Kansas State and Colorado head into Saturday’s Big 12 meeting in Boulder with the same problem hanging over both sidelines: who’s taking the first snap at quarterback?
For Kansas State, the uncertainty centers on Avery Johnson, who sat out last Saturday’s 28-17 loss at Arizona State with a neck/shoulder issue and saw his streak of 32 straight starts come to an end. Collin Klein said Johnson was day-to-day earlier in the week, but by Wednesday the Wildcats had ruled him out again, setting up a second straight game without their veteran starter.
That leaves Kansas State (4-3, 1-3 Big 12) in a scramble behind center. Klein said backup Jacob Knuth tweaked his ankle against the Sun Devils after throwing for 194 yards and a touchdown while taking three sacks. He’s listed as doubtful, which leaves Blake Barnett and Dillon Duff as the remaining possibilities in what Klein called a week of not knowing who will be under center.
"This is the second week in a row that I don't know exactly who is going to take our first snap on Saturday," Klein said. "That's where we are at."
Even with the quarterback situation in flux, Klein said the Wildcats need the same thing from start to finish: consistency.
"There's not a magic play or a magic scheme, there's no magic wand for consistency," Klein said. "It's the mental fortitude and choices made every single day."
Colorado is dealing with its own quarterback carousel while trying to end a five-game skid. The Buffaloes are 2-5 overall and 0-4 in the Big 12, and Deion Sanders said the team still hasn’t found the right formula.
"We have ups and downs, sometimes we are really good in certain areas and sometimes we are not," Colorado coach Deion Sanders said. "... We just haven't put it all together yet."
Julian Lewis opened the season as Colorado’s quarterback before giving way to Isaac Wilson at halftime of the fourth game. Wilson has started the last three, including last Saturday’s 57-24 loss at Oklahoma State, where the Cowboys scored 34 unanswered second-half points and Wilson threw his second interception of the day.
Wilson finished with 280 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Freshman Kaneal Sweetwyne then handled the final two drives, completing 3 of 5 passes for 63 yards. Sanders still has not named a starter for the Kansas State game.
"I haven't seen any give up or quit in these young men, our coaches or myself," Sanders said. "We aren't happy where we are. We want to win."
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Colorados Injury Problems Are Raising Big Questions Before Kansas State
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Julian Lewis is also unavailable after a medical emergency, leaving the Buffaloes with another major absence to manage on a short timeline. There is at least some encouraging news on the return front, with Perry now likely to play after being ruled out all week, but Colorado still has a lot to sort out before kickoff and even more to prove in a game where both sides are missing key pieces. [Read more 🡒]