Kansas State’s first open football practice of the week brought one of the clearer signs yet that the Wildcats’ offensive line picture is still very much unsettled.
When practice opened to the media on Tuesday, Aug. 18, left tackle John Pastore and left guard Tanner Morley were not on the field. The session began outdoors before the team shifted inside as weather moved into the Manhattan area.
Those absences stood out because Kansas State has spent the offseason reworking the front under new offensive line coach Collin Klein. Pastore is the only returning starter on the line and enters the season as a preseason All-Big 12 selection. Morley, meanwhile, was the headline addition from the transfer portal on the offensive line.
Beyond those two, the rest of the line still looks wide open. The other three starting jobs appear to be available, leaving plenty to sort out as camp continues.
For now, there’s no indication how long Pastore or Morley might be out, or even what exactly they’re dealing with. Kansas State is not set to make Klein available to the media until Monday, Aug. 31, while the team’s coordinators are scheduled to speak Thursday, Aug. 20.
If either player is unavailable, freshman Oliver Miller could be the name to watch at left tackle. He has drawn strong praise since arriving on campus. Left guard would be less settled, especially with several players already competing for the right guard spot.
Pastore and Morley have been the most certain pieces on the offensive line throughout the offseason, which is why their absence carried extra weight on Tuesday.
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Kansas State Already Has One Big Concern Up Front In Camp
Kansas State is trying to sort out its offensive line early in camp, and the first real concern has already surfaced up front. The Wildcats went through Tuesdays practice without John Pastore and Tanner Morley, two players believed to be dealing with injuries, leaving the staff to keep working with a group that is still trying to find its shape before the season settles in.
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