Chapter 785 has been an up-and-down roller coaster ride for Kansas State offensive lineman Taylor Poitier, but he’s grateful for it all as his career winds to an end.
On campus since the start of the Chris Klieman era, battling through COVID, injuries and redshirting as a freshman, the sixth-year senior’s time at Bill Snyder Family Stadium will conclude on Saturday.
“Oh gosh,” Poitier said, fighting tears while reflecting on his last home game. “It’s really sad.”
“I’ve been here since the coach has been here,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of people come and go, I’ve seen a lot of things. It’s developed me into a good, better player. I’ve experienced a lot when it comes to injuries, and been through ups and downs. Just grateful for being here at this place.”
Poitier, a graduate of Bishop Miege High School in Kansas City, Kansas, said he’ll miss the people who built him into the person he is today, especially offensive line coach — and now offensive coordinator — Conor Riley.
Without Riley, Poitier never would have called Manhattan home.
“Coach Riley took a chance on me, my senior year in 2019, you know, forever ago,” Poitier said, cracking a smile. “I could never repay him back for that. He didn’t have to pick me up and bring me here. I would have gone to Wyoming, and I wouldn’t have been here.”
The previous coaching staff under the legendary Bill Snyder hadn’t recruited Poitier out of high school, despite being an in-state prospect.
According to 247sports, Poitier was the No. 12 in-state recruit in the class of 2019, which included No. 1 Breece Hall, No. 4 Keenan Garber and No. 11 Cooper Beebe. Hall, a former Iowa State star, is in his third year as the New York Jets running back. Garber, who was recruited as a wide receiver to Manhattan, is a sixth-year athlete who switched to cornerback after 2022.
Luckily for Poitier, when Snyder officially called his career, the new staff hailing from North Dakota State was in contact.
“[Riley] called me one night, he’s like, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to get this job at K-State, [but] I’ll let you know, and if I do, we’ll talk.’” Poitier said. “I didn’t think anything of it. Just thought at that time in recruiting, coaches just want to call and just talk.”
Riley got the job, sticking with Klieman after their years of success with the Bison. The rest is history for Poitier, but it wasn’t an easy journey.
After redshirting his freshman year in 2019, he made his Wildcat debut and played in four games during the COVID season in 2020.
Entering his junior year, Poitier suffered his first medical setback with a season-ending knee during fall camp. Then, once again the following season, he would miss the year with an ACL tear during the 2022 season opener.
“TP is the epitome of perseverance,” Klieman said. “Having adversity strike two years in a row … To get back on that field, having the season that he’s having, it’s a testament to the amount of work he’s put in. And he’s a tremendous leader.”
Despite the setbacks, Poitier has made the most of the journey, earning a Big 12 Championship ring alongside countless memories.
He recalled one of his best memories — also one of his first in Manhattan. As a freshman, Poitier’s roommates accidentally left him behind en route to his first early morning workout.
“I walked from Jardine to the facilities at 5 a.m., but it was really cool, because your first time working out, you just see everything, you get a grasp of everything,” Poitier said. “It just opens your eyes. I can remember it to this day, just how grateful, how thankful I was, being able to come to this place.”
On the field, one of his favorite games was his first start in 2020 alongside former guard Noah Johnson.
“That was one of the few times I really got to play with him because I was hurt that next year,” he said. “I cherish that memory, because that was one of my best friends here, the person who’s helped me a lot throughout my journey.”
Klieman emphasized finishing the season on a high note, overcoming the recent two-game skid, and writing a positive ending to the seniors’ journeys.
“These seniors, especially these six-year guys that came in with me when I started, and the fifth-year guys that have been around us for a long time, I want to make sure that those guys have an opportunity to go out well and go out successfully,” Klieman said.
