The Goal on Offense? ‘Disciplined, Explosive and Tough’
Sep 01, 2026 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Collin Klein hasn't yet decided upon the first play that he'll call from the sideline as the new head coach and seasoned play-caller officially takes over the reins of a proud program and Kansas State opens its 2026 season against Nicholls on Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
The 36-year-old Klein, who served as Texas A&M offensive coordinator for two years prior to accepting the role to coach his alma mater, made a splash in K-State's season-opening 34-0 win over South Dakota in 2022, when the first-year offensive coordinator for the Wildcats dialed up a jet sweep that wide receiver Malik Knowles took 75 yards down the sideline for a touchdown.
But Klein, the 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist who returned to Manhattan in December, insists that he doesn't have a particular first play circled for Saturday.
"No, I have not," Klein said during his game week news conference on Monday. "It was a great mindset that group (in 2022) bought into that if one ball carrier and 10 other guys do their job and attack, even a simple jet sweep play can go. Having that kind of attack mentality in the simple things is what makes offenses really special."
If things go as planned, the K-State offense, featuring senior quarterback Avery Johnson and a bevy of talented newcomers, has a chance to open eyes across the Big 12 Conference in the fall.
During Klein's four seasons as an offensive coordinator, Klein helped the Wildcats and Aggies to a combined 38-15 record, including a 2022 Big 12 Championship at K-State and a berth in the 2025 College Football Playoff at Texas A&M. Over that span, Klein's offense has averaged 33.4 points per game, which would tie for 14th among Power 4 programs. Klein's four offenses have averaged 428.5 yards per game (230.1 passing yards per game and 198.4 rushing yards per game), which would rank 15th among Power 4 schools.
As for explosion? Klein's offenses have combined for 252 plays of at least 20 or more yards (177 pass and 75 rush).
Klein sees ample potential in these Wildcats as well.
"We want to be disciplined, explosive and tough," Klein said. "We need to not beat ourselves. With the multiplicity of what we do, being able to make sure the details are exactly how we want them is not easy and this group has bought into that at a high level. That's the first thing. Secondly, we want to create explosive plays. We want to take chunks out of people with runs over 10 and passes over 15 and super explosives over 20, and we need to scheme to help get them into positions to go make plays and they need to cut it loose and go make plays.
"Tough and physical is the last point. We need to win the line of scrimmage and control the tempo of the game physically."
Klein and his bevy of energetic assistant coaches and staff have spent eight months preaching physicality to their players, which includes 58 newcomers (32 high school or community college enrollees and 26 NCAA Division I or II transfers) and brings back talent at skill positions.
The offensive line enters with questions as Preseason All-Big 12 left tackle John Pastore and others, including senior transfer Tanner Morley and true freshman Oliver Miller — both are expected back this season — have gone down to injury in training camp.
That leaves the door open for several up-and-comers to prove their toughness along a front line that will be charged with blocking for a trio of running backs in Joe Jackson, Jay Harris and Rodney Fields Jr., and they'll also look to prove their toughness in protecting Johnson, the fastest quarterback in school history to reach 5,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a career.
"We've been moving a lot of guys around," Klein said. "It's definitely not like we projected coming in, but I've also been really proud with how guys have worked through it."
Junior Ryan Howard is expected to get the start at left tackle, junior transfer Charlie Adams at left guard, sophomore Dylan Villarouel at center, sophomore transfer Kelton Jones at right guard and junior Gus Hawkins at right tackle.
"Ryan Howard and Tyler Johnson had a really good week last week rotating through those tackle spots," Klein said. "You look at Charlie Adams, Chase Duarte, and those guys are different players than when they got here in January. That's why we took more at that point in time because it was such an unknown for us, even with some of those projections. I'm so very proud of how those guys have stepped up, and I still think there is a chance in how things work out through the course of the year with Oliver Miller and his progression and what he was able to get done and put on tape when he gets back on the field will do some very nice things. Same with Tanner Morley.
"It's been an interesting carousel for sure. I'm very proud of those guys and how they've attacked it and how we're going to be able to move through it."
Asked to describe his confidence in Howard at the starting left tackle position, Klein replied, "It's because of how hard he works. He has busted his butt since the day he got here. I remember when I recruited Will, his passion and how he fell in love with his place and how much he cares about this place and how hard he's worked to get his body ready to go. There's going to be a growth curve for sure for him, but he's going to take it in stride."
K-State's wide receiver positions apparently made strides over the offseason, and that perhaps begins with senior Jaron Tibbs, the Third Team Preseason All-Big 12 pick by Athlon and Phil Steele who had 47 catches for 595 yards and three touchdowns last season. Tibbs is listed to start alongside Hawai'i transfer Brandon White and Missouri transfer Josh Manning.
