Kansas State’s offensive line has taken a hit before the season even starts, but that loss has opened the door for a couple of younger Wildcats to make their case.
The biggest blow came when tackles John Pastore and George Fitzpatrick were lost for the season during training camp. That left Kansas State with work to do up front, and with less than a week left before Saturday’s opener against Nicholls, a number of spots are still unsettled on both sides of the ball.
That uncertainty has created real opportunity for junior Charlie Adams and sophomore Chase Duarte. Both were singled out by offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson as players who could factor into the season.
"I think the physical development of a guy like Charlie Adams or even Chase Duarte," Gleeson said. When they came back after that little break prior to summer conditioning in June, you could see in those first couple weeks they started to kind of transform a little bit.
There's guys up and down the line that look different in light of Coach (Jeremy) Jacobs' work and how they've approached the off-season. So, I think the physical development is for sure there.
Now I would say as we get into some of this game-week prep, it is just seeing that group gel however we decide to supply the depth and position guys as we get closer to game time."
Pastore’s loss stings in particular because he was a preseason All-Big 12 selection, while Fitzpatrick is still working back from a medical emergency that also kept him out last season. Those absences make depth a major concern for the coaching staff as coach Collin Klein enters his first season in charge in Manhattan.
There’s another layer to all of this, too: keeping quarterback Avery Johnson upright. With limited experience behind him at backup quarterback, Kansas State needs Johnson healthy if it’s going to chase a Big 12 title and a place in the College Football Playoff.
For now, though, the focus is on who steps forward along the line - and Adams and Duarte have given the Wildcats a reason to believe help may already be in the building.
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Kansas State May Have Found A Transfer Receiver Ready For Much More
Kansas State has spent the early part of the season trying to sort out where the next reliable target in its passing game might come from, and Joshua Manning has started to make a case for himself. The Missouri transfer arrived with two years of eligibility remaining under the 5-for-5 rule, and since joining the Wildcats he has already gotten into multiple games, putting together a mix of catches and kickoff returns that suggests there may be more here than just depth.
Mannings background only adds to the intrigue. He comes with a strong high school and college resume, along with a family history rooted in football, and Kansas State has already seen signs of growth since he got on campus. For a receiver room still taking shape, the question now is whether those early flashes are the beginning of a much larger role. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Suddenly Has A Week 1 Problem Up Front
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Kansas State Has A New Defensive Contender Fans Should Watch Closely
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Collin Klein has already pointed to Grahams progress, saying the defensive back has made strides in coverage and communication as he pushes for playing time. That combination matters in a defense where the JACK spot can become a key chess piece, and Kansas State will keep watching to see whether Grahams JUCO reputation translates quickly enough to the Big 12 level. For now, hes one of the more intriguing competition stories on the roster, and the kind of player whose role could grow faster than expected if the early signs keep holding up. [Read more 🡒]