Kansas State star offensive lineman Carver Willis committed to the Washington Huskies Thursday.

Willis is rated by 247 as the fourth-best tackle in the portal.

He spent five seasons with the Wildcats, playing in 11 games in 2024. Willis was on a line that helped create the third-best rushing attack in the Big 12 last season.

K-STATE TARGET JAMES DUNNIGAN JR. WILL ANNOUNCE COMMITMENT AT UNDER ARMOUR ALL-AMERICAN JAN. 2

Manhattan High defensive back James “JJ” Dunnigan Jr. tweeted he will announce his collegiate commitment at the Under Armour All-America game on Jan. 2.

K-State fans will be amongst those tuning in for his announcement, as they are the frontrunner to acquire the Manhattan product. His father, James, played cornerback at Kansas State from 2001-02.

Dunnigan played cornerback and wide receiver positions this season. He recorded three interceptions, 70 tackles, two forced fumbles, and 10 pass deflections in the secondary. He logged 28 receptions for 557 yards and five touchdowns as a receiver. Dunnigan received offers from schools like Illinois, Nebraska, and Stanford, but the Wildcats remain the favorite for his next destination.

K-STATE LOSES ANOTHER TO PORTAL

Another Kansas State linebacker hit the transfer portal Thursday. Redshirt freshman linebacker Gabe Roland entered after playing just one game for the Wildcats, where he recorded two tackles in the blowout victory over UT Martin.

“First and foremost, I want to thank God for allowing me to play the sport I love,” Roland tweeted. “Secondly, I want to thank Coach Klieman for taking a chance and giving me an opportunity. I am extremely grateful for the relationships I’ve made here at Kansas State. With that being said, I’ve decided to enter the transfer portal with three years of eligibility remaining.”

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.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Groups against gun violence met at 43rd Avenue and State Line Road Thursday night for a joint rally.

The location – State Line Road – was significant as it meant to show unity in the message in both Kansas and Missouri.

“We’ve got to stop the gun violence,” said Rosilyn Temple, the founder of KC Mothers in Charge. “Gun violence is taking our children out. It’s killing people. No one seems to think it’s a problem, but it’s a problem.”

According to the CDC, guns took the lives of 1,489 Missourians and 492 Kansans in 2022. Missouri ranked as the state with the fifth-highest death rate from firearms.

“We’ve had enough, and we are tired of all the gun violence that’s happening,” said Amanda Winch, the co-lead of Johnson County Moms Demand Action.

Winch says a gun found at a local school this week gave her extra motivation to attend the rally on Thursday night – when temperatures hovered around freezing.

“Just a few days ago at Shawnee Mission South there was a gun that got onto school grounds,” Winch said. “That to me, as a parent of children in public schools, is completely unacceptable. We should not be having guns get into our schools.”

READ MORE: Teen pleads not guilty after gun confiscated at Shawnee Mission high school

In Missouri, there have been 139 homicides so far this year compared to 172 at this point a year ago. While the number of deadly shootings in Kansas City is down this year, the number of total shootings is not. Through the end of November, there have been 545 non-deadly shootings reported in Kansas City, a 13% increase from last year.

Temple says while the homicide numbers are down, they are still way too high.

“Every time you take someone’s life, you affect someone. You leave some children behind, families behind,” Temple said. “We are losing lives. These lives matter. We’ve got to do something on both sides of the city, both sides of the state line, to make this violence stop. Put down the guns.”

A detailed look at Kansas City’s homicide statistics can be found here.

Copyright 2024 KCTV. All rights reserved.

Taylor Swift visited a children’s hospital in Kansas City, Mo., on the eve of her 35th birthday.

The “Karma” singer, 34, stopped by Children’s Mercy Kansas City on Thursday with her beau Travis Kelce and met with patients, staff and specially trained facility dogs during her visit.

A patient named Rylie took several photos with the global superstar, and his grandmother, Anita Belt, raved about his experience and said that Kelce, 35, was also visiting.

“Children’s Mercy Hospital does their best to nurse seriously ill children, comfort family, and bring a little joy when they can. Today did not disappoint!” she wrote in a public Facebook post.

“Thank you Taylor Swift for bringing some joy to Rylie today!!”

“Travis Kelce was in the building as well, but didn’t stop in his room. Great way to bring a smile and make a memory! ❤️.”

Page Six reached out to Kelce’s rep for confirmation of his visit.

Another patient, an 11-year-old Swiftie named Baylee, also met the singer after nearly a week in the hospital. Her mother, Melissa Nuzum, called it “the coolest, most unexpected surprise ever” on her Facebook page.

“We absolutely gained so much more love and respect [for] Taylor,” Nuzum exclusively told Page Six. “She was lovely and personable.”

In her Facebook post, she also revealed that Swift gave Baylee a signed copy of her “Eras Tour Book.”

Workers at the hospital were also in awe of the surprise visit. Pediatric oncology nurse Nkiru Chigbogwu took to her Instagram Story to share a photo of Swift smiling behind a group of professionals with two thumbs in the air.

“meeting Taylor Swift was NOT on my bingo card today,” she wrote over the snap.

The 14-time Grammy winner seemed to enjoy visiting a trained hospital dog named Jellybean while spending time at Children’s Mercy as well.

An Instagram account for Jellybean and her peers shared two images of Swift petting the 4-year-old golden retriever as she sat on a bed with her.

Swift wore a green button-up shirt with a matching pleated miniskirt with opaque black tights and knee-high Christian Louboutin boots.

Swift has certainly felt the giving spirit this holiday season — her hospital visit comes days after Page Six confirmed she gave her tour cast and crew about $197 million in bonuses between the May 2023 start and Dec. 8 conclusion of her record-breaking Eras Tour.

As for her birthday, it’s not clear how she plans to celebrate.

A source for Us Weekly claimed earlier this month that she is “excited” to ring in her new year of life.