2021 CFP SEASON PREVIEW AUTUMN 11

KANSAS STATE
#7 BIG XII: CONF 4-5, HOME 2-2, AWAY 2-3
HC: Chris Klieman (3) OC: Courtney Messingham (3) DC: Joe Klanderman (3)
OFFENSE:
QB: Returns sixth year senior and 30-game starter Skylar Thompson (626 YDS, 4 TD, 0 INT passing, 3 TD rushing) who only got to
play in two full games before an injury ended his season. Thompson can run too, 405 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing in 2019.
Returns Will Howard (1178 YDS, 8 TD, 10 INT, 364 YDS, 3 TD rushing) who started 7 games after Thompson was injured. True
freshman Jake Rubley was the 12 th ranked pro-style QB of his class.
RB: Returns the elusive 5’6 Deuce Vaughn (642 YDS, 7 TD rushing, 434 YDS, 2 TD receiving) who was named Big 12 Offensive
Freshman of the year last season but still hasn’t received the national recognition he is deserving of. Vaughn is the only true
freshman in a decade to reach 600 YDS rushing and 400 YDS receiving. Joe Ervin (2020 opt out, 95 YDS, 1 TD in 2019) will
contribute more during his third year with the program. Jacardia Wright (played in 4 games) will also back up Vaughn. Jordan
Schippers (131 YDS in 8 games at FCS Western Illinois) can play after sitting out last season due to transfer rules. 2020 3-star
Keyon Mozee entered the transfer portal after playing in nine games during his freshman season but was not expected to be a
key member in the backfield this season.
WR: Returns 6’4 Chabastin Taylor (293 YDS, 1 TD), 6’3 Malik Knowles (204 YDS, 3 TD receiving, 100 YDS, 1 TD rushing) and
Phillip Brooks (155 YDS, 2 TD). All three of them would probably have better numbers if Skylar Thompson was not injured early
last year. Keenan Garber should see more playing time after a limited role last season. Kade Warner (40 YDS) transferred in
from Nebraska where he was a team captain.
TE: Lost Briley Moore-McKinney (338 YDS, 3 TD) to the NFL. Returns Sammy Wheeler (134 YDS, 1 TD) and Nick Lenners who
only caught 3 passes last year but had 163 yards in 2019. Daniel Imatorbhebhe (54 YDS, 1 TD in 5 games) transferred in from
Illinois. 253lb Fullback Jax Dineen (78 YDS) did not get any carries but was used as a blocker and receiver.
OL: Tied for allowing the fewest sacks in the conference last year (14). The best player on the unit is Second Team All-Big 12
center Noah Johnson. 332lb Ben Addler, 320lb Cooper Beebe, 300lb Christian Duffie and 320lb Josh Rivas each started 8 games.
Backups have experience. 311lb Kingsley Ugwu transferred in from Hutchinson CC where his team won the JUCO National
Championship.
DEFENSE:
DL: Lost best defensive player DE Wyatt Hubert (27 TOT, 8.5 sacks) to the NFL. Returns DEs Khalid Duke (26 TOT, 1 sack),
Bronson Massie (13 TOT, 2.5 sacks), Kirmari Gainous (14 TOT, 2 sacks) and Felix Anudike (1 sack, played 5 games as true
freshman). Returns DTs Eli Huggins (22 TOT, 6 TFL, 1.5 sacks), Robert Hentz (11 TOT), Jaylen Pickle (10 TOT). 326lb DT Timmy
Horne transferred in from Charlotte where he was a two-year starter.
LB: Returns Daniel Green (39 TOT, 5.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks) and Cody Fletcher (44 TOT, 3.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks). Wayne Jones (24 TOT)
switched from DB to LB. Eric Munoz transferred in from Utah State where he was a walk-on put on scholarship after a good
2019 season. DaVonte Pritchard (2 nd best prospect in state) could play as a freshman.
SF: Returns Jahron McPherson (54 TOT, 2 INT, 1 FF, 1 sack) and Ross Elder (41 TOT). Russ Yeast (45 TOT) transferred in from
Louisville where he started the last two years. Cincere Mason (5 career INTs) transferred in from FCS Kennesaw State.
CB: Returns Justin Gardner (18 TOT, 2 INT) and Ekow Boye-Doe (25 TOT). 6’4 Julius Brents transferred in from Iowa where he
was productive as a backup. Reggie Stubblefield (32 TOT, 1 INT, 2 blocked kicks last season) transferred in from FCS Prairie View
A&M. Tee Denson (9 TOT, 1 start) and Aamaris Brown (9 TOT) should see more time.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
KR: Lost Blake Lynch (12/17 FG). Ty Zentner handled kickoffs last season. RB Deuce Vaughn returned
kicks, taking one 40 yards. WRs Phillip Brooks and Malik Knowles also returned kicks (1 TD in 2019).
PR: Jack Blumer shared punting duties with Ty Zentner (40.8 YD avg) all season, both are back. WR Philip
Brooks (3 career punt return TD) is back.
SPIN
Manhattan, KS – The 2020 season had its ups and downs with a loss to Arkansas State and a win over
Oklahoma then five straight losses to end the year. Three of their five losses were by less than a
touchdown. The offense was 22 nd to last in total AVG YDS/G. The defense allowed 267.5 passing YDS/G
(19 th most in FBS). Looking at the schedule, Stanford is obviously a tough draw but really watch out for
Nevada in the non-conference. OSU, OU and ISU in a row, who finished third, first, and second in the Big
12 to start conference play is not a welcome sight either. However, that two game win streak over
Oklahoma can’t be ignored. I have Kansas State finishing 7-5 with a 4-5 conference record.
Twitter @Autumn_Eleven