Struber Reignites Dreams For Small-School Athletes
Tyson Struber set to make the jump from 8-Man Division I to NCAA Division I with Kansas State
From the moment they first strap on pads and a helmet, young players are inspired to dream about their career path. It's a path that inevitably winds through high school success and a scholarship offer from a college football power, then hearing their name called in the NFL Draft. The dream often falls short of reality for those in smaller communities, but Tyson Struber is ready to rekindle those dreams. The Canton-Galva grad earned a scholarship to Kansas State University despite playing in KSHSAA's second-smallest classification - 8-Man Division I - and is excited to take part in 2022 Kansas Shrine Bowl.
"It feels amazing to be selected to play in this year's Shrine Bowl," said Struber. "After learning more about what goes into this game, I have the utmost respect for the program."
One of the biggest truths of the college recruiting process is that it is a competition even more intense than that on the gridiron. There are just 131 programs competing at the NCAA Division I FBS level, with more than a million high school graduates vying for the eyes of coaches. And on top of the already tough landscape, the COVID-19 pandemic shook up the recruiting process even further, shaking up the eligibility timelines across the country. But the personal connection that Struber made with the Wildcat coaching staff definitely kept the receiver firmly on their radar.
"I was able to connect with K-State early in my recruiting process through their camps over the summer," said Struber. "That really gave me the opportunity to showcase my skills in front of them."
Of course, Struber's outstanding high school career did nothing but bolster his cause. A four-year letterwinner for the Eagles, he helped Canton-Galva to a 2019 state championship and added a pair of KSHSAA career records - 4,040 rec. yds, 70 TDs - to his resume. He was the leading receiver across all KSHSAA classes in 2021 with 1,472 yards, earning Sports In Kansas's 8-Man Division I Player of the Year honors and his third straight first-team All State nod from the Topeka Capitol-Journal.
Struber is one of three incoming Wildcats set to play in the 2022 Kansas Shrine Bowl, something that is welcome news for the Kansas State coaching staff.
"As a staff, we always encourage our incoming student-athletes to take part in events like the Kansas Shrine Bowl," said Taylor Braet, Director of Football Recruiting for K-State. "Not only is it an honor and a tremendous experience just to be selected, it's an opportunity to help these young men make the transition into college football. The training camp and gameday atmosphere is similar to what they'll experience here in Manhattan."
Even with the outstanding resume, Struber has remained grounded, and is ready for the next level.
"I've talked with a few players at K-State who played in the Shrine Bowl, and they all told me to enjoy the ride, take in the experience and most of all enjoy myself."
"It feels amazing to be selected to play in this year's Shrine Bowl," said Struber. "After learning more about what goes into this game, I have the utmost respect for the program."
One of the biggest truths of the college recruiting process is that it is a competition even more intense than that on the gridiron. There are just 131 programs competing at the NCAA Division I FBS level, with more than a million high school graduates vying for the eyes of coaches. And on top of the already tough landscape, the COVID-19 pandemic shook up the recruiting process even further, shaking up the eligibility timelines across the country. But the personal connection that Struber made with the Wildcat coaching staff definitely kept the receiver firmly on their radar.
"I was able to connect with K-State early in my recruiting process through their camps over the summer," said Struber. "That really gave me the opportunity to showcase my skills in front of them."
Of course, Struber's outstanding high school career did nothing but bolster his cause. A four-year letterwinner for the Eagles, he helped Canton-Galva to a 2019 state championship and added a pair of KSHSAA career records - 4,040 rec. yds, 70 TDs - to his resume. He was the leading receiver across all KSHSAA classes in 2021 with 1,472 yards, earning Sports In Kansas's 8-Man Division I Player of the Year honors and his third straight first-team All State nod from the Topeka Capitol-Journal.
Struber is one of three incoming Wildcats set to play in the 2022 Kansas Shrine Bowl, something that is welcome news for the Kansas State coaching staff.
"As a staff, we always encourage our incoming student-athletes to take part in events like the Kansas Shrine Bowl," said Taylor Braet, Director of Football Recruiting for K-State. "Not only is it an honor and a tremendous experience just to be selected, it's an opportunity to help these young men make the transition into college football. The training camp and gameday atmosphere is similar to what they'll experience here in Manhattan."
Even with the outstanding resume, Struber has remained grounded, and is ready for the next level.
"I've talked with a few players at K-State who played in the Shrine Bowl, and they all told me to enjoy the ride, take in the experience and most of all enjoy myself."