Douglas dream comes true

Basehor (Kan.) Basehor Linwood offensive lineman Ethan Douglas dreamed his whole life of getting a chance to play for Kansas State.

He said he couldn't even begin to recall all the wonderful memories he has of growing up rooting for the Wildcats because there were so many. So when he called Ron Prince after the K-State camp and was offered a scholarship, it was like a dream coming true.

"I grew up a K-State fan, and there was nobody else," Douglas, who is 6-foot-7 and 285 pounds, said. "I have a bunch of great memories of K-State, and it's a great football tradition. I just love it up there. There was no other choice. K-State was my first offer, and I'm glad it was. There would have been no other choice, even if I had a bunch of offers.

"I'm definitely a K-Stater."

Douglas earned second-team all-Kaw Valley honors in 2006 after playing both left tackle and defensive tackle. He was also recruited by Missouri, Colorado, Wyoming, Illinois and Kansas. He was recruited originally by former K-State defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, but when he left both Matt Wallerstedt and Tim McCarty took over for the Wildcats.

Douglas said he earned the offer after impressing at camp.

"I put on a good show I guess," he said. "They sat me down in their office and talked to me about how they're thinking about offering me and they couldn't officially do it at the camp. So when I got home that night, I called Ron Prince and talked to him. That's when they offered me. I then talked things over with my parents (Kenny Douglas and Ingrid Douglas). I then decided to accept.

"There wasn't much debate. K-State is where I wanted to be."

So what type of player is K-State getting?

"I'm a good offensive tackle that can move really well for a big guy," Douglas, who has a 335-pound squat and a 22-inch vertical leap, said. "I play hard, and I try to keep the intensity level up. I also do my job."

Doulgas first showed up on the radar screen when he attended the Rivals.com Junior Day in Columbia, Mo. It was at that even that he measured in at 6-foot-7 and 282 pounds. He then looked very good at the Columbia NIKE Camp. Douglas not only looked the part at the camp, but he was very impressive in the one-on-one drills.