For the second-straight season, Kansas State senior Randen Plattner is a candidate for the Patrick Mannelly Long Snapper of the Year Award as he was named to the initial watch list for the 2023 season, the award's committee announced.

Plattner, a semifinalist for last year's Mannelly Award, is one of 25 candidates on the 2023 watch list, joining four other long snappers from Big 12 programs.

A product of Parkville, Missouri, Plattner is entering his second senior season as he is taking advantage of an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has served as the Wildcats' primary long snapper for field goals and extra points since 2019 and added snapping duties on punts in each of the last two seasons. During the 2022 campaign, Plattner was true on all 59 punt snaps and 81 field goal/extra point snaps as he was named an Honorable Mention All-American by Phil Steele.

Off the field, Plattner is a three-time First Team Academic All-Big 12 performer. He earned his undergraduate degree from Kansas State in mechanical engineering in May 2023 and is currently working on his MBA.

K-State reports to preseason camp on Tuesday with the first workout set for Wednesday morning. The Wildcats open the 2023 campaign by hosting SEMO inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Saturday, September 2 in a 6 p.m., contest that will be shown on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.