As initially reported by ESPN’s Max Olson on Saturday, cornerback Amarion Fortenberry has committed to Kansas State, as confirmed by his agency, Young Money APAA Sports. Fortenberry made his decision following a late-week visit to Manhattan, selecting Chris Klieman’s program over Houston, which he visited before Christmas, and Nebraska.
Fortenberry, a true freshman this past season, was a key contributor for South Alabama, earning eight starts and recording 45 tackles, seven pass breakups, and two interceptions for a Jaguars team that finished with a 7-6 record. According to Pro Football Focus, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound cornerback ranked eighth in pass coverage among Sun Belt Conference corners who faced 50+ targets, allowing just two missed tackles across 597 defensive snaps. He also contributed on special teams, playing over 100 snaps.
A standout during his high school career at Columbia High School in Columbia, Miss., Fortenberry was named his district’s MVP as a junior and earned 1st Team All-State honors as a senior safety. He helped lead his team to a state title game appearance, amassing nearly 1,800 all-purpose yards and scoring 22 total touchdowns during his final season. Fortenberry’s strong performance drew late offers from Memphis, Ole Miss, and Washington State, but he stayed committed to South Alabama and former head coach Kane Wommack, now Alabama’s defensive coordinator. Fortenberry was one of the top signees in South Alabama’s 2024 class.
Now part of Kansas State’s secondary under position coach Van Malone, Fortenberry joins fellow sophomore cornerback Zashon Rich. Together with Kanijal Thomas, Donovan McIntosh, veteran Justice James, and incoming athlete Jayden Rowe, they’ll form a strong defensive backfield. This group will also help mentor promising freshman signees RJ Collins, Martel Jackson, Jojo Scott, and Serious Stinyard.
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