Kansas State is heading into another game week with the quarterback question still hanging in the air.
First-year coach Collin Klein said he has not decided whether sophomore Dillon Duff or junior Blake Barnett will start Saturday on the road against TCU. Klein made the update during his weekly press conference and said it remains a tough call. The Wildcats are planning to let both quarterbacks compete in practice this week, and Klein also left open the possibility that both could see action against the Horned Frogs.
The uncertainty comes after Kansas State has dropped three straight since starter Avery Johnson was injured sometime after the Wildcats beat rival Kansas in the Sunflower Showdown last month. Johnson had been the full-time starter for three years and had made 32 consecutive starts, so this is a new situation for the program.
The timing has made the skid even more painful. Kansas State was 4-2 after beating the Jayhawks and looked set up for the rest of the Big 12 schedule, with hopes of staying in the league title race and reaching the College Football Playoff. Instead, the three-game losing streak has wiped that out.
As the Wildcats sort through the decision, both Duff and Barnett have cases to make.
Duff looked like the steadier option in last week’s 62-28 loss to Oklahoma State. He entered in relief of Barnett, who struggled badly in his first start.
That followed a similar pattern the week before against Colorado, when Duff started before Barnett replaced him. Duff may simply be more comfortable operating under center, and Kansas State could use this week as a chance to ride the momentum he showed last Saturday.
Barnett, though, had flashed real promise just a few weeks ago. Against Colorado, he threw three touchdowns in three quarters and nearly pulled the Wildcats all the way back for a comeback win.
That performance had many believing he was on track to become the quarterback of the future. But last week against the Cowboys, he couldn’t sustain that level and failed to secure the job.
In Other News...
K-State Just Gave Fans A Real Reason To Feel Better
After a flat opening loss to South Dakota State, Kansas State has started to steady itself with back-to-back wins over Cal State Northridge and Creighton. The early response mattered, because it showed the Wildcats could absorb an ugly start and come back with more pace, better shot selection and a sharper edge on offense. Brandon Rechsteiner has been at the center of it, leading the way with 26 points in both victories while K-States three-point shooting took a noticeable step forward.
For a team trying to build confidence early, that kind of bounce-back is exactly what coach Casey Alexander wanted to see. He pointed to the progress and readiness the Wildcats showed after the opener, and the next question is whether this stretch is the start of something more stable or just a brief correction. Either way, K-State has already given its fans a much better reason to feel optimistic than it had after game one. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Is Pushing For A Young Tight End Fans Should Watch
Kansas States recruiting board keeps expanding, and one of the more intriguing names to surface is Caden Palmquest, a young tight end from Aledo High School in Texas. Collin Klein has extended a scholarship offer to Palmquest, who is already committed to SMU but is drawing attention from programs that like his upside and long-term potential. He is also hearing from Arkansas, Baylor and Oregon State, a sign that the Wildcats are competing in a crowded race for a prospect who is still early in his high school career.
For Kansas State, the offer fits a broader push across multiple positions and recruiting classes as the staff keeps working to build out its future board. Tight end is always a position worth tracking in this offense, and Palmquest is the kind of name that can linger on the radar for a while as the recruiting process unfolds. The Wildcats have made clear they want to stay involved, and for fans following the next wave of targets, this is one to keep an eye on. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Heads To TCU With A Major Quarterback Problem
Kansas State heads to TCU carrying a roster concern that goes well beyond the usual late-week injury report. The Wildcats will be without at least five players for the matchup, and the biggest issue is under center, where starting quarterback Avery Johnson and backup Jacob Knuth are both out. DeArieun Hicks, Sawyer Schilke and Eli Jackson are also unavailable, leaving the staff to sort through a thin depth chart before kickoff.
Max Lovett is listed as questionable, adding one more layer of uncertainty for a team already trying to piece together its offensive plan. TCU has its own availability issues, with seven players ruled out and two safeties questionable, but Kansas States situation is the one that will shape the conversation most heading into the game. The Wildcats now have to find a way to stay functional at the most important position on the field while waiting to see whether any help is coming. [Read more 🡒]