McGraw was ‘Raised on K-State’
Dec 18, 2025 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
They train together, father and son, running hills in northeast Kansas, even now — especially now — as Lawson McGraw finishes his senior year at Blue Valley West High School in Overland Park, Kansas. In less than six months, Lawson will begin a new chapter and tackle new challenges as an incoming freshman at K-State. He'll journey down that familiar Interstate-70 West, like countless times before, and take Coach Bill Snyder Highway down a valley and into the heart of the Little Apple — a place he's known since birth.
It's like a second home.
Many of Lawson's relatives reside in Manhattan — he visits his grandparents most Thanksgivings and Christmases — and since he can remember, he wore purple and attended K-State football games, cheering for his gridiron heroes on the very football field where his father, Jon McGraw, grew from walk-on to 2002 NFL second-round draftee to a 10-year NFL veteran and team captain with the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2011, McGraw's final year in the NFL, the Chiefs awarded him with the Ed Block Courage Award by a vote of his teammates for being a role model, an inspiration, and for his high degree of sportsmanship and courage.
Jon McGraw came to K-State as a quarterback — far down the depth chart behind Michael Bishop — before K-State head coach Bill Snyder moved McGraw to safety.
Lawson McGraw isn't coming to K-State as a backup quarterback, but the 6-foot-4, 230-pound McGraw follows in his father's footsteps, as he is noted as one of the most athletic talents in the country in the Class of 2026, having played safety and punter, then outside linebacker and punter and tight end. Tight end is the position that he will play for the Wildcats.
"It's just a part of our family," McGraw says. "You're going to try your hardest and put everything out there and have that K-State grit. I wanted to do the best I can at whatever I can, whether it's Monopoly or football. It's just who the McGraws are. I'm really excited to take that to K-State with me."
So, the father and son run hills, they train, and it wasn't too long ago that their workout took a brief pause. Lawson, and his parents Jon McGraw and Gretchen Graber, took a break and grabbed breakfast. It was National Signing Day, December 3, and Lawson had just finished an early-morning Zoom call with the K-State coaches. Lawson and his parents had an early-morning celebration before Lawson went to school. That afternoon, they learned that Chris Klieman had officially retired as K-State head coach.
His replacement? Collin Klein.
"Obviously, Collin is a really good coach with Texas A&M going 11-1 and being in the playoffs," McGraw says. "I've known Collin pretty much my whole life from when he was playing. He lived with my cousin, Jeff Smith, who played at K-State in the early 1990s and was the team chaplain for a long time. So, I'd see Collin. That was cool."
McGraw says that he has texted with Klein "briefly" since his hiring as K-State head coach, adding that "he's going to win a national championship, so I'm not going to take up his time."
But already, McGraw imagines himself running onto the football field at Bill Snyder Family Stadium prior to the 2026 season opener. The beginning of a new chapter awaits.
"I'm really excited," McGraw says. "It's going to be a dream come true. I'm just filling in these last couple months of high school and do everything I can to train and stay in shape and enjoy my last year with my friends."
He pauses.
"I have to stay true to the mission," he says, "and be ready for K-State."
A four-year starter at Bue Valley West, McGraw had 49 catches for 799 yards and 12 touchdowns over his final two seasons at tight end, and he had 98 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception, four passes defended and nine forced fumbles over his final three seasons, while he also competed in basketball and track.
"I'm pretty new to the tight end position," McGraw says. "I started playing offense for the first time last year. I didn't get to play every snap on offense this year just because I played every snap on defense. I'm growing a ton at the position. Each week I got so much better. I'm pretty versatile. I can do a lot. I know a lot of concepts and know how to beat defenses in the passing game, and I'm growing as a blocker. I'm a pretty long, athletic guy."
Jon McGraw has been with Lawson every step of the way.
"My dad played a huge role in my growth and just the development of playing football," McGraw says. "I've trained with my dad since the beginning of high school. He put me into really good situations to train with really good people. Watching film with him after games and practices and watching opponent film — it's been a huge help. Recruiting wise, he was on some of my trips.
"I talk with a recruiter and say, 'My dad played in the NFL for 10 years.' They talk about football, and I listen and soak it in. It's really cool to be a part of. It's helped me out a ton."
The first contact with K-State came with an invite from longtime director of recruiting Taylor Braet to attend a K-State camp. During the K-State camp heading into his junior season, McGraw played on offense, and he played on defense. K-State coaches knew that McGraw would provide value wherever he played on the field.
McGraw took some trips and saw some places, visited locker rooms and football fields and coaches' offices across the country, but purple was firmly in his heart.
"K-State is family, toughness and grit," McGraw says. "It's always been a part of my family. Growing up, it's how I was raised. I was raised on K-State.
"My grandparents are super excited to have me in town."
Sometimes, Lawson pops on the grainy film of his father's playing days at K-State, watching his highlights and special moments.
"It's really cool to hear the TV commentators get really excited," McGraw says, "because that gets me excited because that's going to be me soon.
"I can't wait to follow in his footsteps."
Even if Lawson is playing on the other side of the football.
"I've learned to be resilient," McGraw says. "I had a different recruiting process in changing positions a couple times, and I had a couple injuries my sophomore year, and this year I got banged up. Being tough, you have to attack every week and prepare and take care of your body. It's a job. It's tough. That's why it's awesome and why most people don't get to participate and enjoy it."
On Saturdays in the fall, the McGraws and Garbers will load up and head west on Interstate-70 and then north on Coach Bill Snyder Highway to their familiar second home. The place where the father once roamed is now reserved for the son.
And what a show it could be.
"K-State didn't have to sell me on Manhattan," McGraw says. "I've been there my whole life."
