The tight end room at Kansas State looked like one of the biggest strengths on the roster when the season opened. Three games in, that talent is still there - it just hasn’t shown up in the box score nearly enough.
Garrett Oakley, Will Anciaux and Linkon Cure have combined for only 15 catches, 174 yards and no touchdowns so far, a modest return for a group the Wildcats expected to lean on. First-year coach Collin Klein said opponents are clearly treating that position like a priority.
“But, in the passing game, it's going to depend on the coverage, the leverage, and the progression of the quarterback," Klein said. "So, when their number was called, they did a great job, and I know they're going to be big for us moving forward."
That lack of production hasn’t stopped Kansas State from finding answers elsewhere. Avery Johnson has spread the ball around to the wideouts and backs, with Jaron Tibbs and Josh Manning becoming his top receiving threats. The pair has totaled 28 catches for 292 yards and three touchdowns, while Joe Jackson has added six receptions for 96 yards and two scores.
Still, the Wildcats believe the tight ends are only waiting for the right opening. Oakley carries NFL buzz, and Klein made a point during camp of noting how many scouts came through Manhattan to watch him.
Cure, meanwhile, brings the highest ceiling in the room. As the program’s first five-star recruit, he is being counted on as the tight end of the future after an injury-riddled freshman year.
Saturday’s Big 12 opener at Cincinnati may be the spot where that starts to change. The Wildcats head on the road with a tight end group that hasn’t fully broken through yet, but one that still has the kind of talent that can reshape the passing game when it finally gets rolling.
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K-State's Unbeaten Start Faces A Doubt Fans Can't Ignore
Kansas States 3-0 start has given the Wildcats plenty to feel good about, but it has also come with a little caution attached. The 31-20 win over Tulane looked stronger on paper than it felt in real time, and the early schedule has drawn national criticism for being relatively soft. Still, the results are there, and the first Big 12 test arrives quickly with Cincinnati up next in what will be Kansas States toughest matchup so far.
Both teams bring unbeaten records into the league opener, which is exactly why this one feels different from the first three weeks. Coaches on both sides have already acknowledged the value of the challenges their teams have faced, and for K-State, the question is whether those early wins have truly prepared it for a more demanding stretch. The Wildcats have the record they wanted, but this is the game that starts answering how much it really means. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Faces An Early Test That Could Change The Narrative
Kansas States first real measuring stick arrives quickly, and it comes away from the comfort of Manhattan. After opening the season with three home wins, the Wildcats head to Cincinnati for their Big 12 opener, where both teams will carry perfect 3-0 records into a game that should say plenty about where each program stands in the league race.
Collin Klein, in his first year guiding the Wildcats, has already started talking about the adjustment that comes with a new stadium and a different environment, especially in a conference game that has a little more weight attached to it. For Kansas State, this trip is about more than just getting through the first road test, since the way it handles the setting could shape how the rest of the early schedule is viewed. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Still Has One Big Line Question Entering Big 12 Play
Kansas State is still sorting out the front five as conference play approaches, and the rotation up front has not slowed down. In the win over Tulane, seven different offensive linemen logged snaps, a sign that the Wildcats are still searching for the best combination while mixing and matching at spots that remain up for grabs. Some players saw a heavier workload than they had earlier in the season, but the overall picture remains fluid as the staff keeps evaluating the group week by week.
Collin Klein has made clear this is still a competition, not a settled depth chart, and that approach figures to continue as the Wildcats turn toward Big 12 play. For an offense trying to build consistency, the line is the obvious place where continuity matters most, and Kansas State is still working toward that. The good news is the staff has options. The question now is which five can turn those options into a dependable unit once the games start carrying more weight. [Read more 🡒]