Cats land four-star linebacker
The way Nick Ramirez talks about it, you'd think he had some doubt when it came to whether or not Kansas State would actually accept his verbal commitment. But if there was any real worry, it's since been put to rest.
It happened in a hurry on Thursday evening. All it took was a simple phone conversation, after which the four-star linebacker was officially a Wildcat. His chat with K-State linebackers coach Mike Cox was short and to the point.
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"He called and was talking about how interested they were in me," Ramirez said, "He said they had saved a spot for me. He said it was mine if I wanted it. I wanted it, so I just committed on the spot.
"He just said that he's excited for me to play for his team. He said they have been recruiting me for a while, and it has finally paid off."
Ramirez was sold on Bill Snyder's program well before Thursday, though. Around the time he wrapped up his unofficial visit to Manhattan, his mind was made up. He says the most important selling point is hard to identify. Instead, he points to the larger picture.
This wasn't a case of God guiding a player into the Wildcat fold. It wasn't about facilities, either. Instead, it was a hodgepodge of factors.
"It was just everything about them," Ramirez said. "The winning program, it's close to home, all the coaches … all of that. When I visited, I was really impressed with the atmosphere and everything like that. It's just a great place and a great program. It was really everything about them."
Ramirez says the only other visit he plans to take is an official to K-State. He has not pinpointed a date for such a trip at this moment. For now, the only thing that's certain is that his recruitment is closed for good.
"I'm done now," he said. "I'm just a Wildcat forever. I'm not messing around with recruiting anymore."
A senior at Missouri's Lee's Summit West High School, Ramirez originally pledged his services to Gary Pinkel's Mizzou program but de-committed in late November.