Kansas State legacy JJ Dunnigan recaps recent visit
2026 defender James Dunnigansaw its recruitment increase this summer when Manhattan (Kans.) High School hit prospect camps.
Kansas State was the first Power 4 school to offer Dunnigan after he impressed at a high school camp. Later in the summer, Dunnigan also received offers from Kansas and Nebraska.
“It meant a lot,” Dunnigan said of his offer from K-State. “I was really excited since I grew up here and always went to K-State games. So it felt like a dream.”
While Dunnigan admits he is still in the early stages of his recruitment, schools like K-State have made it known they intend to make Dunnigan a top priority in next year’s cycle. And it appears Dunnigan is returning a level of mutual interest, as she recently took an unofficial visit as the Wildcats opened fall camp.
“The visit was really good,” Dunnigan said. “I got to see how the DBs practice in a real practice environment because it was their first day. You see how Coach [Van] Malone focuses on the little things and sees how Avery Johnson is the leader of the team.”
Dunnigan’s visit didn’t just give him a deeper understanding of how the team practices. It also allowed him to gain some insights from some current K-State commits.
2025 tight finish Linkon Healing and cornerback RJ Collins are some of K-State’s most recent commitments, and the duo was also present for the start of training. The two offer a unique perspective to Dunnigan, as they are either from Kansas or played football at a nearby high school.
“I asked them why they committed,” Dunnigan said. “And they said they felt very comfortable with the coaching staff. And they knew K-State had a great community built around it and they just love the city.”
With Dunnigan expected to play cornerback at the next level, his main source of contact with K-State has been cornerbacks coach Van Malone. When asked about Malone, Dunnigan mentioned that they built a strong connection from the beginning.
“Our relationship is good,” he explained. “What stands out is that he also has a good relationship with my father. So he doesn’t just care about my football life, but also about my personal life.”
Dunnigan’s father, James Sr., finished his college career at K-State, signing with the Wildcats in 2001. Now, it’s young Dunnigan’s opportunity to go through the recruiting process.
With four offers already, there’s a good chance Dunnigan will see his stock soar as he finishes his freshman year. That potential is part of the reason Dunnigan won’t name any favorites or finalists. However, he mentioned that there is a chance to reduce his roster at the end of this season.
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