2013 Kansas State Spring Football Analysis

Kansas State Wildcats 2013 ... Head Coach: Bill Snyder

Kansas State Wildcats

2013 Schedule
8/31 North Dakota State
9/7 Louisiana
9/14 UMass
9/21 at Texas
9/28 OPEN DATE
10/5 at Oklahoma State
10/12 Baylor
10/19 OPEN DATE
10/26 West Virginia
11/2 Iowa State
11/9 at Texas Tech
11/16 TCU
11/23 Oklahoma
11/30 at Kansas

Why To Be Excited All five starters return to an offensive line that did a fantastic job in pass protection and paved the way for 194 rushing yards per game. Having a strong quarterback like Collin Klein helped the cause, but the front five did its part to make the balanced offense shine and now it’s an experienced group that should be a major positive. Defensively, the safety situation should be among the best in the Big 12 with Ty Zimmerman, Jarard Milo and Dante Barnett a talented group should be strong enough pick up the slack for a front seven that needs a ton of retooling. The quarterback situation should be fine, and having a veteran running back like John Hubert to rely on will help the transition. Tyler Lockett is one of the nation’s top return men and should be even more of an offensive weapon.

Why To Be Grouchy The overhaul. Kansas State does as good a job of filling in the gaps as any program in the Big 12, but this is ridiculous. All the starters on the defensive front seven are gone along with corners Nigel Malone and Allen Chapman from a group that finished first in the Big 12 in scoring defense, second in sacks and second against the run. It’s not just the starters; several of the key backups are gone, too. There’s time to figure out the pieces to the puzzle with North Dakota State, Louisiana-Lafayette and UMass to start the season, but the Big 12 opener at Texas comes up fast.

What Needs Working On Is there a quarterback who can step in and replace what Collin Klein brought to the table? The leadership, the toughness and the production all made him one of the best quarterbacks in the nation over the last few years, and while Daniel Sams might be a dangerous runner with a ton of upside, can he be consistent? Can he be the same sort of efficient and effective passer that Klein turned into? JUCO transfer Jake Waters will get his say this spring, but it’s up to Sams to take to gig by the horns.

Non-Conference Games: North Dakota State, Louisiana, UMass
Realistic Best Case Record: 8-4
Worst Case Record: 5-7
Likely Finish: 7-5

Pre-Preseason Projected Wins: North Dakota State, Louisiana, UMass, Baylor, West Virginia, Iowa State, at Kansas

Pre-Preseason Projected Losses: at Texas, at Oklahoma State, at Texas Tech, TCU, Oklahoma

Schedule Analysis: It’s Kansas State, so there isn’t exactly a killer non-conference game to deal with hosting North Dakota State, Louisiana and UMass to open up the year. To be fair, the Wildcats need the tune-up time – and the Ragin’ Cajuns aren’t cupcakes – before opening up the Big 12 slate at Texas. Not helping the matter is a date at Oklahoma State up next, but there’s a week off to rest up and prepare.

In a strange scheduling fluke, KSU plays OSU and hosts Baylor before getting a second week off in a month before going on a six-game finishing kick. However, it couldn’t be much easier with four of the six games at home and the two road games at Texas Tech and the regular season finale against Kansas. Five of the nine Big 12 games are at home with West Virginia, TCU, Baylor and Oklahoma making the trip to Manhattan.

Team Concerns For 2013: The Wildcats always seem to find ways to reload under Bill Snyder, but the defense has way too much work to do after leading the Big 12 in scoring D and finishing second in run defense. Nine starters are gone with a wholesale change on the front seven, but having safeties Jarard Milo and Ty Zimmerman back will be a nice place to start. Of course, replacing Collin Klein is going to be next to impossible - at least from a leadership standpoint - meaning the offensive line has to be the star with all five starters returning. It would be nice if the passing game was a wee bit stronger now that Klein isn't there to rely on running the ball.

The 2013 Class Is Heavy On ... Defensive ends. JUCO transfer Jake Waters has the potential to fight for the starting quarterback job right away, while Jesse Ertz fits what Bill Snyder likes to do. However, this class is big for the defensive side with end Tanner Wood one of the best recruits to come to Manhattan in a while, and JUCO transfer Devon Nash and Jamone Boyd making this a good haul of linemen. JUCO transfers De'Vondre Campbell and Nate Jackson will start soon at linebacker and corner, respectively, while linebacker Nick Ramirez is a future leader in the middle.

2012 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 86. That Class Was Heavy On ... It’s Kansas State, so as always the focus is on bringing in as many ready-made JUCO players as possible to win right now. This isn’t going to be a huge signing class, and there won’t be as many JUCO signees as normal, but Bill Snyder will try to gets instant starters for both lines while hoping to find the right fit at quarterback in Tay Bender for down the road. However, Snyder is 72, and it’s questionable whether or not he’ll still want to be coaching by the time the freshmen are done. 

2011 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 40. That Class Was Heavy On ... Quarterbacks. As always, Bill Snyder went hard after the JUCO transfers with corner Allen Chapman a lockdown defender and safeties Kip Daily and Nigel Malone ready for right now, and defensive end Meshak Williams a great-looking end to put in the rotation. The offensive backfield got a few new options with JUCO transfers Justin Tuggle and Angelo Pease two fast, mobile players who can handle the offense this year. Daniel Sams is a prep pickup who’ll be groomed for the near future.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 84. That Class Was Heavy On ... JUCO transfers. If it's Kansas State there are going to be Junior College transfers. Overall this is a mediocre class with the bulk of the players for the near future coming in last year, especially in the secondary, and Bill Snyder is going for the immediate boost to get the program back over the hump and into Big 12 South title contention. Matthew Pearson will start somewhere in the secondary and Adam Davis will be used from Day One on the line as a pass rusher. In the freshman class, linebackers Tre Walker and Laton Dowling will be the keys to the 2013 Wildcat defense.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 89. That Class Was Heavy On ... defensive backs. If you’re going to try to compete in the Big 12, you need good defensive backs. Kansas State didn’t exactly break the recruiting bank on star prospects, but the secondary got the most help with safeties Thomas Ferguson and Carlton Callendar the best in the class. Throw in JUCO transfer Troy Butler and corner Courtney Thompson, along with safeties Joseph Bonugli and Torrell Miller, and the Wildcats are thinking defense first with this class.