Wildcats Look to Get Back on Track in Lubbock

MANHATTAN, Kan. - Kansas State heads back out on the road in Big 12 play for a second time this year, as the Wildcats travel to Lubbock, Texas, to face Texas Tech this Saturday inside Jones AT&T Stadium. The game against the Red Raiders, which kicks at 11 a.m., will be televised by FS1 with Tim Brando (play-by-play) and Spencer Tillman (analyst) on the call. The game can be heard across the 39-station K-State Sports Network with Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play), former K-State quarterback Stan Weber (analyst) and Matt Walters (sidelines) calling the action. Fans can also catch the game on SiriusXM (XM: 384; App: 974) in addition to The Varsity Network app.

A LOOK AT K-STATE
• K-State looks to get into the win column in Big 12 play after dropping games at Oklahoma State (31-20), and at home to both Oklahoma (37-31) and Iowa State (33-20). The former two reside in the top 8 in this week's Associated Press Top 25, and the latter was there in the preseason.
• The Wildcats' three conference opponents, plus its difficult non-conference schedule in which they went 3-0 against, has their strength of schedule ranked second in the nation in the current Sagarin Ratings.
• Quarterback Skylar Thompson returned against the Sooners after missing the previous two games due to injury, and he put together one of the best passing performances of his career by setting highs in completions (29) and attempts (41), and tying his high for touchdown passes (3), while he threw for the second-most yards in his career (320).
• Thompson's favorite receiver against OU was Deuce Vaughn, who hauled in 10 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown. It was the second 100-yard receiving game of his career and just the seventh in school history by a running back or fullback.
• This year, Vaughn has totaled 777 scrimmage yards (543 rush/234 receive) and seven scores. In his 16 career games, Vaughn has at least 100 scrimmage yards 11 times – including all six games this year – and he ranks fourth nationally among active players in career all-purpose yards per game (124.87).
• Vaughn and Thompson have the luxury of playing behind an experienced line that brought back 100% of its starts from last year.
• Receivers Malik Knowles, Phillip Brooks and Landry Weber have combined for 45 receptions for 614 yards and four scores.
• The Wildcats, deploying a new 3-3-5 look and regularly rotating in over 25 players on defense, rank 23rd in the nation against the run (107.0 yds/gm).
• Linebackers Daniel Green (34) and Cody Fletcher (33) lead the team in tackles, and each have at least three stops behind the line.
• Defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah is second in the Big 12 and 18th nationally with five sacks on the year.
• The Wildcats have five interceptions as safeties Russ Yeast and TJ Smith each recorded a pick against Stanford, defensive tackle Jaylen Pickle had one against Southern Illinois, cornerback Tee Denson picked off Nevada, and Julius Brents had one against Oklahoma.
• Malik Knowles has returned a kickoff for a touchdown in two of the last three games, and he ranks second in the nation with a 36.0-yard return average.

A LOOK AT TEXAS TECH
• Texas Tech enters the game with a 5-2 overall record and 2-2 mark in Big 12 play following a 41-14 win last week at Kansas.
• The Red Raiders are one win away from becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 2017 when they played in the Birmingham Bowl vs. South Florida.
• Henry Colombi leads the nation's 25th-best scoring offense at quarterback with 1,066 passing yards on 79-of-120 aim, and he has thrown four touchdowns and three interceptions.
• Running back SaRodorick Thompson has totaled 314 yards and six touchdowns this season. In his last game against K-State in 2019, he rushed for 84 yards and a score.
• Wide receiver Erik Ezukanma is one of three receivers with at least 15 receptions, as he has 31 for 505 yards and a score.
• The defense is led by Colin Schooler, who has 56 tackles on the year, while six different defenders have recorded interceptions.

A LOOK AT THE SERIES
• K-State leads the all-time series, 12-9, which includes a current five-game winning streak and a 9-1 mark over the last 10 years. K-State's five-game winning streak is the longest for the Wildcats in the series and tied for the longest by either team in series history.
• The Wildcats also hold a 12-6 advantage since the inception of the Big 12 in 1996. One of those games was the first-ever Big 12 game, as the Cats topped Tech, 21-14, on August 31, 1996.
• Last season in Manhattan, Texas Tech held a 21-17 fourth-quarter lead until K-State scored the final 14 points of the game and shut down the Red Raiders over the final 11 minutes en route to a 31-21 victory.
• Both teams lost their starting quarterbacks early in the game, as K-State's Will Howard threw for 173 yards on 7-of-12 aim, which included the final touchdown of the game with 2:07 remaining – a 70-yard catch-and-run by Deuce Vaughn.
• Two years ago in Lubbock, K-State scored on four of its first five possessions of the second half, including three touchdowns, and held during a late Texas Tech rally.
• The game last year featured a 48-yard touchdown pass from Skylar Thompson to Chabastin Taylor in the fourth quarter to give K-State a 10-point cushion.

