Kansas State’s offensive line is already the biggest storyline of the early season, and the injury list only keeps growing.
The Wildcats entered the week dealing with the loss of left tackle John Pastore, who is out for the season after a lower-leg injury. Pastore, a projected NFL Draft prospect and preseason All-Big 12 selection, was expected to be the anchor up front.
That blow was followed by more uncertainty. Collin Klein said earlier this week that freshman Oliver Miller will miss the first few weeks after getting hurt in practice.
Miller had been one of the top options to step in at left tackle. Klein also said starting left guard Tanner Morley is day-to-day.
Kansas State does not have to publish an official injury report before its Saturday, Sept. 5 game against Nicholls, which kicks off at 6 p.m. The Wildcats’ availability picture can still shift before kickoff as players come out of the tunnel to warm up.
Here’s the current injury list for Kansas State against Nicholls:
John Pastore (LT) - Out for the season
George Fitzpatrick (LT/RT) - Out for the season
Oliver Miller (LT/LG) - Collin Klein said Miller will miss a few weeks.
Donovan McIntosh (CB) - Klein called him "day-to-day" during his weekly radio show. He was left off the initial depth chart.
Dillon Duff (QB) - Klein acknowledged his injury during his weekly radio show. He said Duff isn't out long-term.
Max Lovett (WR) - Lovett was seen in a sling at a recent practice.
In Other News...
Kansas State Is Betting Big On A Risky Blindside Plan
With both John Pastore and George Fitzpatrick sidelined by injury, Kansas State is turning to sophomore Ryan Howard to hold down the left tackle spot heading into the upcoming season. It is a significant ask for a player still early in his college career, but the move also shows how much trust Collin Klein and the staff are placing in Howards development.
Howard arrives with the kind of pedigree that makes the gamble easier to understand, since he was once regarded as one of the top offensive tackle prospects. Now the challenge is far less about projection and much more about protection, because he will be responsible for guarding Avery Johnsons blind side and helping steady an offensive line that has already taken a hit before the season even begins. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State May Have Found Its Austin Romaine Replacement
An offseason storyline inside Kansas States linebacker room has been the search for a reliable next man up, and Mekhi Mason has pushed his way to the front of that conversation. The senior transfer from Louisiana Tech arrived with plenty of experience, having started 11 games last year and earned second-team All-Conference USA honors, and he backed that up with a strong spring and training camp that earned him a starting job.
First-year coach Collin Klein has been encouraged enough by what he has seen to highlight Masons physicality and instincts, even drawing a comparison to former K-State standout Arthur Brown. For a defense trying to replace production and keep its identity intact, Masons rise gives the Wildcats a proven, mature option at a spot where they needed one. [Read more 🡒]
Collin Kleins Return Opens A Huge New Chapter For Kansas State
Collin Kleins first game as Kansas States head coach brings a familiar face back to Bill Snyder Family Stadium, this time with the headset instead of the quarterback playbook. The former Wildcats star, hired last December after a stint as offensive coordinator at Texas A&M, is stepping into the lead role against Nicholls in the opener, beginning a new era for a program that has leaned on continuity and identity for years.
Kansas State enters the season with modest outside expectations, picked to finish eighth in the Big 12, which only adds to the significance of Kleins return. For a fan base that remembers what he meant as a player, this is more than a debut - it is the start of a chapter built around whether one of the programs own can translate that history into results on the sideline. [Read more 🡒]