Kansas State University Athletics
Saturday, September 18
Manhattan, Kan.
1 p.m.
Kansas State University
vs
Nevada
K-State Concludes Non-Con Slate by Hosting Nevada
Sep 13, 2021 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Following a gutsy 31-23 win over Southern Illinois last week, Kansas State hosts 2-0 Nevada at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The game kicks off at 1 p.m. and will be shown on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with Shawn Kenney (play-by-play), Barrett Brooks (analyst) and Shane Sparks (sidelines) 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 (S: 156; XM: 207, App: 967) in addition to The Varsity Network app.
A LOOK AT K-STATE
• K-State is looking to start 3-0 on a season for the second time in the Chris Klieman era when its hosts Nevada on Saturday.
• The Wildcats have rushed 408 yards through two games – led by Deuce Vaughn's 244 yards – while surrendering just 69.5 yards per game on the ground. Vaughn has recorded four straight 100-yard games dating back to last season, which are the most by a Wildcat since 2018 (Alex Barnes - 4).
• Quarterback Skylar Thompson, who is back for his "Super Senior" season, ranks in the top 10 in school history in 15 career categories. He had two rushing touchdowns against Stanford to give him 24 in his career, which ranks fourth in K-State history among quarterbacks.
• Thompson is one of only two signal callers in K-State history to have 5,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a career (Ell Roberson), and he needs 835 passing yards to be the first in school history to reach the 6,000/1,000 mark.
• K-State quarterbacks have the luxury of playing behind an experienced offensive line that brought back 100% of its starts from a year ago in addition to playmakers at every skill position.
• Headlining the skill group is Vaughn, who burst onto the scene a year ago as he was named the True Freshman of the Year by 247Sports, as well as an All-American and Freshman All-American by multiple outlets. Vaughn ran for 124 yards and a score against Stanford and followed it up with 120 yards and three touchdowns in a win over SIU.
• Wide receivers Malik Knowles and Phillip Brooks, the latter a 2020 All-American as a punt returner, are back, while the Wildcats welcomed tight end transfer Daniel Imatorbhebhe, who has spent time at both USC and Illinois. Knowles, Brooks and Imatorbhebhe combined for nine of the team's 13 receptions and 132 of the Wildcats' 144 receiving yards vs. Stanford, while Knowles had a career-best 112 yards last week.
• Defensively, the Cats have rotated nearly 10 players along the defensive front, while linebackers Daniel Green and Cody Fletcher lead the team with 13 tackles each.
• Russ Yeast and TJ Smith each recorded a pick against Stanford, the latter that was returned 39 yards to set up the final touchdown. Felix Anudike recorded 3.0 sacks last week against Southern Illinois as he was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week
• Taiten Winkel nailed his first career field goal attempt against Stanford, a 40-yarder that gave the Cats a 17-0 lead late in the game, and is 2-for-3 on the year.
A LOOK AT NEVADA
• Nevada is off to a 2-0 start, which includes a season-opening victory at California.
• Just like the Wildcats, the Wolf Pack are receiving votes in both the Associated Press Top 25 and the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll.
• The Wolfpack have averaged 35.5 points and 479.0 yards of offense per game this season.
• Quarterback Carson Strong has completed 68.3% of his passes and has totaled 693 yards and six scores through the air.
• Running back Toa Taua is coming off a 100-yard game against Idaho State and leads the team with 140 yards on the year.
• At receiver, five players have five or more catches with Cole Turner's 12 and Romeo Doubs' 10 leading the way.
• Defensively, the Wolfpack are led by Daiyan Henley's 17 tackles and Tristan Nichols' 4.0 sacks.
A LOOK AT THE SERIES
• This Saturday marks the first meeting all-time between K-State and Nevada.
• The Wildcats are 18-15 all-time against current members of the Mountain West Conference.
• K-State is 2-0 in its history against FBS teams from the state of Nevada, defeating UNLV at home in 1993 and winning in Las Vegas in 1994.
NON-CONFERENCE NOTABLES
• Since 1990, K-State holds a 91-18 (83.5%) record in regular-season non-conference games overall, which includes a 77-8 (90.7%) mark at home. During those 30 years (excluding last year's one-game non-conference schedule), the Wildcats have had perfect regular season non-conference ledgers 16 times and unblemished marks at home on 23 occasions.