TOUGH ONES VS. TECH
• Kansas State has been tough in close contests against Texas Tech, as the Wildcats hold a five-game winning streak over the Red Raiders with three of those being one-score games.
• The last two games in Lubbock have been especially close with K-State winning by margins of three (30-27 in 2019), seven (42-35 [ot] in 2017).
• K-State's average margin of victory in the last five games against the Red Raiders has been 8.2 points.

ONE OF THE BIG 12'S BEST
• K-State ranks third in Big 12 wins since the league's inception in 1996, trailing only Oklahoma and Texas.
• The Wildcats also rank third in the conference in winning percentage since round-robin play began in 2011. They sit at 57.0% (53-40), trailing only Oklahoma (82.8%; 77-16) and Oklahoma State (65.6%; 61-32).

IMPRESSIVE RESUME
• The three opponents that the Wildcats defeated in non-conference play have found success when not playing K-State, as Stanford, Southern Illinois and Nevada have combined for a 14-3 record – including a 4-3 mark against Power 5 teams – in their other games.
• Southern Illinois is ranked No. 4 in the FCS Coaches Poll.
• The average score for those three teams in their games not against K-State is 36.5-24.4.
• K-State's first two Big 12 opponents – Oklahoma (4th) and Oklahoma State (8th) – rank in the top 8 in the AP Poll.
• The Wildcats' six opponents are a combined 29-4 when not playing K-State with wins over Baylor, Boise State (twice), Cal, USC, Nebraska, Oregon, TCU, Texas (twice) and West Virginia.
• Entering play this week, K-State's strength of schedule ranks as one of the best in the nation, checking in at No. 2 in the Sagarin Ratings.

A WINNING HISTORY
• A proven winner with a championship history, Chris Klieman holds an 87-27 career record, as his 76.3% career winning percentage ranks fifth among current FBS coaches that have led programs for at least eight years.
• Klieman came to Manhattan after capping his five-year stint as head coach at North Dakota State by winning his fourth national championship in 2018. Klieman guided the 2018 Bison to a perfect 15-0 record.

WINNING THE FINAL FRAME
• Kansas State has been strong in the fourth quarter of games this season, as the Wildcats are outscoring their opponents, 65-23, in the final frame.
• The 42-point margin through the first six games of 2021 is the highest by the Wildcats through six games since the 2012 squad had a 59-point margin (94-35).
• The Wildcat offensive line and defense have been catalysts in the fourth quarter as K-State is averaging 37.3 rushing yards in the final 15 minutes as opposed to 21.0 yards per game by its opponents, which includes negative rushing totals by Southern Illinois (-6) and Nevada (-5).

CATS TOPS IN NON-OFFENSIVE TDs
• K-State is the nation's best in non-offensive touchdowns over the last 23 seasons as it has 124 since 1999, eight more than the next closest team.
• Kansas State already has two non-offensive scores this year as Malik Knowles has returned a kickoff for a touchdown in each of the last two games.
• Last year, K-State had three non-offensive touchdowns in its over Kansas as Phillip Brooks returned two punts for scores, and Justin Gardner had a pick-six. It was the first time the Cats had three in one game since doing so against Montana State in 2008.
• K-State has had at least five non-offensive scores in seven of the last 10 years. Last year, the Cats missed that mark by just one during their shortened 10-game schedule.

OFFENSIVE NOTES
200 OR MORE
• Dating back to last season, Kansas State has rushed for at least 200 yards in six of its last 10 games.
• The latest effort was a 269-yard output against Nevada, the sixth time under head coach Chris Klieman that the Wildcats have totaled at least 250 yards on the ground.
• Earlier this year, the Wildcats rushed for 200 yards against Stanford, 208 yards against Southern Illinois and 269 yards vs. Nevada.

