Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 71-3vs Nicholls | 3 | 33 | 11.0 | 1 | 18 | |
| Wk 2 | W 34-7vs Washington State | 10 | 97 | 9.7 | 1 | 36 | Season-high 97 yds |
| Total | 13 | 130 | 10.3 | 2 | 36 |
#5
Joshua Manning
Senior wide receiver for Kansas State. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′3″ · 217 lb · Lee's Summit, MO
CFB Index 37 · #335 of 485 WRsHigh confidenceTransferred Missouri → Kansas State for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
130
receiving yards · 2026
13 catches · 2 TD · 10 per catch
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 10 rec, 97 yds, 1 TD, vs Washington State
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 wide receiver for Kansas State. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 4-star recruit to Missouri in 2023.
- Transferred from Missouri to Kansas State in 2026.
Joshua Manning
Moves the chains on third down. Joshua Manning has played for two head coaches across three seasons and two programs. One game to point at: 97 rec yds, 10 receptions against Washington State — Week 2, 2026.
130 REC YDS · 13 REC · 2 REC TD
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
4 programs, one constant: he played.
The week the volume broke through — put up 63 yds at Auburn.Auburn · W 23-172025
2023
- Signed with Missouri4-star out of Lee's Summit
2026
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★
CFB
College
2 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
2 coaches2024–2025
Kansas State
2026era →
Collin Klein
Kansas State
Coaching transition mid-career: Chris Klieman → Collin Klein. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
Where He Ended Up · Transfer
Transferred to Kansas State
2025Missouri
2026Kansas State
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2024Missouri10-3HC: Eli Drinkwitz · Run-leaning
2025Missouri8-5HC: Eli Drinkwitz · Run-heavy
2026Kansas State2-0HC: Collin Klein · Run-leaning
Where this profile ranks vs the WR cohort
Box-score percentiles
High confidence
Concern: rec yards (15th percentile).
Box-score rates (5)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 6.5 REC/g, 65.0 YDS/g, 10.3 YPR, 1.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Collin Klein
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Kansas State | 13 | 130 | 10.0 | 2 | -- |
| 2025 | Missouri | 29 | 318 | 11.0 | 2 | -- |
| 2024 | Missouri | 13 | 192 | 14.8 | 1 | -- |
| Career | 55 | 640 | 11.6 | 5 | -- |
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Kansas State | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Missouri | 1 | -7 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Missouri | 1 | 4 | 73 | -- | -- |
| Career | 2 | -3 | 73 | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 71–3
vs Nicholls
3 rec · 33 yds · 1 TD
Dominant 68-point win at home against Nicholls.
With A. Johnson — 199 yds · 3 TD · 0 INT · 23 rush yds (4 car) · 1 TD · B. White — 7 rush yds (1 car)
Signature plays
Signature plays · top plays by |EPA|
The plays that mattered most
- Week 2 · Washington State · 3&6 · Q2 · EPA +2.82Josh Manning 6 Yd pass from Avery Johnson (Luis Rodriguez Kick)
- Week 1 · Nicholls · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA +2.52(08:32) No Huddle-Shotgun #2 A.Johnson pass complete short left to #5 J.Manning caught at NICH00, for 11 yards to the NICH00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 08:28, 1ST DOWN #37 R.Hammond III kick attempt good (H: #8 S.McClannan, LS: #33 A.Johnson)
- Week 2 · Washington State · 3&6 · Q1 · EPA +2.44(11:55) No Huddle-Shotgun #2 A.Johnson pass complete short right to #5 J.Manning caught at KSTATE49, for 10 yards to the WSU44 (#3 J.Thomas), 1ST DOWN
- Week 2 · Washington State · 3&5 · Q1 · EPA +2.04(13:12) No Huddle-Shotgun #2 A.Johnson pass complete short middle to #5 J.Manning caught at KSTATE38, for 9 yards to the KSTATE42 (#21 K.Brown), 1ST DOWN
- Week 2 · Washington State · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA +1.67(12:17) Shotgun #2 A.Johnson pass complete deep middle to #5 J.Manning caught at WSU35, for 36 yards to the WSU19 (#2 J.Smith), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Nicholls · 1&10 · Q2 · EPA +1.63(13:31) Shotgun #2 A.Johnson pass complete short right to #5 J.Manning caught at KSTATE49, for 18 yards to the NICH47 (#17 S.Husband), 1ST DOWN
- Week 2 · Washington State · 1&10 · Q1 · EPA +0.80(01:33) Shotgun #2 A.Johnson pass complete short right to #5 J.Manning caught at KSTATE18, for 8 yards to the KSTATE28 (#16 I.Hung)
- Week 2 · Washington State · 1&10 · Q2 · EPA +0.54(00:26) No Huddle-Shotgun #2 A.Johnson pass complete short right to #5 J.Manning caught at KSTATE28, for 7 yards to the KSTATE28 (#4 K.Rapolla), out of bounds
- Week 2 · Washington State · 1&10 · Q1 · EPA +0.49(14:55) Shotgun #2 A.Johnson pass complete short left to #5 J.Manning caught at KSTATE17, for 7 yards to the KSTATE25 (#9 M.McLain)
- Week 2 · Washington State · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA -0.09(06:11) No Huddle-Shotgun #2 A.Johnson pass complete short right to #5 J.Manning caught at WSU37, for 4 yards to the WSU36 (#31 T.Ridley), out of bounds
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Reliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive.
CFB Index positional classification
DNA match
Player DNA
Possession Receiver
Reliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive.
WR
His 2026 production profile sits closest to Justin Robinson’s 2022 season.
Matches Justin on
Height
Weight
Total EPA (college ability)
Differs from Justin on
Class year (higher)
Through 3 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Dexter Boykin’s path through UAB.
Matches Dexter on
Height
Yards per reception
Weight
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Johnny Huntley III's junior season at Liberty (2021).
82%match
Matches Johnny on
Reception volume
Yards / reception
Total EPA (college ability)
Differs from Johnny on
Weight (lower)
Player DNA
Players who play like Joshua Manning
Heisman trajectory
Heisman Trajectory · 2026
Peak #219
Peaked at #219 this season.
The receiver room · Kansas State
- #12Jaron Tibbs595 receiving yards · 2025
- #8Brandon White399 receiving yards · 2025
- #5Joshua Manning318 receiving yards · 2025
- #1Izaiah Williams64 receiving yards · 2025
- #17Adonis Moise56 receiving yards · 2025
8 more on the roster · Kansas State team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology