Focusing On Us

By: D. Scott Fritchen

No. 16 Kansas State embarks upon a season of high expectations when it meets SEMO in Saturday's 6 p.m. kickoff at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, but head coach Chris Klieman expects one thing for the Wildcats in their season opener.

"We have to focus on us," Klieman said at his weekly news conference on Tuesday.

"Who is that next linebacker in the game, who is that next safety to step up?" he continued. "That's what we're trying to figure out over the next three weeks of the non-conference season is who we're going to count on."

Klieman continued.

"You can't play every snap when it's 103 degrees out," he said. "Are you ready to answer that opportunity when you get it? We talked a lot this fall camp about your opportunity. You don't know when it's going to come, but when it does come, you better be prepared and not be 'Oh wow,' and hope you're prepared. No, you'll be prepared."

K-State comes off a 10-4 season highlighted by its first Big 12 Championship in a decade and an appearance in the Sugar Bowl. The Wildcats, picked second in the Big 12 preseason media poll, meet SEMO, then face Troy and travel to Missouri to wrap up the non-conference slate.

"I'm so ready," senior starting quarterback Will Howard said. "It's been a long offseason, but it's also flown by, and, man, I couldn't be more pumped up for this weekend. We're still just trying to take it one day at a time because there's more stuff we have to learn about (SEMO), but we've been playing against our own for a while.

"It's about time we tee it up against somebody else."

While Howard leads a unit that returns All-American left guard Cooper Beebe and a veteran offensive line along with Preseason All-Big 12 tight end Ben Sinnott, Saturday will mark the first game for sophomore Iowa transfer wide receiver Keagan Johnson and senior Florida State running back Treshaun Ward.

K-State returns five starters on defense, including top-returning tackler Austin Moore and sixth-year senior middle linebacker Daniel Green, while sophomore Desmond Purnell awaits his first career opening-day start as strongside linebacker. The defensive line, when everyone is healthy, could be among the most powerful in the Big 12. The biggest question on the team could be the defensive secondary, as 2022 All-Big 12 Second Team strong safety Kobe Savage returns, sophomore VJ Payne takes over the jack safety position, and junior transfer Marques Sigle handles the free safety spot.

The Wildcats must replace both starting cornerbacks — Ekow Boye-Doe and Julius Brents — but could find answers with the emergence of sophomore Jacob Parrish and junior college transfer Will Lee III.

"It'll be fun to watch a lot of veteran guys play that are excited about getting the season started, and then all the new guys that are going to have the opportunity to play out at The Bill for the first time," Klieman said. "We have a number of young players we feel are getting better and just need those game-experience reps. I think we'll play an awful lot of guys, partly because of injury, and partly because we just want to find out more about a lot of people, especially on special teams."

K-State staged a heavy practice on Friday, practiced light on Saturday and rested on Sunday prior to beginning game week practices on Monday. Weather remains a popular topic as temperatures reaching triple-digits are expected in the Little Apple over the next week — at least.

"They came to practice (in fall camp) every day," Klieman said. "It's been 103 for two weeks, too, and we're going to have that same temperature the next couple weeks. You have to block out all the distractions outside and noise of weather and take care of your body every day and be prepared to go to work every day."

Backup quarterback remains unsettled

The two-deep roster indicates either sophomore Jake Rubley or true freshman Avery Johnson will serve as QB2 on Saturday. Their exact status remained uncertain on Tuesday. Both young quarterbacks garnered praise from offensive coordinator Collin Klein and Klieman during fall camp.

"Avery has done a really good job of being here in the spring and learning as much as he can and learning from Will and Rubley and had a really good fall camp — and so did Rubley," Klieman said. "Jake missed a handful of days about a week ago that maybe gave Avery some more reps for us to see more and more of Avery, but then Rubley came back healthy and fresh the past few days and is doing some really good things."

Rubley was rated the 25^th-best prospect in the Class of 2021 by ESPN and the No. 3 pocket passer. He completed 4-of-5 passes for 42 yards and one interception last season. Johnson was rated as the No. 1 dual-threat passer in the Class of 2023 after throwing for 2,768 yards and 29 touchdowns and three interceptions to go along with 817 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns his senior season.

"We feel really comfortable at the quarterback spot," Klieman said. "Everybody knows Will is the guy, but both of the other two are competing every day for the No. 2 job, and we'll just see how it plays out. I can't tell you how it'll work if something happened to Will who'd go in. It's something CK and I are really talking about on a daily basis."

It isn't an injury bug, just minor setbacks

K-State was missing a couple big bodies on its two-deep when the Week 1 depth chart was released on Monday. Senior right tackle Christian Duffie (6-foot-5 and 300 pounds) and senior defensive tackle Uso Seumalo (6-foot-3 and 340 pounds) both were absent as both sustained preseason injuries.

"We don't have anybody (out) long term," Klieman said. "Duffie is the one that I know isn't going to play on Saturday. We hope to have him back in the next couple weeks, and whether that's Troy or Missouri, it's going to depend upon how he continues to progress.