DOWN THE FIELD
• Although they excel in the running game, the Wildcats have been pushing the ball down the field as well, as K-State is tied for 20th in the nation with six plays of 50 or more yards.
• K-State started the season with at least one 50-yard play from scrimmage in its first five games to become the first Wildcat team with a five-game streak since at least 1988.
• Of the six total 50-yard plays by K-State this year, five have been passes, including scores by Daniel Imatorbhebhe against Nevada (68 yards) and Deuce Vaughn at Oklahoma State (55 yards). Vaughn has the lone rush of 50 or more yards, going for a 59-yard touchdown in the season opener against Stanford.
• Out of Vaughn's 131 touches this year, 28 have gone for 10 or more yards to tie for 11th in the nation, while he is also tied for 22nd with a pair of 50-yard plays.

RED ZONE SUCCESS
• In the first two-plus years under offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham, Kansas State has converted on 99-of-106 (93.4%) of its red zone opportunities, which includes 70 touchdowns.
• Included in that stretch is a streak of 67-straight red zone conversions, as the Wildcats were true on their final 39 tries of 2019 and their first 24 opportunities of 2020.
• K-State's 93.4.% conversion rate since 2019 is the top mark in the Big 12.
• The Wildcats are the only team in the nation to rank in the top five in red zone offense each of the previous two years, leading the nation in 2019 (96.2%) and ranking fourth last year (93.9%).

AN EXPERIENCED SIGNAL CALLER
• Skylar Thompson returned for the Oklahoma game after missing the previous two contests due to injury.
• Last week against Iowa State, Thompson registered his 34th career start, the most by a Wildcat since at least 1990. His start the previous game against the Sooners moved him out of a tie for first place with Ell Roberson, who made 32 starts over the 2001 through 2003 seasons.
• Thompson has 19 victories as a starter to rank fifth by a Wildcat since 1990, and he is just three behind a three-way tie for first place between Roberson, Collin Klein and Michael Bishop.

CHASING MILESTONES
• Not only did Skylar Thompson return to end his career on a high note with the team, but he is also hunting some records during his final season in Manhattan.
• A product of Independence Missouri, Thompson ranks in the top 10 in school history in 15 career categories. A detailed list of records can be found on pages 50-51.
• Additionally, Thompson needs 213 more passing yards to become the first player in school history with 6,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a career.

CUTTING IT LOOSE
• Skylar Thompson had one of the best passing games of his career against Oklahoma, as he set career highs in completions (29) and attempts (41), and he had the second-most yards in his career (320).
• Thompson's 29 completions were the most by a Wildcat since Jake Waters had 31 in the 2015 Alamo Bowl (after the 2014 regular season), while his 41 attempts were the most by a K-State signal caller since Joe Hubener also had 41 at Texas Tech in 2015.
• His three passing scores tied a career high he originally set at Iowa State in 2018.

DEUCE ON THE LOOSE
• A product of Round Rock, Texas, Deuce Vaughn has been one of the best all-purpose backs in the nation over the first 16 games of his career.
• Vaughn ranks fourth nationally with 124.87 all-purpose yards per game on a list that also includes two other Big 12 running backs in Texas' Bijan Robinson (2nd; 127.88) and Iowa State's Breece Hall (3rd; 126.70).
• Vaughn is on the cusp of reaching the 2,000-yard mark in terms of all-purpose yards as he sits at 1,998. He will become just the third player in school history to hit the mark as a sophomore, joining Tyler Lockett and Darren Sproles. However, Vaughn will hit the mark during his 17th career game, which would be quicker than the other two players (Lockett: 18; Sproles: 19).

ON THE RECEIVING END
• One of the main reasons Deuce Vaughn has a high all-purpose yardage mark is his work as a receiver, as he ranks third in school history among running backs/fullbacks with 668 receiving yards.
• Additionally, Vaughn leads all Big 12 running backs in receptions (23) and yards (234) this year, while he is second in touchdown catches (2).
• Vaughn also has the second-most receiving yards by any running back nationally since the start of 2020 (Hawaii's Calvin Turner Jr.; 1,030 yards)
• Vaughn is trying to become the first player in school history with 1,000 career yards as both a rusher and a receiver. The closest a Wildcat came to accomplishing that feat was Mack Herron (1968-69), who had 1,244 receiving yards and 815 rushing yards.
• If Vaughn hit the 1,000/1,000 mark, he would be one of only 11 players in Big 12 history to do so. However, if he did so this year, he would become just the second to reach the milestone as a sophomore (Taurean Henderson, Texas Tech), which would be impressive considering Vaughn's young career included a shortened 10-game freshman season in 2020 due to COVID-19.

