 2025 Draft Saturday afternoon.

“After discussing all of my options with the people closest to me over the past couple of weeks, I believe that everything I’ve been through in my life has led me to this exact moment in time ready to chase my dream of playing in the National Football League, and with that, I am officially declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft!”

The All-Big 12 rusher has been one of the best at the position in school history. He’s collected 3,087 yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground and 58 receptions for 679 yards and four touchdowns.

So it’s no surprise that fans and viewers were sentimental watching the superstar depart for the NFL.

“DJ Giddens is heading to the NFL, what an outstanding career,” 247 Sports’ Cole Carmody said. “DJ is truly one of the best running backs in K-State history. One of the coolest dudes you’ll ever meet, he’ll be extremely successful at the next level!”

Giddens entered Kansas State as a zero-star recruit but exits as one of the conference’s top players.

He has shot up in draft projections, projected to potentially be selected as early as the second round. Giddens could aid a team like the Jacksonville Jaguars or Cincinnati Bengals.

Meanwhile, K-State will prepare for the Rate Bowl against Rutgers. They also need to regroup their offense, as they are now out on their top rusher and top two receivers from last season.

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.

In the city known for rock and roll, will music icon Taylor Swift be in Cleveland to cheer on Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15?

The football star and artist have become one of the most famous couples ever since Swift showed up at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 3 of the 2023 season. Since then, sports and music fans have watched their love story grow as Swift continued her stellar Eras Tour while Kelce and the Chiefs chased a second consecutive Super Bowl. It all culminated in Las Vegas in February when Kansas City won another title and the couple got to celebrate the repeat championship together, and the relationship is still going strong in 2024.

Swift has only been at Kansas City home games this season, but Week 15 could be the first time she’s on site away from Arrowhead Stadium when the Chiefs take on the Cleveland Browns. While her presence for Sunday hasn’t been confirmed, the singer just wrapped her remarkable Eras Tour and doesn’t have any known commitments preventing her from being at Huntington Bank Field.

Could the possibility of Swift’s appearance have an effect on Kelce’s performance? He certainly has seen his stats fluctuate whenever Swift has watched him play, and perhaps something big could be in store on Sunday.

Travis Kelce stats with Taylor Swift in attendance 2024

Swift has been at nearly every Kansas City home game this season. She saw the Chiefs’ season-opening victory over the Baltimore Ravens, the win over the Cincinnati Bengals, the Monday night victories over the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the stunning win against the Denver Broncos and the Black Friday game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Kelce did have a slow start, but he has picked it up in recent games. In six games with Swift watching, Kelce has a combined 42 catches for 341 receiving yards and one touchdown. That’s an average of seven catches and 56.8 receiving yards per game. Swift was on hand to see Kelce haul in a season-high 14 catches for 100 yards against the Buccaneers. Here are his stats in the games she has attended:

• Week 1 vs. Ravens: three catches, 34 yards
• Week 2 vs. Bengals: one catch, 5 yards
• Week 5 vs. Saints: nine catches, 70 yards
• Week 9 vs. Buccaneers: 14 catches, 100 yards
• Week 10 vs. Broncos: eight catches, 64 yards and one touchdown
• Week 13 vs. Raiders: seven catches, 68 yards

The Chiefs are 6-0 this season with Swift watching live and, dating to last season, are 16-3 when she’s in the crowd.

Travis Kelce stats without Taylor Swift in attendance 2024

Statistically − and in team success − Kelce has done better at home when Swift is watching him play. In the Chiefs seven games she hasn’t attended, Kelce has a combined 38 receptions for 341 receiving yards and one touchdown. That averages to 5.4 catches for 48.7 yards per game, lower than his averages at home. Plus, the Chiefs’ lone loss this season came on the road against the Buffalo Bills.

Here are his stats at the games she has missed:

• Week 3 vs. Falcons: four catches, 30 yards
• Week 4 vs. Chargers: seven catches, 89 yards
• Week 7 vs. 49ers: four catches, 17 yards
• Week 8 vs. Raiders: 10 catches, 90 yards and one touchdown
• Week 11 vs. Bills: two catches, 8 yards
• Week 12 vs. Panthers: six catches, 62 yards
• Week 14 vs. Chargers: five catches, 45 yards

Kansas City is 6-1 when Swift isn’t there and 10-3 in that situation dating to last season.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jamar Brown’s 18 points helped Kansas City defeat Bowling Green 85-77 on Saturday night.

Brown went 6 of 12 from the field (4 for 7 from 3-point range) for the Kangaroos (6-7). Cameron Faas scored 16 points, going 6 of 9 (4 for 7 from 3-point range). Babacar Diallo shot 4 of 7 from the field and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line to finish with 14 points.

The Falcons (4-6) were led by Javontae Campbell, who recorded 27 points and five steals. Marcus Johnson added 22 points and Derrick Butler scored 11.

Kansas City led Bowling Green at the half, 46-45, with Faas (13 points) its high scorer before the break. Diallo had 12 points in the second half to lead the Kangaroos.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.