Week 2 gave former Kansas State players a little more to chew on, and a few of the offseason departures started to show where they fit - or where they still need to force their way into the picture.
Austin Romaine was one of the most active ex-Wildcats on the board. Texas Tech needed a late push to get past Oregon State, and the Red Raiders’ 35-24 win in Corvallis came only after two fourth-quarter touchdowns.
Romaine spent all 73 snaps on the field and tied for the team lead with nine tackles. At halftime, he had already paced Texas Tech with five stops.
The performance stood out even as the Red Raiders made a road game against Oregon State much harder than it had to be.
Not every former K-State player had the same kind of impact. Jayce Brown’s move to LSU has been slow to produce numbers through two weeks.
He played 38 snaps in Week 2, but his stat line is still just one catch for 14 yards on four targets. LSU has run 47 pass plays with Brown on the field, and he has also been charged with one drop.
Dylan Edwards had a quieter day at Kansas, even if the raw rushing average looked respectable. Against Missouri, he carried six times for 39 yards in the Jayhawks’ 38-21 loss.
He also lost a fumble. Edwards was on the field for 35 snaps, and with that kind of limited workload, a turnover only makes it tougher to earn more touches.
The talent is still there, but he hasn’t done enough over the first two weeks to lock down a bigger role in the offense.
One former Wildcat who did make a real mark was DeVon Rice. The Hawaii running back scored the Rainbow Warriors’ first two touchdowns in their 29-19 win over New Mexico State.
He finished with 59 rushing yards on 47 snaps, giving Hawaii a dependable option out of the backfield. Even with Hawaii off to a rough start three weeks in, Rice has already shown he can be a productive piece of that offense.
Devin Vass also got his first action for West Virginia after sitting out the opener. The former offensive lineman played 25 snaps at right tackle in the Mountaineers’ win over UT Martin and appeared to enter with the reserves.
Here’s how the snap counts stacked up in Week 2: Austin Romaine (Texas Tech), 73; Qua Moss (Tennessee), 50; DeVon Rice (Hawaii), 47; Brayden Loftin (UCLA), 42; Jayce Brown (LSU), 38; Dylan Edwards (Kansas), 35; Amarion Fortenberry (USF), 32; Colby McCalister (Baylor), 29; Daniel Cobbs (Baylor), 26; Tobi Osunsanmi (Indiana), 25; Devin Vass (West Virginia), 25; Ryan Davis (Baylor), 23; Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder (SMU), 21; Jake Clifton (BYU), 19; Chiddi Obiazor (Indiana), 15; Andrew Metzger (Ohio), 15.
In Other News...
Kansas State Just Got A Huge Quarterback Recruiting Opportunity
The recruiting spotlight was already going to be bright for Kansas States matchup with Washington State, but it got a little more interesting with Titus Huard in the building. The four-star quarterback from the 2028 class, and the son of former NFL player Brock Huard, was among the visitors taking in the game, giving the Wildcats a chance to make an early impression on one of the countrys more talked-about young passers.
Huard was not the only recruit on hand, either, as Grant Nehls and Brady Lawhon also attended. For Kansas State, nights like this matter because they are as much about relationships and first impressions as they are about what happens on the field, and getting several prospects to show up for the same game suggests the staff had a real opportunity to showcase the program in a meaningful way. [Read more 🡒]
Avery Johnson Gave K-State Fans One Big Reason To Worry
Avery Johnson still did plenty to like in Kansas States 34-7 win over Washington State, moving the offense efficiently through the air and adding another layer with his legs. He finished with 192 passing yards and three touchdowns, and his 78 rushing yards helped the Wildcats keep control of the game while showing why his ceiling has people around the program so optimistic.
Even so, the outing came with a few rough edges that Kansas State could not ignore. Johnson turned the ball over twice and had a shaky moment on fourth down, the kind of sequence that can linger even after a comfortable victory. Collin Klein praised the quarterbacks overall showing, but also made clear there were plays Johnson will want back as the Wildcats keep building momentum. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Won Big But Avery Johnson Still Left A Real Concern
An hour-long rain delay did not slow Kansas State down much in a 34-7 win over Washington State, and the Wildcats had plenty of help from a defense that kept the game comfortably in hand. Wendell Gregory was a noticeable force up front, giving the Cougars problems and helping Kansas State control the tone of the afternoon even as the weather made everything feel a little uneven.
Still, Avery Johnson left the game with a reminder that big wins can carry a lingering concern. The quarterback had two interceptions, and while the Wildcats never lost command of the scoreboard, the turnovers were the kind of mistake that can linger when the competition gets tougher. Afterward, Collin Klein and Johnson pointed to preparation and the need to keep sharpening the details, which is exactly the sort of thing Kansas State will want cleaned up before it becomes more costly. [Read more 🡒]