THROUGH THE AIR VS. OU
• Deuce Vaughn's high numbers as a receiver is due to his performances against Oklahoma as 233 of his 640 career receiving yards have come in the two games against the Sooners (129 yards in 2020; 104 yards in 2021).
• Vaughn has two of the Wildcats' seven 100-yard receiving games by a running back/fullback in school history. Mack Herron also had two, while three other players had one apiece.
• Vaughn's 100-yard receiving game against the Sooner this year came on 10 catches, the most by a Wildcat since Darren Sproles had 10 against Texas Tech in 2004. That mark that is the most by any K-State running back or fullback in the Big 12 era.

WELL-TRAVELED TIGHT END
• Kansas State transfer tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe is looking to make a splash with the Wildcats in his seventh and final season of college football.
• Imatorbhebhe is on his fourth FBS school as he signed and went through spring practices with Florida in 2015, transferred to USC for the 2015 through 2019 seasons and spent the 2020 campaign at Illinois.
• He is one of just two active players to have spent time at four FBS schools, joining Texas Tech offensive lineman T.J. Storment (Old Dominion, Colorado State, TCU).

DEFENSIVE NOTES
RUN STOPPERS
• In six games this season, K-State has allowed just 642 total yards rushing on 195 carries, as the Wildcats rank 23rd nationally in rushing yards allowed per game (107.0) and 26th in yards allowed per rush (3.29).
• The 642 total rushing yards allowed in the first five games were the fewest by the Wildcats since the 2016 squad surrendered 542 yards against Stanford (105), Florida Atlantic (82), Missouri State (30), West Virginia (124), Texas Tech (63) and Oklahoma (138).
• Stanford rushed for 39 yards in the 2021 opener, Southern Illinois had 100 yards on 40 carries, while Nevada had 25 yards.
• It was the first time the Wildcats allowed 100 or fewer rushing yards in three-straight games since the first three games of the 2007 season against Auburn (62), San Jose State (73) and Missouri State (69).

FEWER EXPLOSIVES
• One area of emphasis for the Wildcat defense in 2021 was to limit opponents' explosive plays, and through the first six games, K-State has allowed just 20 plays of 20 or more yards, which includes just two rushes.
• It is the Wildcats' fewest 20-plus yard plays allowed through six games since the 2017 team surrendered 19. In the first six games last year, K-State conceded 31 plays of 20 or more yards.
• The three runs of 20 or more yards allowed are fewest in the first six games of a season since the 2017 also allowed three.
• K-State is one of 14 schools nationally to allow three or fewer runs of 20 or more yards this season.

BEHIND THE LINE
• Kansas State has tallied at least six tackles for loss in four of the first six games this year, as 19 players have at least a half TFL.
• The Wildcats totaled 68 tackles for loss in just 10 games a year ago, which were the most by the Wildcats since the 2016 squad had 70 during a 13-game season.

MEET ME AT THE QB
• Through six games in 2021, K-State is ranked sixth in the Big 12 at 2.5 sacks per game.
• Kansas State has at least one sack in 27 of the 29 games since Chris Klieman took over as head coach in 2019 with the lone non-sack games being the 2019 opener against Nicholls and last week against Iowa State.
• The 27-game sack streak snapped against Iowa State was the longest by the Wildcats since a 29-game streak that spanned the 1995 through 1997 seasons.
• Last season, K-State totaled 28 sacks in 10 games, which were the most for the Wildcats during an entire season since a 13-game 2016 campaign (30).

STRONG AT THE START
• The Kansas State defense has been strong at the beginning of games since the start of 2020 as nine of the Wildcats' last 16 opponents have come up empty on their first possession of the game.
• Over the last 16 games, K-State has allowed only 18 total first downs (1.13 per game), while drives have covered just 450 total yards (28.1 yards).
• Included in that span is four three-and-outs and an interception this year against Nevada.

DEPTH IN THE SECONDARY
• Of the six defensive transfers K-State brought in prior to the 2021 season, four are in the secondary.
• Including the 2021 season, that group has combined for 92 career Division I starts by Julius Brents, Cincere Mason, Reggie Stubblefield and Russ Yeast.
• Prior to coming to K-State, Yeast started 29 games over four years at Louisville, Mason started 28 games over three seasons at Kennesaw State, Stubblefield started 18 games over four years at Prairie View A&M, and Brents started five games in 2018 at Iowa.
• Pairing the 92 starts from the transfers with the rest of the secondary, the Wildcats are currently at 155 combined career starts by defensive backs.

FELIX IS FLASHING
• Defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah has broken out over the first six games of his sophomore year, as he ranks second in the Big 12 and 18th nationally with five sacks.
• Three of his sacks came against Southern Illinois, which included a pair of forced fumbles that were recovered by K-State.
• His three sacks are tied for the eighth most nationally in a game this season, while it was the most by a Wildcat since Jordan Willis had 3.5 against Louisiana Tech in 2015.
• Anudike-Uzomah's two forced fumbles are tied for the most in the nation in a game this year and are the most by a Wildcat since Reggie Walker also had two against Texas Tech in 2018.
• With six games left in the regular season, Anudike-Uzomah needs three more sacks to enter the top three in K-State history in sacks by a sophomore.

DEFENSE'S "DEUCE"
• Nicknamed "Deuce" by the defensive staff, linebacker Daniel Green has been impressive through the first six games of 2021.
• Green leads the team with 34 tackles despite missing two full halves this year due to targeting calls.
• A product of Portland, Oregon, Green had nine tackles in two different games this season, coming against Stanford and Nevada.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
SCORING IN THE THIRD PHASE
• One of the main reasons the Wildcats have been a successful program the last three decades is a knack for momentum-swinging plays in the return game.
• Since 2005 (17 seasons), the Wildcats have a combined 57 kickoff- and punt-return touchdowns, 20 more than second-place Alabama (37) and 26 more than the next closest Big 12 team (Oklahoma State: 31).
• Of the 57 total returns, a nation-leading 31 are on kickoff returns. The next closest team is San Diego State with 19.

DEFENSE ON KICK RETURNS
• On the flipside, K-State has excelled in kickoff-return defense, as the Wildcats have gone 104-consecutive games and 343 kickoff returns defended without allowing a score. The last team to take one to paydirt on K-State was Louisiana in 2013.
• K-State 104-game streak ranks seventh in the nation behind Florida State (228), Memphis (164), Akron (128), Virginia Tech (109), UTEP (108) and New Mexico (106).
• The Wildcats have scored 14 kickoff-return touchdowns since surrendering their last one.

KNOWLES WITH A KNACK
• Junior Malik Knowles is the latest K-State kickoff return man with a knack of finding the end zone as he has three in his career, which included a two-game streak this year against Oklahoma State and Oklahoma.
• It was the fourth time in school history a player had returns in consecutive weeks, two of which have come under Chris Klieman as Joshua Youngblood did so in 2019 at Texas Tech and against Iowa State.
• Knowles is tied for fourth in school history in both career and single-season kickoff return touchdowns, while he is tied for fourth nationally among active players in career kickoff-return scores.
• Additionally, he holds a 36.0-yard average this year and a 28.5-yard average for his career. His mark this season ranks second in the nation, while his career figure ranks second nationally among active players.

WINKEL IN AS NEW KICKER
• Junior Taiten Winkel has taken over as the Wildcats' new kicker in 2021, the first time in three years that K-State is breaking in a new kicker.
• So far this season, Winkel has connected on 6-of-8 field goal attempts, which includes a long of 45 yards at Oklahoma State. Additionally, Winkel is 20-for-21 on extra-point attempts, including a 5-for-5 mark against Nevada.
• Prior to K-State, Winkel was primarily a punter at Butler Community College as he was just 1-for-3 on field goals in 2019.

ZENTNER HAS BEEN IMPRESSIVE
• Punter Ty Zentner has averaged 46.3 yards per punt this year to rank third in the Big 12. Included in his total is seven punts of 50 or more yards through the first six games after just five in 10 games last season.
• He had one of his best performances at Oklahoma State as he punted seven times for a 49.9-yard average, which included three that landed inside the Cowboy 20-yard line.
• Zentner's punt total and average at OSU were new career highs, while he tied his career best for punts settled inside an opponent's 20-yard line.

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Players Mentioned

Felix Anudike-Uzomah

Julius Brents

Phillip Brooks

Cody Fletcher

Justin Gardner

Daniel Green

Will Howard

Daniel Imatorbhebhe

Malik Knowles

Cincere Mason

Jaylen Pickle

TJ Smith

Reggie Stubblefield

Chabastin Taylor

Skylar Thompson

Deuce Vaughn

Landry Weber

Russ Yeast

Ty Zentner

Kansas State University Athletics