It's like a second home.
They train together, father and son, running hills in northeast Kansas, even now — especially now — as Lawson McGraw finishes his senior year at Blue Valley West High School in Overland Park, Kansas. In less than six months, Lawson will begin a new chapter and tackle new challenges as an incoming freshman at K-State. He'll journey down that familiar Interstate-70 West, like countless times before, and take Coach Bill Snyder Highway down a valley and into the heart of the Little Apple — a place he's known since birth.
It's like a second home.
Many of Lawson's relatives reside in Manhattan — he visits his grandparents most Thanksgivings and Christmases — and since he can remember, he wore purple and attended K-State football games, cheering for his gridiron heroes on the very football field where his father, Jon McGraw, grew from walk-on to 2002 NFL second-round draftee to a 10-year NFL veteran and team captain with the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2011, McGraw's final year in the NFL, the Chiefs awarded him with the Ed Block Courage Award by a vote of his teammates for being a role model, an inspiration, and for his high degree of sportsmanship and courage.
Jon McGraw came to K-State as a quarterback — far down the depth chart behind Michael Bishop — before K-State head coach Bill Snyder moved McGraw to safety.
Lawson McGraw isn't coming to K-State as a backup quarterback, but the 6-foot-4, 230-pound McGraw follows in his father's footsteps, as he is noted as one of the most athletic talents in the country in the Class of 2026, having played safety and punter, then outside linebacker and punter and tight end. Tight end is the position that he will play for the Wildcats.
"It's just a part of our family," McGraw says. "You're going to try your hardest and put everything out there and have that K-State grit. I wanted to do the best I can at whatever I can, whether it's Monopoly or football. It's just who the McGraws are. I'm really excited to take that to K-State with me."
So, the father and son run hills, they train, and it wasn't too long ago that their workout took a brief pause. Lawson, and his parents Jon McGraw and Gretchen Graber, took a break and grabbed breakfast. It was National Signing Day, December 3, and Lawson had just finished an early-morning Zoom call with the K-State coaches. Lawson and his parents had an early-morning celebration before Lawson went to school. That afternoon, they learned that Chris Klieman had officially retired as K-State head coach.
His replacement? Collin Klein.
"Obviously, Collin is a really good coach with Texas A&M going 11-1 and being in the playoffs," McGraw says. "I've known Collin pretty much my whole life from when he was playing. He lived with my cousin, Jeff Smith, who played at K-State in the early 1990s and was the team chaplain for a long time. So, I'd see Collin. That was cool."
McGraw says that he has texted with Klein "briefly" since his hiring as K-State head coach, adding that "he's going to win a national championship, so I'm not going to take up his time."
But already, McGraw imagines himself running onto the football field at Bill Snyder Family Stadium prior to the 2026 season opener. The beginning of a new chapter awaits.
"I'm really excited," McGraw says. "It's going to be a dream come true. I'm just filling in these last couple months of high school and do everything I can to train and stay in shape and enjoy my last year with my friends."
He pauses.
"I have to stay true to the mission," he says, "and be ready for K-State."
A four-year starter at Bue Valley West, McGraw had 49 catches for 799 yards and 12 touchdowns over his final two seasons at tight end, and he had 98 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception, four passes defended and nine forced fumbles over his final three seasons, while he also competed in basketball and track.
"I'm pretty new to the tight end position," McGraw says. "I started playing offense for the first time last year. I didn't get to play every snap on offense this year just because I played every snap on defense. I'm growing a ton at the position. Each week I got so much better. I'm pretty versatile. I can do a lot. I know a lot of concepts and know how to beat defenses in the passing game, and I'm growing as a blocker. I'm a pretty long, athletic guy."
Jon McGraw has been with Lawson every step of the way.
"My dad played a huge role in my growth and just the development of playing football," McGraw says. "I've trained with my dad since the beginning of high school. He put me into really good situations to train with really good people. Watching film with him after games and practices and watching opponent film — it's been a huge help. Recruiting wise, he was on some of my trips.
"I talk with a recruiter and say, 'My dad played in the NFL for 10 years.' They talk about football, and I listen and soak it in. It's really cool to be a part of. It's helped me out a ton."
The first contact with K-State came with an invite from longtime director of recruiting Taylor Braet to attend a K-State camp. During the K-State camp heading into his junior season, McGraw played on offense, and he played on defense. K-State coaches knew that McGraw would provide value wherever he played on the field.
McGraw took some trips and saw some places, visited locker rooms and football fields and coaches' offices across the country, but purple was firmly in his heart.
"K-State is family, toughness and grit," McGraw says. "It's always been a part of my family. Growing up, it's how I was raised. I was raised on K-State.
"My grandparents are super excited to have me in town."
Sometimes, Lawson pops on the grainy film of his father's playing days at K-State, watching his highlights and special moments.
"It's really cool to hear the TV commentators get really excited," McGraw says, "because that gets me excited because that's going to be me soon.
"I can't wait to follow in his footsteps."
Even if Lawson is playing on the other side of the football.
"I've learned to be resilient," McGraw says. "I had a different recruiting process in changing positions a couple times, and I had a couple injuries my sophomore year, and this year I got banged up. Being tough, you have to attack every week and prepare and take care of your body. It's a job. It's tough. That's why it's awesome and why most people don't get to participate and enjoy it."
On Saturdays in the fall, the McGraws and Garbers will load up and head west on Interstate-70 and then north on Coach Bill Snyder Highway to their familiar second home. The place where the father once roamed is now reserved for the son.
And what a show it could be.
"K-State didn't have to sell me on Manhattan," McGraw says. "I've been there my whole life."
It's like a second home.
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