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 58.9% (53-37), trailing only Oklahoma (82.0%; 73-16) and Oklahoma State (64.4%; 58-32).
AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
• K-State has a total of 210 victories since 1995, ranking 22nd among all FBS teams. The Wildcats are one of just 28 schools to reach the 200-win mark over the last 26-plus seasons.
• Among current Big 12 teams, the Wildcats rank fourth behind Oklahoma (254), Texas (229) and TCU (216).
POSTSEASON PROMINENCE
• Kansas State has a strong history of being in the postseason, having advanced to a bowl game 21 times since 1993, including nine times in the last 11 years. K-State's 21 bowl trips since 1993 rank fourth among current Big 12 teams (Oklahoma – 24; Texas and West Virginia – 23)
• In an era when over 80 teams play in a bowl game each year, the Cats are one of just 28 Power 5 teams to play in a bowl game nine times in the last 11 years.
A WINNING HISTORY
• A proven winner with a championship history, Chris Klieman holds an 86-24 career record as his 78.2% career winning percentage ranks fourth 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. A native of Waterloo, Iowa, Klieman guided the 2018 Bison to a perfect 15-0 record, making NDSU just the fifth team in FCS history to go undefeated and untied on the way to a national championship.
TURNOVER BATTLE IS KEY
• One of the formulas of success for Kansas State under Chris Klieman is winning the turnover battle as the Wildcats were plus-eight in their first five games of 2020, which resulted in a 4-1 record. They also outscored their opponents, 42-7, in points off turnovers during that stretch.
• During K-State's five-game losing skid to end the season, the Wildcats were minus-11 and opponents outscored the Cats, 48-7, in points off turnovers.
• Against Stanford, the Wildcats were plus-one in turnovers with two interceptions recorded on defense, before beating SIU despite a minus-1 turnover ratio.
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 122 since 1999, nine more than the next closest team.
• Kansas State had three non-offensive touchdowns in last year's win 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 non-offensive scores in one game since doing so against Montana State in 2008, while it was the first time K-State had a punt return score and a pick-six in the same game since the 2007 Texas contest.
• 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
RETURNING 100%
• K-State returned every start along the offensive line from last year, the second time in the last eight seasons that 100% of the starts from the previous season are back.
• The list includes a 10-game starter at center in Noah Johnson, while Ben Adler, Cooper Beebe and Josh Rivas each made eight starts.
• The 2021 season is a drastic change from last year as, entering the 2020 season, the Wildcats did not return a single start along the line from the year prior.
• The Wildcats brought back eight offensive linemen that have started at least one game on the FBS level, which is tied for the 10th most in the nation.
GOING THE DISTANCE
• K-State put together five scoring drives of 90 yards or longer last season, which tied with the 2008 squad for the most by the Wildcats dating back to 1991.
• When combining it with the total from 2019, K-State had eight scoring drives that have ranged at least 90 yards, which was the most in a two-year span dating back to 1991.
SHOT PLAYS
• Kansas State had seven plays from scrimmage of at least 60 yards last season, which ranked fifth in the nation behind Louisville (9), Alabama (8), Appalachian State (8) and North Carolina (8).
• Against Stanford, K-State had five plays from scrimmage that went for 20 or more yards, including a 56-yard catch by Phillip Brooks and a 59-yard touchdown run by Deuce Vaughn, while the Wildcats added another on a 50-yard pass to Malik Knowles against SIU.
• The Wildcats' three plays of 50 or more yards this season are tied for ninth in the nation.
RED ZONE SUCCESS
• In the first two-plus years under offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham, Kansas State has converted on 88-of-93 (94.6%) of its red zone opportunities.
• 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.
• The Wildcats led the nation in red zone offense in 2019 at a 96.2% clip (50-of-52). K-State was fourth last year at 93.9% (31-of-33) but second among teams with 30 or more attempts.
• K-State is the only team in the nation to rank in the top five of red zone offense each of the last two years.
AN EXPERIENCED SIGNAL CALLER
• Skylar Thompson is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the nation at the outset of the 2021 season.
• Thompson has 32 career starts under his belt to tie for ninth among active quarterbacks.
• Thompson's 32 starts are tied for the most among K-State signal callers since 1990. He is tied with Ell Roberson (2001-03) for the most by a Wildcat since 1990.
