Kansas State football turns to portal to fill need with veteran middle linebacker

MANHATTAN — Kansas State's football team addressed a need on defense Tuesday by adding a veteran linebacker.

K-State announced the signing of New Mexico transfer Alec Marenco, the Lobos' leading tackler last year. It was the Wildcats' second significant portal acquisition in as many days after they landed running back Dylan Edwards from Colorado on Monday.

The 6-foot-3, 229-pound Marenco, who has one year of eligibility remaining, adds needed depth at middle linebacker for K-State. The Wildcats were hampered by injuries at the position throughout the spring.

Marenco, a Mountain West honorable mention selection, started 10 of 12 games for New Mexico last year, recording a team-high 66 tackles, including 3.5 for loss, with three pass breakups and a forced fumble. For his three-year career, including a sophomore campaign cut short by injury, he had 96 total tackles.

K-State has two established veterans at the outside linebacker spots in super-senior Austin Moore on the weak side and junior Desmond Purnell on the weak side. They combined for 115 tackles, with Moore accounting for 63 stops and a team-best 12.5 tackles for loss, and Purnell adding 52 tackles.

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But middle linebacker was a struggle after senior starter Daniel Green went down with a season-ending injury in the third game at Missouri. True freshman Austin Romaine, sophomore Jake Clifton and former walk-on Beau Palmer all took turns as Green's replacement, but both Romaine and Clifton missed time with injuries as well.

This spring, only Romaine was healthy, with Clifton and Palmer sitting out. The Wildcats also were without true freshman Will linebacker Asa Newsom, whose season ended in the fourth game last year.

The addition of Marenco significantly bolsters the Mike linebacker spot. The Wildcats are still in the market for a nose tackle to provide depth alongside starter Uso Seumalo, who missed much of the spring, and backup Damian Ilalio.

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.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State football turns to portal to fill need with veteran middle linebacker