"Uso is going to practice (Tuesday), and I was not thinking he would. We'll see how he can progress. He's been out a couple weeks. We'll see what he can do, but it's good to have him back at practice."

Meanwhile, sixth-year senior wide receiver Seth Porter, named a team co-captain last week, is trending toward seeing the field on Saturday after missing time in fall camp due to injury as well. The 5-foot-8, 170-pounder has played in 48 career games as a special teams standout and reserve wide receiver. It was anticipated that he would crack the two-deep for opening day.

Klieman said that Porter was "banged up quite a bit through camp," adding that "he's in the mix for wide receiver for sure."

"Maybe when we did the depth chart it was hopeful that Seth could be a part of special teams if nothing else because that's his biggest role right now for us, especially because he was banged up. Seth practiced yesterday, and I didn't think he would practice yesterday. He practiced pretty well, and he'll probably have a more significant role on special teams and on offense."

Manhattan native Damian Ilalio could make his first career start

The absence of Seumalo has opened a vacancy for either sophomore Damian Ilalio or junior Mississippi State transfer Jevon Banks to take the first snaps in the middle of the defensive line. Ilalio is a 6-foot-1, 296-pound native of Manhattan who recorded a solo tackle against South Dakota and Oklahoma State but most notably was in on the stop on fourth-and-goal inside the one-yard line in overtime during the Big 12 Championship game.

"Damian is prepared and ready to go," Klieman said. "He's watched Eli (Huggins) for a couple years, and when his number was called – I don't care if it was a couple plays – he was ready to go. Damian has had a really good camp.

"Banks is learning how to do things our way, but he's a disruptive guy inside. I've been really impressed with Jevon. I think he's going to have a tremendous year and split time there with Damian and however much Uso can help us early in the season. Last year, Eli was going to take 80% of the reps. This year we don't have to have that. We can move guys around and keep those guys fresh."

Wide receiver depth could be on display in the season opener

The question isn't whether sixth-year senior Phillip Brooks, transfer Keagan Johnson and sophomore RJ Garcia are ready for the moment. Indications suggest that they had outstanding fall camps.

"RJ Garcia has had a tremendous fall camp," Klieman said. "You talk about confidence and belief, and this guy has made play after play after play and knows our offense really well and is on the same page with Will. I'm excited to see Keagan and Jadon Jackson. Phil has always been that steady force for us."

However, there will be plenty for a cast of backups to show coaches on Saturday.

"Seth had taken a lion's share of the reps behind Phil and then we lost Seth for a week or 10 days of practice, so it gave the other guys an opportunity, whether it's Shane Porter, Jayce Brown or even Sterling Lockett," Klieman said. "We've given a lot of guys looks there, and as Seth gets back healthy, I think that'll be solidified."

DJ Giddens or Treshaun Ward will start at running back

With Deuce Vaughn gone to the NFL, K-State went out and secured senior Florida State running back Treshaun Ward, a 5-foot-10, 194-pounder, who is the fifth-rated transfer running back this season by 247Sports. Ward was the top option in a three-man rotation last season and led the Seminoles in rushing before suffering a nagging injury. In 2021, he had 515 rushing yards and four touchdowns — his 6.36 yards per rushing attempt led all ACC rushers with at least four carries per game — to go along with 21 catches for 185 yards and one touchdown. K-State coaches love his quick burst in small spaces and his versatility and hands.

Although Ward is on the initial watch list for the Doak Walker Award, which honors the nation's top running back, don't be surprised if sophomore DJ Giddens gets the starting nod in Week 1. The 6-foot-1, 212-pounder ranked third in school history for rushing yards by a freshman — he had 89 carries for 518 and six touchdowns — and showed last season that he can pick up yards in a hurry — he averaged 5.8 yards per rushing attempt — and is a load to bring down.

Running backs coach Brian Anderson praised both during fall camp.

What's the perfect way to divvy up the carries?

"That's a good question," Klieman said. "It's just going to depend on how the flow of the game is going. I'm going to let BA handle that. Brian is one of the best running back coaches in college football, and he's done this a long time. Whether it's hot hand or whether it's the plays we're calling, Brian has a great, great feel for what these guys really do. There are a number of guys that can carry the football and protect and catch the ball out of the backfield. I'll leave that for BA, but he has a good plan for them."

Kansas State University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Jevon Banks

Cooper Beebe

Ekow Boye-Doe

Julius Brents

Phillip Brooks

Jayce Brown

Christian Duffie

DJ Giddens

Daniel Green

Will Howard

Damian Ilalio

Jadon Jackson

Avery Johnson

Keagan Johnson

Will Lee III

Sterling Lockett

Austin Moore

Jacob Parrish

VJ Payne

Seth Porter

Shane Porter

Desmond Purnell

Jake Rubley

Kobe Savage

Uso Seumalo

Marques Sigle

Ben Sinnott

Deuce Vaughn

Treshaun Ward

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