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, including top-five marks in interception percentage (1st), rushing scores by a quarterback (4th), yards per completion (5th), completions (5th), passing efficiency (5th) and rushing yards by a quarterback (5th). A detailed list of records can be found on page 43.
• Additionally, Thompson needs 739 more passing yards to become the first player in school history with 6,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a career.
4x100
• Deuce Vaughn is on a streak of four-straight games of 100 rushing yards dating back to last year. It is the fifth time in school history that a player has tallied a 100-yard rushing game in at least four-straight contests.
• The last three games of his current four-game streak have been of 120 or more yards, the longest stretch of games with at least 120 rushing yards since Darren Sproles did so in five-straight games in 2003.
• His performance against Stanford included a career-long rush of 59 yards, which went for a second-quarter touchdown.
DEUCE TO PAYDIRT
• Deuce Vaughn has four rushing touchdowns in two games this year, which is tied for seventh in the nation.
• Vaughn had seven rushing touchdowns in 10 games last year.
• His total this year was boosted by a three-touchdown performance against Southern Illinois. It was the most by a Wildcat since Skylar Thompson also had three last year at Oklahoma, while it was the most by a K-State running back since Alex Barnes had four against Oklahoma State in 2018.
MALIK MAKING MOVES
• Junior Malik Knowles put together a 112-yard receiving game against Southern Illinois, a new career high. His previous high was 99 yards against Bowling Green in 2019.
• Teamed with Deuce Vaughn's 100-yard rushing game, it marked the first time since the 2014 Texas Tech game that the Wildcats had a player with 100 rushing yards and another with 100 receiving yards.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
BEHIND THE LINE
• Kansas State 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.
• A total 22 Wildcats carded at least a half tackle for loss, 16 of which are back in 2021.
• Last year's figure was given a boost late in the season as the Wildcats recorded 13 against Baylor, the most in a game since recording 13 in 2007 against Baylor. K-State also had nine at West Virginia and eight against Oklahoma State.
• Against Stanford, the Wildcats recorded eight tackles for loss with seven different players chipping in, while adding seven tackles for loss including five sacks against SIU. The 16.0 tackles for loss in two games are tied for 23rd in the nation.
MEET ME AT THE QB
• Included in K-State's 68 tackles for loss last year were 28 sacks in 10 games, which were the most for an entire season since a 13-game 2016 campaign (30).
• The Wildcats' per game total of 2.8 tied for 27th nationally, which was their highest NCAA ranking in the category since 2015 (ninth).
• Kansas State registered at least one sack in every game last year, the first time the Cats did so since 2013. K-State carded at least three sacks in six of its 10 games in 2020, which included a seven-sack performance at Baylor, the most in a game since recording eight against the Bears in 2003.
• They continued the trend this year as four different players recorded a sack apiece against Stanford and Felix Anudike-Uzomah's three sacks led a defense that had six in the win over SIU.
• The Cats' 10 sacks this season are tied for fifth the nation and the most by a K-State team in the first two games since the 2003 team had 11 sacks in the first two contests.
IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE
• After allowing 69 points and 608 total yards – including 334 yards on the ground – in last year's season finale against Texas, the revamped K-State defense made a statement in the 2021 opener against Stanford.
• The Wildcats allowed just seven points – which came with less than four minutes remaining in a 24-0 game – 233 total offensive yards and only 39 rushing yards.
• The seven points allowed were the fewest since shutting out Bowling Green in 2019, the fewest against a Power 5 program since the 2018 Texas Tech game (6) and the fewest in a non-conference Power 5 game since the 2001 season opener against USC (6).
• The 233 yards of total offense allowed was the fewest since allowing 140 to Bowling Green in 2019, while the 39 rushing yards was the fewest since surrendering only 31 to Texas Tech in 2018.
• The Wildcats then shut out Southern Illinois in the second half last week. It was the first time K-State shut out an opponent in a half in back-to-back games since doing so in the first two games of 2019. That year, K-State blanked Nicholls in the first half of the season opener prior to shutting out Bowling Green for the entire game the next week.
STRONG AT THE START
• The Kansas State defense has been strong at the beginning of games since the start of 2020 as eight of the Wildcats' last 12 opponents have come up empty on their first possession of the game.
