Kansas State Wildcats
Overall Rank: #26
#4 Big 12
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Kansas State surprised just about everybody by winning the Big 12 and earning a trip to the Fiesta Bowl. The Wildcats began the 2012 campaign with ten straight wins, including road victories over Oklahoma, West Virginia and TCU. They also knocked off ranked opponents Texas Tech and Oklahoma State at home. Following a loss at Baylor, the Wildcats beat Texas with the title on the line. Success like that is unlikely to happen again, but Coach Bill Snyder’s squad will not completely fall off of the national radar.
2012 Record: 11-2, 8-1
2012 Bowl: Fiesta Bowl vs. Oregon (L 17-35)
Coach: Bill Snyder (170-85-1 at Kansas State, 170-85-1 overall)
Offensive Coordinator: Del Miller, Dana Dimel
Defensive Coordinator: Tom Hayes
Returning Leaders:
Rushing: John Hubert, RB, 947 yards
Passing: Daniel Sams, QB, 55 yards
Receiving: Tyler Lockett, WR, 687 yards
Tackles: Randall Evans, CB, 76
Sacks: Ryan Mueller, DE, 2.0
Interceptions: Ty Zimmerman, S, 5
Other Key Returnees: WR Tramaine Thompson, OL Cornelius Lucas, OL B.J. Finney, OL Keenan Taylor, OL Tavon Rooks
Key Losses: QB Collin Klein, RB Angelo Pease, WR Chris Harper, LB Arther Brown, S Jared Milo, LB Jarell Childs, CB Allen Chapman, DE Adam Davis, DB Nigel Malone, DE Meshak Williams, DT Vai Lutui, K Anthony Cantele, P Ryan Doerr
Strengths:
Collin Klein completed nearly 65 percent of his passes and threw for 16 touchdowns. On the ground he rushed for 920 yards and reached the end zone an amazing 23 times. Klein is gone and Kansas State must find a new quarterback to lead the way. They actually have two. Daniel Sams is incredibly fast and he can do just as much on the ground as Klein, if not more. The 6-2 sophomore got a bit of experience as a freshman and that is helpful. The other option is reigning NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year, Jake Waters. His passing numbers in the junior college ranks were ridiculous. He threw 39 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Both are likely to see action. Receiver Tramaine Thompson has been a consistent target and Tyler Lockett has the potential for a huge season after catching 44 passes for 687 yards and four scores as a sophomore. Sams and Waters will have plenty of time to find their receivers, or run, thanks to one of the best offensive lines in the country. It starts with center B.J. Finney and the talent just spreads out from there. Tackle Cornelius Lucas is a beast and Tavon Rooks is solid on the other end. Guard Keenan Taylor is a returning starter and Cody Whitehair had a superb freshman campaign. All of that talent is also good news for running back John Hubert. The diminutive senior rushed for 947 yards and 15 scores in 2012. DeMarcus Robinson and Robert Rose, who had a great spring, will look for a few carries here and there when Hubert needs a break.
Weaknesses:
The KSU defense was very good considering the competition they played. Ranking 28th in the country in scoring defense with the likes of Oklahoma, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Baylor and Oregon on the schedule is extremely impressive. However, just about everybody is gone. The best news is in the secondary where safety Ty Zimmerman returns after picking off five passes. Randall Evans has some starting experience as a nickel back and will be asked to do a lot more this time around. Linebacker Tre Walker was a part-time starter in 2012 before an injury cut his season short. Senior Blake Slaughter is expected to start in the middle after redshirting last season. He was not all that productive earlier though. The line may be the biggest question on a terribly inexperienced defense. Nobody who even started a game in 2012 is back. Ryan Mueller showed some promise at the end spot, but Coach Snyder will have to rely on some newcomers and extremely unproven players in the defensive trench.
The Bottom Line:
Coach Snyder has done a good job attempting to fill in the gaps with some junior college transfers. That will not pan out everywhere, but it will help hold the inexperienced defense together. The offense is going to have more than enough talent to keep up with anybody in the Big 12, yet the deeper teams in the conference will be better prepared to stop KSU then they are of stopping the likes of Oklahoma and Baylor.
Projected Bowl: Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl
2012 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 194.00 (32th in nation, 4th in conference)
Passing Offense: 207.38 (89, 9)
Total Offense: 401.38 (59, 7)
Scoring Offense: 38.85 (11, 4)
Rushing Defense: 126.85 (20, 2)
Pass Defense: 248.46 (82, 5)
Total Defense: 375.31 (45, 3)
Scoring Defense: 22.08 (28, 1)
Turnover Margin: 1.46 (3, 1)
Sacks: 2.46 (31, 2)
Sacks Allowed: 1.08 (15, 2)
Madness 2014 NFL Draft Rankings:
#50 Ty Zimmerman
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