#87 Lawson McGraw
True Freshman | 6-4 | 232 lbs. (+2) | Overland Park, Kansas
- Position: Tight End
- Projection: Redshirt/Co-Third-String
- Remaining Eligibility: 4-5* years (*if 5 to play 5 goes into effect or he redshirts )
- Status: On Scholarship
Lawson McGraw (b. July 3, 2007) is a promising young tight end from the Kansas City area with great bloodlines who plans on majoring in business administration. I expect him to redshirt*, due to his position change and some repeated injury issues, but still play and appear on the depth chart as a reserve tight end.
McGraw prepped under head coach Josh Koerkenmeier at Blue Valley High School West in Overland Park, where he was rated the 22nd-best athlete in the nation for the Class of 2026 by 247Sports,
making him a 4-star player, while he was viewed as the fifth-best overall player in the state of Kansas by the organization.
A first-team all-state honoree by the Wichita Eagle, KSHSAA Covered and Sports in Kansas, he totaled 49 receptions for 799 yards and 12 touchdowns during his final two seasons as a tight end, while he had 98 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, an interception, four passes defended and nine forced fumbles over his final three seasons as a safety and outside linebacker. McGraw also punted and competed in basketball and track as a prep.
He committed to and signed with K-State as an athlete over scholarship offers from Arkansas State, Cornell, Illinois State and Rice, as well as interest from Air Force, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas and South Dakota.
Don’t let that lack of P4 offers fool you, though — our local rivals were well aware of McGraw’s last name and knew offering this K-State legacy was a lost cause, but they gladly would have taken his talents in a heartbeat.
McGraw’s father, Jon, was a four-year letter-winner for Bill Snyder and the the Wildcats (1998-2001), earning All-Big 12 honors in 2000 and 2001 in addition to being a two-time first-team Academic All-American.
Jon McGraw was selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the New York Jets and spent his 10-year NFL career with the Jets, Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs. Said Jon’s son of his distinguished father:
My dad has taught me to stay as level as possible and that I’m here for a reason and I get to be here and I need to earn it every day. I have this unique opportunity where people know who I am, but I want to earn it and show that I deserve to be here. I can play some good football. I can have my own story.
It’s just a dream come true. I can’t wait to run out there. I’m excited to go through my journey and see what comes next.
Lawson McGraw’s cousin, Canaan Smith, is a high school senior center who currently is committed to K-State as part of its record Class of 2027. Learn more about McGraw’s story, his family and his moving-in process in May.
*Keep in mind that starting this season, redshirted players can play in up to nine total games and retain their year of eligibility. If the 5-for-5 rule survives its court challenges, that number goes from nine to “all of them.”