• K-State has allowed only 13 total first downs on their first series over the last 12 games (1.1 per game) and 298 total yards (24.8 yards). Included in that total is three-and-outs last year against Arkansas State, Kansas and Baylor and an interception last week vs. SIU.
EXPERIENCE COMING BACK, EXPERIENCE COMING IN
• Of the 12 combined players that are either coming back to K-State for a second senior season or transferring in from another FBS school, nine are on the defensive side of the ball.
• The nine defensive players are Julius Brents (DB; Iowa), Cody Fletcher (LB), Timmy Horne (DT; Charlotte), Cincere Mason (DB; Kennesaw State), Bronson Massie (DE), Jahron McPherson (DB), Eric Munoz (LB; Utah State), Reggie Stubblefield (DB; Prairie View A&M) and Russ Yeast (DB; Louisville).
• Those nine players have combined for 295 career games played and 156 starts at the Division I level – and eight of the nine played significant minutes against Stanford.
• Of the eight Division I transfers K-State brought in prior to 2021, six reside on the defensive side of the ball.
DEPTH IN THE SECONDARY
• Of the six defensive transfers, four are in the secondary that have combined for 84 career Division I starts, which includes starts by Julius Brents and Russ Yeast in the first two games this season
• Yeast started 29 games over four years at Louisville, Cincere Mason started 28 games over three seasons at Kennesaw State, Reggie Stubblefield started 18 games over four years at Prairie View A&M, and Brents started five games in 2018 at Iowa.
• Pairing the 84 starts from the transfers with the rest of the secondary, the Wildcats are currently at 134 combined career starts by defensive backs.
J-MAC IS BACK
• One of those experienced returning defensive backs is Jahron McPherson, who is back for his sixth year of eligibility in 2021 and has totaled 24 starts in his career.
• A transfer from Butler Community College who redshirted the 2017 campaign, McPherson started 12 games at nickelback in 2019 before moving to safety and starting all 10 games in 2020.
• McPherson, who led the team in tackles a year ago with 54, had 11 tackles, a tackle for loss, forced fumble and an interception in K-State's win at No. 3 Oklahoma.
• He was the first Wildcat to record double-digit tackles, a TFL, a forced fumble and a pick in the same game since Bryan Hickman did so against Iowa State in 2002.
FELIX IS FLASHING
• Sophomore Felix Anudike-Uzomah had a career-best game against Southern Illinois when he totaled five tackles, which included three sacks. Of those trio of sacks, two were on forced fumbles that were recovered by K-State.
• His three sacks are tied for the fourth 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.
• For his effort against the Salukis, Anudike-Uzomah was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week.
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 55 kickoff- and punt-return touchdowns, 21 more than second-place Alabama (34) and 24 more than the next closest Big 12 team (Oklahoma State – 31).
BLOCKED KICKS
• K-State blocked punts in the first three games of 2020 and blocked a field goal in its fourth game of the year at TCU.
• It was the first time K-State blocked a kick in four-straight games since at least 1990. Additionally, the blocked punts in the first three games marked the first time the Wildcats accomplished that feat in three-consecutive games since 1995 (Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma).
• K-State was the first team in the FBS to block kicks in each of the first four games of a season since Texas did so in 2016.
• When the Cats blocked punts in each of the first three games, they were the first FBS team to do so since Memphis in 2012.
BROOKS LOOKS TO ADD TO IMPRESSIVE RESUME
• Junior Phillip Brooks was one of the top return men in the nation last season as he was a Third Team All-American selection after averaging 23.7 yards on 11 attempts.
• This year, Brooks has earned Preseason All-America honors from Phil Steele, USA TODAY, CBS Sports and 247Sports.
• Brooks' average last season would have led the nation and been the best in school history if he had one more return to meet the NCAA required minimum.
• A product of Lee's Summit, Missouri, Brooks ranks second in school history and tied for sixth in Big 12 history with three punt-return touchdowns, while he is 23 yards shy of entering the school's top-10 list for career punt return yards.
IN SEARCH OF A NEW KICKER
• K-State is using the first part of the season to figure out who will replace its regular place kicker from a year ago, Blake Lynch, marking the first time since the 2018 season the Wildcats will open the year with a new player handling placements.
• The first kicker to get his shot this season was Taiten Winkel, who connected on a 40-yard attempt and was perfect on all three extra-point attempts against Stanford. He was 1-for-2 and made all four extra-point attempts against SIU.
• 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.
• Also vying for the kicker spot is Ty Zentner, who was a teammate of Winkel's at Butler.
• Zentner has handled kickoff duties during parts of the last three seasons for K-State and has also punted 31 times dating back to last year.
A LOOK AT K-STATE
• K-State is looking to start 3-0 on a season for the second time in the Chris Klieman era when its hosts Nevada on Saturday.
• The Wildcats have rushed 408 yards through two games – led by Deuce Vaughn's 244 yards – while surrendering just 69.5 yards per game on the ground. Vaughn has recorded four straight 100-yard games dating back to last season, which are the most by a Wildcat since 2018 (Alex Barnes - 4).
• Quarterback Skylar Thompson, who is back for his "Super Senior" season, ranks in the top 10 in school history in 15 career categories. He had two rushing touchdowns against Stanford to give him 24 in his career, which ranks fourth in K-State history among quarterbacks.
• Thompson is one of only two signal callers in K-State history to have 5,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a career (Ell Roberson), and he needs 835 passing yards to be the first in school history to reach the 6,000/1,000 mark.
• K-State quarterbacks have the luxury of playing behind an experienced offensive line that brought back 100% of its starts from a year ago in addition to playmakers at every skill position.
• Headlining the skill group is Vaughn, who burst onto the scene a year ago as he was named the True Freshman of the Year by 247Sports, as well as an All-American and Freshman All-American by multiple outlets. Vaughn ran for 124 yards and a score against Stanford and followed it up with 120 yards and three touchdowns in a win over SIU.
• Wide receivers Malik Knowles and Phillip Brooks, the latter a 2020 All-American as a punt returner, are back, while the Wildcats welcomed tight end transfer Daniel Imatorbhebhe, who has spent time at both USC and Illinois. Knowles, Brooks and Imatorbhebhe combined for nine of the team's 13 receptions and 132 of the Wildcats' 144 receiving yards vs. Stanford, while Knowles had a career-best 112 yards last week.
• Defensively, the Cats have rotated nearly 10 players along the defensive front, while linebackers Daniel Green and Cody Fletcher lead the team with 13 tackles each.
• Russ Yeast and TJ Smith each recorded a pick against Stanford, the latter that was returned 39 yards to set up the final touchdown. Felix Anudike recorded 3.0 sacks last week against Southern Illinois as he was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week
• Taiten Winkel nailed his first career field goal attempt against Stanford, a 40-yarder that gave the Cats a 17-0 lead late in the game, and is 2-for-3 on the year.
A LOOK AT NEVADA
• Nevada is off to a 2-0 start, which includes a season-opening victory at California.
• Just like the Wildcats, the Wolf Pack are receiving votes in both the Associated Press Top 25 and the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll.
• The Wolfpack have averaged 35.5 points and 479.0 yards of offense per game this season.
• Quarterback Carson Strong has completed 68.3% of his passes and has totaled 693 yards and six scores through the air.
• Running back Toa Taua is coming off a 100-yard game against Idaho State and leads the team with 140 yards on the year.
• At receiver, five players have five or more catches with Cole Turner's 12 and Romeo Doubs' 10 leading the way.
• Defensively, the Wolfpack are led by Daiyan Henley's 17 tackles and Tristan Nichols' 4.0 sacks.
A LOOK AT THE SERIES
• This Saturday marks the first meeting all-time between K-State and Nevada.
• The Wildcats are 18-15 all-time against current members of the Mountain West Conference.
• K-State is 2-0 in its history against FBS teams from the state of Nevada, defeating UNLV at home in 1993 and winning in Las Vegas in 1994.
NON-CONFERENCE NOTABLES
• Since 1990, K-State holds a 91-18 (83.5%) record in regular-season non-conference games overall, which includes a 77-8 (90.7%) mark at home. During those 30 years (excluding last year's one-game non-conference schedule), the Wildcats have had perfect regular season non-conference ledgers 16 times and unblemished marks at home on 23 occasions.
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 58.9% (53-37), trailing only Oklahoma (82.0%; 73-16) and Oklahoma State (64.4%; 58-32).
AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
• K-State has a total of 210 victories since 1995, ranking 22nd among all FBS teams. The Wildcats are one of just 28 schools to reach the 200-win mark over the last 26-plus seasons.