"It's been good," Klein said. "(Tibbs') leadership and presence amongst those guys and his rapport with Avery has helped tremendously. Watching that group compete and in how they've worked through the entire process with the quarterbacks has shown we're not a finished product by any stretch, but we've made some good strides, and we'll need to continue to do so in the future."
Meanwhile, K-State could possess one of the top tight end rooms in the FBS, as fifth-year player Garrett Oakley is the all-time leader in receiving touchdowns by a K-State tight end (13) and ranks fourth all-time in receptions by a tight end (71). Will Anciaux returns for his senior season after starting in eight games a year ago while sophomore Linkon Cure, who was rated the 30th best overall player in the Class of 2025 by 247Sports, has ample upside for a breakout campaign.
Oakley joins Jackson, Johnson, defensive ends Jordan Allen and Travis Bates and linebacker Gabe Powers as the first set of team captains in the Klein era.
"Garrett is very quiet and reserved on the surface, but he's got a lot of personality and influence and pull in that locker room," Klein said. "I think they guys look to his steadiness and consistency, and then when he speaks, those guys listen and they really respect it. He's done it in real time with live bullets, and he's earned that, and I'm very proud to see that take place."
Johnson enters with 26 straight starts, which is the longest streak in history by a K-State quarterback entering a senior season. His first touchdown pass of the 2026 season will carry significance as his 48 career touchdown passes are tied with Will Howard for most in K-State history.
Johnson, a native of Wichita, Kansas, ranks top 10 all-time in 15 statistical categories at K-State.
"I want (Johnson) to be extremely confident, to play fast, and to let his fire and love to compete and his care and love for his teammates show," Klein said. "I want for us to attack this just like every game that we play, as an opportunity to learn, to get better, to learn more about ourselves, and to just love competing, and take off or throw off anything else, or any pressure, or thought from anywhere else."
If things go as planned on the scoreboard, there'll likely be plenty of shuffling on Saturday, as Klein and his staff seek to see many players in live action on the football field. Klein would like that to continue during the non-conference as well, as the Wildcats sort out their top weapons for the remainder of the season.
"That's what will really take shape these first couple weeks," Klein said. "We're excited to see those guys compete. Depth there is really good and how they've competed and have worked together is really good.
"We're excited to see them make some plays for real."
And, who knows?
It might even involve a jet sweep.
Collin Klein hasn't yet decided upon the first play that he'll call from the sideline as the new head coach and seasoned play-caller officially takes over the reins of a proud program and Kansas State opens its 2026 season against Nicholls on Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
The 36-year-old Klein, who served as Texas A&M offensive coordinator for two years prior to accepting the role to coach his alma mater, made a splash in K-State's season-opening 34-0 win over South Dakota in 2022, when the first-year offensive coordinator for the Wildcats dialed up a jet sweep that wide receiver Malik Knowles took 75 yards down the sideline for a touchdown.
But Klein, the 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist who returned to Manhattan in December, insists that he doesn't have a particular first play circled for Saturday.
"No, I have not," Klein said during his game week news conference on Monday. "It was a great mindset that group (in 2022) bought into that if one ball carrier and 10 other guys do their job and attack, even a simple jet sweep play can go. Having that kind of attack mentality in the simple things is what makes offenses really special."
If things go as planned, the K-State offense, featuring senior quarterback Avery Johnson and a bevy of talented newcomers, has a chance to open eyes across the Big 12 Conference in the fall.
During Klein's four seasons as an offensive coordinator, Klein helped the Wildcats and Aggies to a combined 38-15 record, including a 2022 Big 12 Championship at K-State and a berth in the 2025 College Football Playoff at Texas A&M. Over that span, Klein's offense has averaged 33.4 points per game, which would tie for 14th among Power 4 programs. Klein's four offenses have averaged 428.5 yards per game (230.1 passing yards per game and 198.4 rushing yards per game), which would rank 15th among Power 4 schools.
As for explosion? Klein's offenses have combined for 252 plays of at least 20 or more yards (177 pass and 75 rush).
Klein sees ample potential in these Wildcats as well.
"We want to be disciplined, explosive and tough," Klein said. "We need to not beat ourselves. With the multiplicity of what we do, being able to make sure the details are exactly how we want them is not easy and this group has bought into that at a high level. That's the first thing. Secondly, we want to create explosive plays. We want to take chunks out of people with runs over 10 and passes over 15 and super explosives over 20, and we need to scheme to help get them into positions to go make plays and they need to cut it loose and go make plays.
"Tough and physical is the last point. We need to win the line of scrimmage and control the tempo of the game physically."
