Kansas State will head to TCU short-handed, with at least five players ruled out for Saturday’s 1 p.m. matchup at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
The Big 12 released its first availability report of the week Wednesday, and it showed K-State with a cluster of absences plus one key name still in question. Avery Johnson remains the biggest headline. The senior quarterback from Wichita will sit out his fourth straight game as he continues to work through lingering neck and shoulder issues from the injury he suffered last month against Kansas.
The Wildcats will also be without backup quarterback Jacob Knuth, who is out for a third straight week because of an ankle injury. That leaves Collin Klein to sort through Blake Barnett and Dillon Duff again at quarterback. Klein said earlier this week he did not have a timetable for naming a starter, though he expects both quarterbacks to see action.
Kansas State’s other players listed as out are defensive tackle De’Arieun Hicks, linebacker Sawyer Schilke and defensive tackle Eli Jackson. Wide receiver Max Lovett is listed as questionable.
There is at least some relief on the injury front for the Wildcats. Safety Koy Beasley and tight end Lawson McGraw were not on the report after both missed last week’s game against Oklahoma State. Both appear set to return against the Horned Frogs.
TCU’s report is longer. The Horned Frogs will be without seven players: Jon Denman, Ace Theus, Devondre McGee, Cade Bennett, Keagan Cunningham, Cooper Reid and Braden Back. Denman is a running back, Theus, Cunningham and Reid are wide receivers, McGee is a cornerback, Bennett is an offensive lineman and Back is a tight end.
TCU also listed safeties Julius Simms and Devyn Hidrogo as questionable.
The Horned Frogs are favored by 10.5 points against Kansas State.
In Other News...
Kansas State Faces A Costly QB Decision With TCU Up Next
Kansas State is still sorting through one of the most important decisions on its schedule, with Collin Klein not ready to name a starting quarterback for the upcoming meeting with TCU. Sophomore Dillon Duff and junior Blake Barnett are both in the mix, and Klein said the competition will continue in practice as the Wildcats try to steady themselves after Avery Johnsons injury helped trigger a recent losing streak.
The possibility of using both quarterbacks adds another layer to a situation Kansas State would rather have settled by now. With TCU next and the offense still adjusting to life without its starter, Klein is weighing not just who gives the Wildcats the best chance to move the ball, but how much flexibility he wants to keep available once the game begins. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]