• Among current Big 12 teams, the Wildcats rank fourth behind Oklahoma (254), Texas (229) and TCU (216).
POSTSEASON PROMINENCE
• Kansas State has a strong history of being in the postseason, having advanced to a bowl game 21 times since 1993, including nine times in the last 11 years. K-State's 21 bowl trips since 1993 rank fourth among current Big 12 teams (Oklahoma – 24; Texas and West Virginia – 23)
• In an era when over 80 teams play in a bowl game each year, the Cats are one of just 28 Power 5 teams to play in a bowl game nine times in the last 11 years.
A WINNING HISTORY
• A proven winner with a championship history, Chris Klieman holds an 86-24 career record as his 78.2% career winning percentage ranks fourth 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. A native of Waterloo, Iowa, Klieman guided the 2018 Bison to a perfect 15-0 record, making NDSU just the fifth team in FCS history to go undefeated and untied on the way to a national championship.
TURNOVER BATTLE IS KEY
• One of the formulas of success for Kansas State under Chris Klieman is winning the turnover battle as the Wildcats were plus-eight in their first five games of 2020, which resulted in a 4-1 record. They also outscored their opponents, 42-7, in points off turnovers during that stretch.
• During K-State's five-game losing skid to end the season, the Wildcats were minus-11 and opponents outscored the Cats, 48-7, in points off turnovers.
• Against Stanford, the Wildcats were plus-one in turnovers with two interceptions recorded on defense, before beating SIU despite a minus-1 turnover ratio.
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 122 since 1999, nine more than the next closest team.
• Kansas State had three non-offensive touchdowns in last year's win 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 non-offensive scores in one game since doing so against Montana State in 2008, while it was the first time K-State had a punt return score and a pick-six in the same game since the 2007 Texas contest.
• 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
RETURNING 100%
• K-State returned every start along the offensive line from last year, the second time in the last eight seasons that 100% of the starts from the previous season are back.
• The list includes a 10-game starter at center in Noah Johnson, while Ben Adler, Cooper Beebe and Josh Rivas each made eight starts.
• The 2021 season is a drastic change from last year as, entering the 2020 season, the Wildcats did not return a single start along the line from the year prior.
• The Wildcats brought back eight offensive linemen that have started at least one game on the FBS level, which is tied for the 10th most in the nation.
GOING THE DISTANCE
• K-State put together five scoring drives of 90 yards or longer last season, which tied with the 2008 squad for the most by the Wildcats dating back to 1991.
• When combining it with the total from 2019, K-State had eight scoring drives that have ranged at least 90 yards, which was the most in a two-year span dating back to 1991.
SHOT PLAYS
• Kansas State had seven plays from scrimmage of at least 60 yards last season, which ranked fifth in the nation behind Louisville (9), Alabama (8), Appalachian State (8) and North Carolina (8).
• Against Stanford, K-State had five plays from scrimmage that went for 20 or more yards, including a 56-yard catch by Phillip Brooks and a 59-yard touchdown run by Deuce Vaughn, while the Wildcats added another on a 50-yard pass to Malik Knowles against SIU.
• The Wildcats' three plays of 50 or more yards this season are tied for ninth in the nation.
RED ZONE SUCCESS
• In the first two-plus years under offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham, Kansas State has converted on 88-of-93 (94.6%) of its red zone opportunities.
• 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.
• The Wildcats led the nation in red zone offense in 2019 at a 96.2% clip (50-of-52). K-State was fourth last year at 93.9% (31-of-33) but second among teams with 30 or more attempts.
• K-State is the only team in the nation to rank in the top five of red zone offense each of the last two years.
AN EXPERIENCED SIGNAL CALLER
• Skylar Thompson is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the nation at the outset of the 2021 season.
• Thompson has 32 career starts under his belt to tie for ninth among active quarterbacks.
• Thompson's 32 starts are tied for the most among K-State signal callers since 1990. He is tied with Ell Roberson (2001-03) for the most by a Wildcat since 1990.
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, including top-five marks in interception percentage (1st), rushing scores by a quarterback (4th), yards per completion (5th), completions (5th), passing efficiency (5th) and rushing yards by a quarterback (5th). A detailed list of records can be found on page 43.
• Additionally, Thompson needs 739 more passing yards to become the first player in school history with 6,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a career.
