Redshirt Freshman | 6-4 | 239 lbs. (+6) | Grapevine, Texas
Dalton Knapp | Courtesy Kansas State Athletics
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Remaining Eligibility: 4 years
Dalton Knapp (b. March 7, 2006) is a young defensive end from Grapevine, Texas who is majoring in business administration. He redshirted and did not see any playing time during the 2025 season.
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Knapp prepped under head coach Aaron Beck at All Saints’ Episcopal School in Fort Worth, Texas, where he was rated the 89th-best edge defender in the Class of 2025 by ESPN in addition to being ranked No. 96 by On3.
He earned all-state and all-district honors as both a junior and senior, the latter year in which he led the Saints to a state championship.
Knapp carded 43 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and a pair of sacks to go along with three passes defended, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as a junior. He tallied 79 tackles, 32.5 tackles for loss and 15 sacks as a senior, and also competed in track and field.
Knapp picked the Wildcats over offers from Arkansas State, Boise State, Fordham, Houston, Kansas, Lafayette, Memphis, Miami (Ohio), New Mexico State, North Texas, Oregon State, Purdue, Texas State, Toledo, Tulsa, Utah, UTEP and Washington State, as well as interest from Texas Tech.
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Although he did not play last year, it sounds like he was close to doing so after the Tobi Osunsanmi injury, according to former defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman:
We did a few things with Dalton Knapp, true freshman, this week who’s proven to us through some of the developmental things we’re doing that he can rush and be in that role. I don’t think he’s quite ready to be an every-down guy, but I think he can help us on third down. So, we’re trying to move that around, trying to get better rushers out there in situations where they’re going to rush.
