Kansas State is off to a flying start as it sails into its non-conference finale against Tulane. The Wildcats outscored their first two opponents 105-10 and rank 16th in the FBS in total offense and No. 2 nationally in total defense. In fact, they rank No. 1 in the FBS in 11 different statistical categories heading toward Saturday's 11:00 a.m. kickoff at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
It's January 27 and Josh Manning is gassed as he recalls his first weight and conditioning session under strength and conditioning coach Jeremy Jacobs and his first set of sprints and his first session of route running across the vast practice field at Kansas State. Yes, everything appears new at the football program of which he's very familiar, the school Manning almost joined in 2022 before the native of Lee's Summit, Missouri, chose to stay close to home and begin his college football career with the Tigers.
Kansas State opened the Collin Klein era with a 71-3 trouncing of Nicholls in its season opener last Saturday. One day later, Washington State suffered a 24-10 loss at No. 17 Washington in the debut of head coach Kirby Moore.
Ryan Howard saw it. He saw it all along. He was 12 years old that first time he entered the Vanier Family Football Complex. He was a younger brother accompanying his father and big brother on a midweek official recruiting visit in April 2019. Will Howard was a 17-year-old quarterback heading into his senior season at Downingtown West High School. When it came to choosing a college home, older brother wanted to weigh his options. He was hesitant being far from his family home in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
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