4x100
• Deuce Vaughn is on a streak of four-straight games of 100 rushing yards dating back to last year. It is the fifth time in school history that a player has tallied a 100-yard rushing game in at least four-straight contests.
• The last three games of his current four-game streak have been of 120 or more yards, the longest stretch of games with at least 120 rushing yards since Darren Sproles did so in five-straight games in 2003.
• His performance against Stanford included a career-long rush of 59 yards, which went for a second-quarter touchdown.
DEUCE TO PAYDIRT
• Deuce Vaughn has four rushing touchdowns in two games this year, which is tied for seventh in the nation.
• Vaughn had seven rushing touchdowns in 10 games last year.
• His total this year was boosted by a three-touchdown performance against Southern Illinois. It was the most by a Wildcat since Skylar Thompson also had three last year at Oklahoma, while it was the most by a K-State running back since Alex Barnes had four against Oklahoma State in 2018.
MALIK MAKING MOVES
• Junior Malik Knowles put together a 112-yard receiving game against Southern Illinois, a new career high. His previous high was 99 yards against Bowling Green in 2019.
• Teamed with Deuce Vaughn's 100-yard rushing game, it marked the first time since the 2014 Texas Tech game that the Wildcats had a player with 100 rushing yards and another with 100 receiving yards.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
BEHIND THE LINE
• Kansas State 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.
• A total 22 Wildcats carded at least a half tackle for loss, 16 of which are back in 2021.
• Last year's figure was given a boost late in the season as the Wildcats recorded 13 against Baylor, the most in a game since recording 13 in 2007 against Baylor. K-State also had nine at West Virginia and eight against Oklahoma State.
• Against Stanford, the Wildcats recorded eight tackles for loss with seven different players chipping in, while adding seven tackles for loss including five sacks against SIU. The 16.0 tackles for loss in two games are tied for 23rd in the nation.
MEET ME AT THE QB
• Included in K-State's 68 tackles for loss last year were 28 sacks in 10 games, which were the most for an entire season since a 13-game 2016 campaign (30).
• The Wildcats' per game total of 2.8 tied for 27th nationally, which was their highest NCAA ranking in the category since 2015 (ninth).
• Kansas State registered at least one sack in every game last year, the first time the Cats did so since 2013. K-State carded at least three sacks in six of its 10 games in 2020, which included a seven-sack performance at Baylor, the most in a game since recording eight against the Bears in 2003.
• They continued the trend this year as four different players recorded a sack apiece against Stanford and Felix Anudike-Uzomah's three sacks led a defense that had six in the win over SIU.
• The Cats' 10 sacks this season are tied for fifth the nation and the most by a K-State team in the first two games since the 2003 team had 11 sacks in the first two contests.
IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE
• After allowing 69 points and 608 total yards – including 334 yards on the ground – in last year's season finale against Texas, the revamped K-State defense made a statement in the 2021 opener against Stanford.
• The Wildcats allowed just seven points – which came with less than four minutes remaining in a 24-0 game – 233 total offensive yards and only 39 rushing yards.
• The seven points allowed were the fewest since shutting out Bowling Green in 2019, the fewest against a Power 5 program since the 2018 Texas Tech game (6) and the fewest in a non-conference Power 5 game since the 2001 season opener against USC (6).
• The 233 yards of total offense allowed was the fewest since allowing 140 to Bowling Green in 2019, while the 39 rushing yards was the fewest since surrendering only 31 to Texas Tech in 2018.
• The Wildcats then shut out Southern Illinois in the second half last week. It was the first time K-State shut out an opponent in a half in back-to-back games since doing so in the first two games of 2019. That year, K-State blanked Nicholls in the first half of the season opener prior to shutting out Bowling Green for the entire game the next week.
STRONG AT THE START
• The Kansas State defense has been strong at the beginning of games since the start of 2020 as eight of the Wildcats' last 12 opponents have come up empty on their first possession of the game.
• K-State has allowed only 13 total first downs on their first series over the last 12 games (1.1 per game) and 298 total yards (24.8 yards). Included in that total is three-and-outs last year against Arkansas State, Kansas and Baylor and an interception last week vs. SIU.
EXPERIENCE COMING BACK, EXPERIENCE COMING IN
• Of the 12 combined players that are either coming back to K-State for a second senior season or transferring in from another FBS school, nine are on the defensive side of the ball.
