themercury
EMPORIA Before beginning their college careers in Manhattan, three future Kansas State football players represented their hometowns one final time Saturday in the 2026 Kansas Shrine Bowl.
Preferred walk-ons Jackson Hollie of Junction City, Blake Jay of Mill Valley and Nash Morrison of Basehor-Linwood competed in the annual all-star game at Emporia State's Welch Stadium, where the East defeated the West 14-7.
More than just an all-star football game, the Shrine Bowl benefits Shriners Children's, giving players the opportunity to meet patients throughout the week while raising money for pediatric specialty care.
It's a blessing, Jay said.
The game for the players, we really enjoy it, but we know it's bigger than the game.
We know everything we work for, all the money we raise, is going to a good cause.
We got to meet some of the patients, and they're awesome people.
They could be down about what's going on in their lives, but they're really not.
They bring us energy, bring joy into our lives and everybody else's because they're just good people.
Hollie, who earned the event's Mike Bell Most Inspirational Award, echoed that sentiment.
It just really makes me count my blessings, he said.
Everybody who talks about their story has a bright smile.
It makes me realize the cards I was dealt I'm blessed.
It just makes me want to go out and make a positive impact, as they did on me.
Jay made the biggest impact on the field Saturday.
Though K-State lists the 6-foot, 180-pound athlete as a safety after playing quarterback at Mill Valley, Jay lined up primarily at wide receiver in the Shrine Bowl.
He finished with four receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown.
After briefly leaving the game following a hard hit in the second quarter, Jay returned to haul in a 27-yard touchdown reception on a drag route, giving the East a 14-7 halftime lead that proved to be the game-winning score.
As a senior, Jay completed 55 of 104 passes for 862 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing for 1,531 yards and 24 touchdowns on 177 carries.
He follows a long line of Mill Valley products to K-State, including Sam Hecht, Gus Hawkins, Mikey Bergeron and Chris Tennant.
Going in as a walk-on is a little different than the scholarship guys because you've kind of got a chip on your shoulder, Jay said.
But the great thing is they don't treat you differently at K-State.
Whether you're a walk-on or on scholarship, you get treated the same.
You get the same food, the same facilities, all that stuff.
Jay and Morrison have already become roommates during the Wildcats' early summer workouts.
Over the month, it's just been awesome, Jay said.
I feel such a family connection.
The seniors don't talk down to the freshmen.
Everybody's a part of the family.
Coach Klein has done a great job bringing everybody together as one.
Hollie, a 6-foot-5, 221-pound defensive end, earned multiple all-state honors after helping Junction City under head coach Randall Zimmerman.
He finished his senior season with 52 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery.
They're trying to mold me into the best person I can be, Hollie said.
I'm a guy where you just need to tell me what to do, and I'll go 100 miles an hour.
That's been a really good part about the K-State program.
Hollie said staying close to home made K-State an easy choice.
I'm honestly just blessed with the opportunity, Hollie said.
Being 30 minutes away from my house, it's a privilege.
I've been working for about three weeks now.
I took one week off to come have this Shrine Bowl experience, but Monday morning we're right back to work.
Morrison, a 6-foot-4 wide receiver, was a three-year letterwinner at Basehor-Linwood under Rod Stallbaumer, who was the 5A coach for the East.
It was awesome to experience the hospital visit and everything, Morrison said.
To really see what we're playing for and get to meet a bunch of awesome people has been an amazing experience.
A first-team all-state selection as a senior, Morrison finished his prep career with 1,618 receiving yards, ranking third in school history.
As a senior, he totaled 1,017 receiving yards, 64 catches and 13 touchdown receptions.
I hope I set a standard, Morrison said of his high school career.
I hope it really gives the next receivers up something to strive for.
Now in Manhattan, Morrison said he's embracing the learning process.
I'm excited to get pushed every day by the coaching staff, my teammates and everybody around me, Morrison said.
Learning a whole new playbook has been a lot, but everybody started there at one point.
You just have to take it one step at a time.