#28 Rex Van Wyhe
Redshirt Senior | 6-5 | 244 lbs. (+8) | Rock Rapids, Iowa
- Position: Linebacker
- Previous College: Iowa Central Community College
- Projection: Second-String
- Remaining Eligibility: 1 year
- Status: On Scholarship
Rex Van Wyhe (b. Feb. 20, 2004) is a speedy senior linebacker from Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, Iowa, who is majoring in construction science and management.
He will be in the top four of the playing rotation at linebacker this season and is on the fast track to being a team captain after already having been chosen to represent K-State at the 2026 Big 12 Football Media Days last month.
Van Wyhe, who excels equally at tackling and zone coverage, saw time in four games in 2023 as he retained
his redshirt, leaving him with three remaining years of eligibility.
He carded four tackles on the year, including a season-high three against Baylor, a game that included a tackle for loss; had one stop and a pass breakup against TCU; also played at Kansas and in the Pop-Tarts Bowl against NC State; and saw time on 58 defensive snaps.
A member of the playing rotation for every game in 2024, collecting 31 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss over his 174 defensive snaps, Van Wyhe also was a member of the kickoff return, kickoff coverage and punt coverage units as he saw time on 189 total special teams plays.
He tied for second on the team with four special teams tackles, including three on kickoff coverage to tie for second on the squad, and set a career high with four tackles in the season opener against UT Martin (he tied that mark against both Arizona and West Virginia).
Van Wyhe also had three stops in the final two games of his sophomore season at Iowa State and in the Rate Bowl against Rutgers. He carded a career-high-tying one tackle for loss against both Tulane and Cincinnati, and earned Academic All-Big 12 honors following the 2024 season.
Van Wyhe entered the 2025 season vying with Gabe Powers for the right to play alongside the now-departed Desmond Purnell and new Texas Tech middle linebacker Austin Romaine. He played in every game as a regular member of the playing rotation at linebacker — seeing time on 169 defensive snaps — while also playing on 155 special teams plays as he recorded 31 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss and also recovered a fumble at Utah.
Van Wyhe ranked second on the team last year with four special teams tackles, three of which came on punt returns. He tied a career high with four tackles against TCU, Utah and Colorado; also had three stops against Army, Kansas and Oklahoma State; registered a full tackle for loss against TCU and half a tackle for loss against Colorado; and finished the season as an Academic All-Big 12 performer.
Van Wyhe played one season under head coach Jesse Montalto at Iowa Central, where he was rated the 11th-best overall community college prospect in the Class of 2023 by Rivals, while he ranked No. 2 among community college linebackers by ESPN.
He picked up NJCAA second-team All-American, first team all-conference, and all-region honors in 2022 as he totaled 79 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, a recovery and two pass breakups over 11 games played for the Tritons.
In Kansas NJCAA action, Van Wyhe had a season-high 13 stops at Garden City, while he had 10 tackles at Butler and carded a pair of sacks at Ellsworth, which included two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He also had a sack and a forced fumble at Highland.
A three-year letter-winner under head coach Curtis Eben at Central Lyon High School in Rock Rapids, Iowa, Van Wyhe also was a two-time all-district pick who earned second-team all-state honors as a senior after totaling 65 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks and a pair of interceptions. He helped the Lions to earn a state runner-up finish in 2020.
An academic all-state performer, Van Wyhe also competed in baseball, track and field, and basketball, helping his hoops team to earn a state runner-up finish in 2021-2022.
Van Wyhe chose K-State over scholarship offers from Iowa State, Missouri State, Northern Iowa, Old Dominion, Southeast Missouri State and UTSA.
His brother, Riley, played football at Northern Iowa and is currently a coach for the Panthers.
