Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman on quarterback Avery Johnson
Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman talks about quarterback Avery Johnson’s growth during the offseason at Big 12 Media Days in Frisco, Texas.
Big 12 Conference
MANHATTAN — Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman has talked since spring about the logistical challenges of a Week 0 season opener.
Well, it’s about to get real.
While Klieman and his staff have adjusted their offseason activities accordingly for some time, the Wildcats are now embarking on the hardcore preparation leading up to their Aug. 23 matchup with Big 12 rival Iowa State in Dublin, Ireland. Players reported for preseason camp on Tuesday with the first practice on Wednesday.
In addition to opening against a Power Four team for the first time since Stanford in 2021, there is the challenge of returning from Ireland for the home opener against North Dakota just a week later, all while losing a week of summer work.
Throw in a Friday night nonconference road game against Arizona while preparing to face an unorthodox Army triple-option offense before delving into the Big 12, and the Wildcats certainly have a lot on their plates in the month ahead.
Here are five questions to consider as the journey begins:
Can Matt Wells and Avery Johnson take the offense to another level?
With quarterback coach Matt Wells taking over as offensive coordinator and Avery Johnson looking for a breakout season in year two as the starter, the pieces are in place for the offense to take a leap forward.
Wells is a proven play-caller and has built a close relationship with the athletic Johnson. The Wildcats remain loaded at tight end, and by all accounts, they have upgraded the talent at wide receiver through the transfer portal.
Some questions remain on the offensive line, especially at the two tackle positions, especially with presumptive starter George Fitzpatrick’s recent unspecified health issues. Additionally, Dylan Edwards takes over for two-year starter DJ Giddens at running back, which raises the next question.
Will Dylan Edwards be the Wildcats’ next Deuce Vaughn or DJ Giddens?
Edwards arrived amid much fanfare last season as a transfer from Colorado after he had backed out of a commitment to the Wildcats the year before. He showed his versatility and explosiveness in a limited role, rushing for 546 yards and five touchdowns on 7.4 yards per carry, catching 19 passes for 133 yards and two scores, and returning a punt for a touchdown.
Some felt Edwards was underused behind workhorse Giddens, and he certainly made that case in the Rate Bowl after Giddens left early for the NFL Draft, rushing for 196 yards and two touchdowns in the Wildcats’ come-from-behind victory over Rutgers.
The biggest question is whether Edwards, listed at 170 pounds, can take the pounding of an every-down back.
Are there finally multiple threats at wide receiver?
Junior Jayce Brown established himself as a legitimate Big 12 No. 1 receiver last year with 47 catches for 823 yards and five touchdowns, but nobody else reached 30 receptions.
The Wildcats have hit the transfer portal hard and believe they have found the answers they need. Purdue transfer Jaron Tibbs, a junior, especially received rave reviews throughout the spring, while seniors Jerand Bradley (Boston College) and Caleb Medford (New Mexico) showed promise as well.
There is also the possibility that five-star recruit Linkon Cure could split out as a wide receiver in his first year, given the existing depth and experience at tight end.
Who will fill the vacancies in the secondary?
Cornerback, in particular, will be an interesting position with starters Jacob Parrish and Keenan Garber both gone. Will it be sophomores Zashon Rich and Donovan McIntosh, who showed promise last year, or how about super-senior Justice James?
The Wildcats also brought in transfers Jayden Rowe, a physical specimen from Oklahoma, and Amarion Fortenberry from South Alabama.
VJ Payne is the only starter back at safety, but senior transfer Gunner Maldonado is a former team captain at Arizona, and several younger players have shown promise, particularly junior Colby McCalister and sophomores Jack Fabris and Wesley Fair.
How will Joe Klanderman’s defense line up?
Joe Klanderman has shown the willingness to adapt since taking over as defensive coordinator, switching from a base four-man front to a 3-3-5 alignment in 2021, but increasingly deploying four down linemen each of the past two years.
Look for more of the same in 2025.
K-State has an abundance of talent up front, especially at defensive end. Injuries at linebacker somewhat forced Klanderman’s hand last year, and he had success going with three ends alongside nose tackles Damian Ilalio and Uso Seumalo, both of whom are back.
Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @arnegreen.