Klein and his bevy of energetic assistant coaches and staff have spent eight months preaching physicality to their players, which includes 58 newcomers (32 high school or community college enrollees and 26 NCAA Division I or II transfers) and brings back talent at skill positions.
The offensive line enters with questions as Preseason All-Big 12 left tackle John Pastore and others, including senior transfer Tanner Morley and true freshman Oliver Miller — both are expected back this season — have gone down to injury in training camp.
That leaves the door open for several up-and-comers to prove their toughness along a front line that will be charged with blocking for a trio of running backs in Joe Jackson, Jay Harris and Rodney Fields Jr., and they'll also look to prove their toughness in protecting Johnson, the fastest quarterback in school history to reach 5,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a career.
"We've been moving a lot of guys around," Klein said. "It's definitely not like we projected coming in, but I've also been really proud with how guys have worked through it."
Junior Ryan Howard is expected to get the start at left tackle, junior transfer Charlie Adams at left guard, sophomore Dylan Villarouel at center, sophomore transfer Kelton Jones at right guard and junior Gus Hawkins at right tackle.
"Ryan Howard and Tyler Johnson had a really good week last week rotating through those tackle spots," Klein said. "You look at Charlie Adams, Chase Duarte, and those guys are different players than when they got here in January. That's why we took more at that point in time because it was such an unknown for us, even with some of those projections. I'm so very proud of how those guys have stepped up, and I still think there is a chance in how things work out through the course of the year with Oliver Miller and his progression and what he was able to get done and put on tape when he gets back on the field will do some very nice things. Same with Tanner Morley.
"It's been an interesting carousel for sure. I'm very proud of those guys and how they've attacked it and how we're going to be able to move through it."
Asked to describe his confidence in Howard at the starting left tackle position, Klein replied, "It's because of how hard he works. He has busted his butt since the day he got here. I remember when I recruited Will, his passion and how he fell in love with his place and how much he cares about this place and how hard he's worked to get his body ready to go. There's going to be a growth curve for sure for him, but he's going to take it in stride."
K-State's wide receiver positions apparently made strides over the offseason, and that perhaps begins with senior Jaron Tibbs, the Third Team Preseason All-Big 12 pick by Athlon and Phil Steele who had 47 catches for 595 yards and three touchdowns last season. Tibbs is listed to start alongside Hawai'i transfer Brandon White and Missouri transfer Josh Manning.
"It's been good," Klein said. "(Tibbs') leadership and presence amongst those guys and his rapport with Avery has helped tremendously. Watching that group compete and in how they've worked through the entire process with the quarterbacks has shown we're not a finished product by any stretch, but we've made some good strides, and we'll need to continue to do so in the future."
Meanwhile, K-State could possess one of the top tight end rooms in the FBS, as fifth-year player Garrett Oakley is the all-time leader in receiving touchdowns by a K-State tight end (13) and ranks fourth all-time in receptions by a tight end (71). Will Anciaux returns for his senior season after starting in eight games a year ago while sophomore Linkon Cure, who was rated the 30th best overall player in the Class of 2025 by 247Sports, has ample upside for a breakout campaign.
Oakley joins Jackson, Johnson, defensive ends Jordan Allen and Travis Bates and linebacker Gabe Powers as the first set of team captains in the Klein era.
"Garrett is very quiet and reserved on the surface, but he's got a lot of personality and influence and pull in that locker room," Klein said. "I think they guys look to his steadiness and consistency, and then when he speaks, those guys listen and they really respect it. He's done it in real time with live bullets, and he's earned that, and I'm very proud to see that take place."
Johnson enters with 26 straight starts, which is the longest streak in history by a K-State quarterback entering a senior season. His first touchdown pass of the 2026 season will carry significance as his 48 career touchdown passes are tied with Will Howard for most in K-State history.
Johnson, a native of Wichita, Kansas, ranks top 10 all-time in 15 statistical categories at K-State.
"I want (Johnson) to be extremely confident, to play fast, and to let his fire and love to compete and his care and love for his teammates show," Klein said. "I want for us to attack this just like every game that we play, as an opportunity to learn, to get better, to learn more about ourselves, and to just love competing, and take off or throw off anything else, or any pressure, or thought from anywhere else."
If things go as planned on the scoreboard, there'll likely be plenty of shuffling on Saturday, as Klein and his staff seek to see many players in live action on the football field. Klein would like that to continue during the non-conference as well, as the Wildcats sort out their top weapons for the remainder of the season.
"That's what will really take shape these first couple weeks," Klein said. "We're excited to see those guys compete. Depth there is really good and how they've competed and have worked together is really good.
"We're excited to see them make some plays for real."
And, who knows?
It might even involve a jet sweep.
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