Kansas State still has a major question mark at left tackle, and first-year coach Collin Klein isn’t pretending otherwise.
The Wildcats lost John Pastore and George Fitzpatrick for the season, leaving a hole on the offensive line that has become one of the team’s biggest concerns. Pastore went down with a lower leg injury in training camp, while Fitzpatrick is still dealing with a medical emergency that also sidelined him all of last season.
Speaking Wednesday at Cat Chat, Klein said the job is still up for grabs and may not be settled all at once.
"I'm really excited to see who steps up. I think it'll be a bit by committee, especially early, as we continue to gel, even as we start playing games."
A handful of players are in the mix, including Tyler Johnson, Gus Hawkins, Ryan Howard, Keegan Collins and Oliver Miller. Sean Gleeson has singled out Miller in particular. The freshman is at least in the conversation for snaps this season, and Gleeson made clear he sees a big future ahead.
"Wherever he settles, he's going to be a great player," Gleeson said. "He's going to be a great player from whenever he takes his first snap."
The uncertainty up front comes as Kansas State prepares for a season that already has plenty of outside skepticism attached to it. The Wildcats went 6-6 last year and were picked by league media to finish eighth in the Big 12.
Now the opener is almost here. Kansas State hosts Nicholls on Sept. 5 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
The team also took another step toward the new season on Tuesday when it announced its captains. Avery Johnson, Joe Jackson, Garrett Oakley, Gabe Powers, Travis Bates and Jordan Allen were selected to lead the Wildcats.
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Collin Klein Could Change One Big Thing About K-States Offense
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Klein has made clear he likes a faster pace, but he is also not treating tempo like a one-size-fits-all answer. The goal is to be more intentional about when to speed up and when to settle in, which matters for a Kansas State offense trying to stay on schedule and keep opponents from getting comfortable. If that balance clicks, it could be one of the quieter but most meaningful shifts in how the Wildcats attack this season. [Read more 🡒]