Kansas State Wildcats 2011 Team Preview

2010 Season Breakdown

Final record (overall, conference): 7-6, 3-5
Bowl game: Pinstripe Bowl (L, 36-34 vs. Syracuse)
Final ranking (AP, Coaches’): NR, NR
Conference finish: T-3^rd Big 12 North
Offensive rank: 62^nd
Defensive rank: 106^th

2010 Individual Statistics Leaders

Rushing: Daniel Thomas, 1,585 yards, 19 TD
Passing: Carson Coffman, 2,060 yards, 14 TD, 7 INT
Receiving: Aubrey Quarles, 760 yards, 6 TD
Tackles: David Garrett, 92 tackles
Sacks: Prizell Brown, 5 sacks
Interceptions: Ty Zimmerman, 3 INT

2011 Schedule (all games Saturday unless noted)
*denotes conference game

September 3 vs. Eastern Kentucky
September 17 vs. Kent State
September 24 @ Miami
October 1 vs. Baylor*
October 8 vs. Missouri*
October 15 @ Texas Tech*
October 22 @ Kansas*
October 29 vs. Oklahoma*
November 5 @ Oklahoma State*
November 12 vs. Texas A&M*
November 19 @ Texas*
December 3 vs. Iowa State* [12:30 PM ET]

Key Matchups

September 24 @ Miami: Arthur Brown faces his former team as the Wildcats travel to Miami to take on the Hurricanes. This is by far the marquee non-conference game.

October 1 vs. Baylor: K-State will face the upstart Bears following the trip to Miami and could be in for a battle. Robert Griffin III causes defenses all kinds of problems and it could be tough to keep up.

October 22 @ Kansas: The Wildcats have to look at this game as well as the Eastern Kentucky, Kent State and Iowa State matchups as opportunities to add to the win column, which could be few and far between in the meaty part of the schedule. K-State has won the last two in the Sun Flower Showdown.

Key Departed Players

Carson Coffman, QB; Daniel Thomas, RB; Aubrey Quarles, WR; Zach Kendall, G; Prizell Brown, DE

Key Returning Players

Collin Klein, QB; Brodrick Smith, WR; Alex Hrebec, LB; David Garrett, CB; Tysyn Hartman, S; Ty Zimmerman, S

Offensive Overview

Collin Klein attempted 18 passes a year ago for 138 yards and a touchdown, but was second on the team with 432 rushing yards and was third with six rushing touchdowns. Klein may be a better passer than some expected, though. He went 25 for 37 for 358 yards and five touchdowns through the air in the spring game, lending hope that the offense will have a little bit of an extra element that been missing over the past few seasons. He must still beat out Sammuel Lamur and Justin Tuggle for the starting job in the fall, though. Protecting Klein is an offensive line that returns both tackles, but must look for replacements on the interior. Better pass protection is needed, while run blocking has been good.

Another position that will see a new face is at running back with Daniel Thomas now a member of the Miami Dolphins. Bryce Brown, a Tennessee transfer, is competing for the starting job with John Hubert. Brown finished the spring game with 73 yards and a couple of touchdowns, while Hubert ran for 79 yards and a score. Both are considered very capable backs and should see their carries this year, but Brown is expected to emerge as the star. Even if Klein proves a better passer than fans previously thought, the passing game isn’t going to be the focal point of the offense. Nevertheless, the receiving corps must look to make the most out of the passes that come their way. Chris Harper is expected to be a top target this season, while Brodrick Smith will be back after suffering an injury last year that cut his season short.

Defensive Overview

It’s never a good sign when your leading tackler is a cornerback, and that proved quite indicative of the Wildcats’ defense a year ago. The Wildcats finished 11^th in the conference in total defense and last in rushing defense (they were second to last in rushing defense nationally). Linebacker Arthur Brown, a transfer from Miami, brings some excitement to the defense, though, and will be a big part of any improvement on that side of the ball. He led the team with 14 tackles in the spring game. Emmanuel Lamur, a former safety, is expected to play a big role at the second level, too, while Alex Hrebec and Tre Walker will see time as well.

The defense tied for 90^th in sacks, was 110^th in tackles for loss and, as mentioned, was the second worst run defense in the country. The defensive front has to do more. The leading sack man is gone, but three starters return to give the front some experience that they’re hoping will translate into improvement. Ray Kibble and Raphael Guidry will start on the interior, while Brandon Harold returns at end with Meshak Williams expected to come in and grab the other end spot. The secondary might be the bright spot of the defense. Cornerback David Garrett was the team’s leading tackler last year, while Nigel Malone comes in from the JUCO ranks and has looked very good. Tysyn Hartman and Ty Zimmerman form a good duo at the safety spots.

Top Draft Products

Manase Foketi, OT; Tysyn Hartman, S

Season Prediction

8^th Big 12

A lot will depend on how well Klein steps in at quarterback and if Brown can be the productive back many thought he’d be as a super recruit coming out in 2009. The defense is going to have to be much, much better at stopping the run and producing some semblance of a pass rush, and the secondary, which wasn’t bad a year ago, will have to deal with several high-octane Big 12 passing offenses. In a ten-team Big 12 with nine conference games on the slate, Kansas State could suffer from playing every Big 12 South school that now includes a viable Baylor team.

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