• The nine defensive players are Julius Brents (DB; Iowa), Cody Fletcher (LB), Timmy Horne (DT; Charlotte), Cincere Mason (DB; Kennesaw State), Bronson Massie (DE), Jahron McPherson (DB), Eric Munoz (LB; Utah State), Reggie Stubblefield (DB; Prairie View A&M) and Russ Yeast (DB; Louisville).
• Those nine players have combined for 295 career games played and 156 starts at the Division I level – and eight of the nine played significant minutes against Stanford.
• Of the eight Division I transfers K-State brought in prior to 2021, six reside on the defensive side of the ball.
DEPTH IN THE SECONDARY
• Of the six defensive transfers, four are in the secondary that have combined for 84 career Division I starts, which includes starts by Julius Brents and Russ Yeast in the first two games this season
• Yeast started 29 games over four years at Louisville, Cincere Mason started 28 games over three seasons at Kennesaw State, Reggie Stubblefield started 18 games over four years at Prairie View A&M, and Brents started five games in 2018 at Iowa.
• Pairing the 84 starts from the transfers with the rest of the secondary, the Wildcats are currently at 134 combined career starts by defensive backs.
J-MAC IS BACK
• One of those experienced returning defensive backs is Jahron McPherson, who is back for his sixth year of eligibility in 2021 and has totaled 24 starts in his career.
• A transfer from Butler Community College who redshirted the 2017 campaign, McPherson started 12 games at nickelback in 2019 before moving to safety and starting all 10 games in 2020.
• McPherson, who led the team in tackles a year ago with 54, had 11 tackles, a tackle for loss, forced fumble and an interception in K-State's win at No. 3 Oklahoma.
• He was the first Wildcat to record double-digit tackles, a TFL, a forced fumble and a pick in the same game since Bryan Hickman did so against Iowa State in 2002.
FELIX IS FLASHING
• Sophomore Felix Anudike-Uzomah had a career-best game against Southern Illinois when he totaled five tackles, which included three sacks. Of those trio of sacks, two were on forced fumbles that were recovered by K-State.
• His three sacks are tied for the fourth 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.
• For his effort against the Salukis, Anudike-Uzomah was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week.
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 55 kickoff- and punt-return touchdowns, 21 more than second-place Alabama (34) and 24 more than the next closest Big 12 team (Oklahoma State – 31).
BLOCKED KICKS
• K-State blocked punts in the first three games of 2020 and blocked a field goal in its fourth game of the year at TCU.
• It was the first time K-State blocked a kick in four-straight games since at least 1990. Additionally, the blocked punts in the first three games marked the first time the Wildcats accomplished that feat in three-consecutive games since 1995 (Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma).
• K-State was the first team in the FBS to block kicks in each of the first four games of a season since Texas did so in 2016.
• When the Cats blocked punts in each of the first three games, they were the first FBS team to do so since Memphis in 2012.
BROOKS LOOKS TO ADD TO IMPRESSIVE RESUME
• Junior Phillip Brooks was one of the top return men in the nation last season as he was a Third Team All-American selection after averaging 23.7 yards on 11 attempts.
• This year, Brooks has earned Preseason All-America honors from Phil Steele, USA TODAY, CBS Sports and 247Sports.
• Brooks' average last season would have led the nation and been the best in school history if he had one more return to meet the NCAA required minimum.
• A product of Lee's Summit, Missouri, Brooks ranks second in school history and tied for sixth in Big 12 history with three punt-return touchdowns, while he is 23 yards shy of entering the school's top-10 list for career punt return yards.
IN SEARCH OF A NEW KICKER
• K-State is using the first part of the season to figure out who will replace its regular place kicker from a year ago, Blake Lynch, marking the first time since the 2018 season the Wildcats will open the year with a new player handling placements.
• The first kicker to get his shot this season was Taiten Winkel, who connected on a 40-yard attempt and was perfect on all three extra-point attempts against Stanford. He was 1-for-2 and made all four extra-point attempts against SIU.
• 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.
• Also vying for the kicker spot is Ty Zentner, who was a teammate of Winkel's at Butler.
• Zentner has handled kickoff duties during parts of the last three seasons for K-State and has also punted 31 times dating back to last year.
Players Mentioned
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