Who are the top candidates to take over as Kansas State football's next tight end?

It may be a stretch to say that Ben Sinnott revolutionized Kansas State football's tight end position over the past two seasons, but he certainly helped redefine what it could be in the Wildcat offense.

After catching 49 passes for 676 yards and six touchdowns last year as a junior, Sinnott entered the NFL Draft and was a second-round pick by the Washington Commanders. He left K-State tied for first in career touchdowns by a tight end with 10, ranked third at his position in career receptions with 82 and fourth in receiving yards with 1,138.

Now it is time for a new group to take over the position. And while any successor would be hard-pressed to match Sinnott's individual receiving numbers — he also caught 31 passes for 447 yards and four scores in 2022 — K-State's coaches like their options at the position coming out of the spring and heading into preseason camp.

The most experienced by far is senior Will Swanson, who at 6-foot-5, 251 pounds was used more as an old-school blocking tight end, while sophomore Garrett Oakley is the more gifted receiver. Sophomore Brayden Loftin also saw some action last year in a backup role.

"It's extremely important to the offense," offensive coordinator Conor Riley said. "And as we get in and recruit tight ends and talk about that particular position, to me one of the things that makes our offense unique across the landscape of college football is the versatility that we can do with the tight ends."

Here is a look at what the top tight end prospects bring to the position.

Will Swanson provides senior leadership

Swanson, a senior from Papillion, Nebraska, has seen the tight end position evolve under three different offensive coordinators, from Courtney Messingham to Collin Klein and now Riley, the offensive line coach.

"He's a really smart person," tight ends coach Brian Lepak said of Swanson. "And he has a long memory of what things were before I got here, before coach Klein took over the offense, and coach Riley. He has some of those learned lessons."

Swanson started four games last year, and while he was not often targeted as a receiver, he had five catches for 66 yards, including his first career touchdown in a victory over TCU.

Garrett Oakley showed his skills as a receiver

Oakley was hampered by injuries to start the 2023 season but played in each of the last 10 games with starts against Central Florida and then as Sinnott's replacement in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, the Columbus, Nebraska product, may be the closest to Sinnott as a pass-catcher, finishing with 11 receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns last year.

"I think guys saw a little bit of that in the bowl game, but I think the sky's the limit for Oak," head coach Chris Klieman said at the end of spring practice.

Keep an eye on Brayden Loftin and two redshirt freshmen

Loftin, yet another Nebraska native from Omaha, appeared in nine games on special teams and as a reserve tight end last year, though he did not catch any passes.

Loftin, who is listed at 6-5, 232 pounds, had a solid spring according to Lepak, and should be ready to add depth behind Oakley and Swanson.

"He really grew throughout the year and now he's in a physical position that he's playing with a lot more confidence," Lepak said.

Freshmen Andrew Metzger (6-5, 245) and Will Anciaux (6-6, 239) both redshirted last year, but already have grown into the position.

"That tight end position in our offense is not an easy position to learn," Riley said. "In fact, I've coached that position in this offense if you go back to 2013, and since that time I've often said that it is the most challenging position except quarterback for us to know."

Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.