Hutchinson Community College’s Derrick Salley Jr., the top-rated junior college wide receiver in the 2026 class, decommitted from the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers and will sign with the Kansas State University Wildcats.
Salley decommitted from Minnesota on Tuesday night after family talks, and then pledged to Kansas State (and coach Chris Klieman) the next morning.
Salley, from Green Pond, S.C., and Ashley Ridge High School, chose the Wildcats over other Power 4 offers such as Illinois and Oklahoma State.
“After thoughtful consideration and conversations with my family, I have decided to decommit from the University of Minnesota,” said Salley on social media. “I want to sincerely thank coach (P.J.) Fleck, the entire coaching staff and the Minnesota program for their belief in me and the opportunity they have extended.”
Salley is rated No. 1 among junior college wide receivers and No. 7 overall in the 2026 JUCO class. Salley has 41 catches, 726 yards and 12 touchdowns this season for the undefeated Blue Dragons. He caught eight passes for 146 yards and three scores against Iowa Central on Sept. 20.
According to K-State Online, Salley made an official visit to Manhattan on Nov. 3. Salley is the 19th commitment for Kansas State in the 2026 recruiting class and the third this month.
Salley Jr. and the No. 1 Hutchinson Blue Dragons will host No. 4 Northwest Mississippi Community College in the NJCAA Division I semifinals Saturday, Dec. 6. Kickoff at Gowans Stadium is 6 p.m.
No. 2 Iowa Western will host No. 3 Tyler Junior College (Texas) in the other NJCAA Division I semifinal game. The Iowa Western-Tyler game will kickoff at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at Titan Stadium in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
The semifinal winners will play for the NJCAA Division I championship at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17. The championship game will take place at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium on the campus of West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.
