Malik Knowles joined Kansas State as a member of their 2018 recruiting class. He only appeared in three games as a freshman, totaling 100 yards and two receiving touchdowns. The following seaosn, Knowles finished second on the team in receptions (27), receiving yards (397), and touchdowns (3). In 2020, Knowles only finished fifth on the team in receptions (13) and fourth in receiving yards (204).
Despite finishing third in reception and receiving yards in 2021, Knowles led the team with four touchdowns and averaged 15.2 yards per reception. This seaosn marked the first seaosn that Knowles more regularly returned kicks where he averaged 33.1 yards per return and scored twice, which led the Big 12. As a senior in 2022, Knowles would emerge as Kansas State's leading receiver (48-725-2 stat line), while also adding 592 kick return yards on 23 returns.
