2010 Kansas State Wildcats Football Preview

2009 Results: 6-6, No Bowl

Head Coach: Bill Snyder (19th year @ KSU, 142-74-1 Overall)

Home Venue: Snyder Family Stadium (50,000), Manhattan, Kansas

Sometimes, you don’t know what you have until it is gone. In the case of Kansas State, absence made the heart grow fonder for legendary coach Bill Snyder, whose original 17 year tenure as the head Wildcat was enough to put his name on the stadium! Snyder’s first year back after a three year retirement was a moderately successful campaign, producing a 6-6 record. Unfortunately, as the schedule included two games against D-1AA teams, KSU wasn’t eligible for postseason play. Can Snyder coach the ‘Cats to a bowl game for the first time since he led them to the 2003 Big XII Championship?

OFFENSE

The offense wasn’t very successful last season as they attempted to replace 1st round NFL draft pick Josh Freeman at quarterback. However, the silver lining was that void allowed senior Daniel Thomas (1,265 rush yards, 25 catches, 257 receiving yards, 11 TDs) to emerge as one of the best tailbacks in the conference. The junior college transfer led the Big XII in rushing and he is going to be the most important player on this offense this fall.

I expect him to continue to have plenty of room to run this season, thanks to a veteran returning offensive line. Four starters return from the group that opened up so much running room for Thomas last year and they will be significantly more familiar with the blocking scheme now that they’re in the second year of Snyder’s offense. With that talent and familiarity, I expect this to be a very strong line.

But this won’t be a one dimensional offense like last season. While the passing game was the worst in the Big XII in 2009, I have a great deal of faith in senior quarterback Carson Coffman, who played extensively last year while making four starts. However, it isn’t his performance last season that gives me confidence; it was his excellent Spring Game showing that saw him throw for over 400 yards and seven touchdowns! I think the protection that he’ll get behind a strong O-Line will allow him to be a very solid quarterback as the full time starter this season.

The only worry that I have is that this receiving corps is starting from scratch. While sophomore transfers Chris Harper and Broderick Smith were extremely impressive in the spring, they are unproven when it counts and that is the general theme of the passing game this fall. Nevertheless, I am quietly confident that this will be one of the most improved passing attacks in the country.

Overall, there are plenty of pieces in place for Kansas State to take a big leap forward on offense this season. The most productive tailback in the conference resides up in the KSU backfield, their front line is going to be solid and I think that Coffman will turn out to be a very productive quarterback. Expect a big improvement on offense from the Wildcats in 2010.

DEFENSE

I’m very interested to see how quickly the traditional Bill Snyder recruiting techniques work out. By that, I mean that he built a perennial contender in the nineties on the strength of junior college transfers and that trend continues as six JUCO players arrive to prop up this year’s defense. KSU finished 7 th in the league in scoring defense in 2009 and they will be looking to improve upon that this season.

Things begin up front for the Wildcats, where there is a lot of depth returning. Senior DE Antonio Felder (30 tackles, 3 sacks) is a solid player and junior DT Raphael Guidry will be a handful in the trenches. However, what I am most excited about is the return of sophomore Brandon Harold, who was a 1 st Team Freshman All-American two years ago before missing the entire 2009 season due to injury. Three of those JUCO transfers are also D-Linemen and that depth should create a very strong line for the Wildcats this fall.

It is a very good thing that KSU is so strong up front, because their linebackers are not impressive. Senior Troy Butler (46 tackles) is the only returning starter and he was the least effective of the starting three last season. This unit also isn’t going to get reinforced by any JUCO transfers this season and I am not confident that they’re going to easily replace their lost production this campaign.

The good news is that the secondary is a bit more experienced with three returning junior starters. Emmanuel Lamur (68 tackles, 3 INT) is the team’s top tackler from last season and fellow safety Tysyn Hartman (54 tackles, 5 INT) was one of the league leaders in interceptions! The other major contingent of JUCO prospects will support this group and I think that the Wildcats will do a great job forcing some turnovers with their playmaking safeties.

Overall, the strong foundation up front makes me think that this will be a much improved defense from last year. The Wildcats were great against the run last season, allowing only 105 yards per game, and I think that they will repeat that performance this season. Furthermore, I think that a big influx of JUCO recruits will end up contributing quickly. All things combined, I think that Kansas State will be a solid defense this season even with an underwhelming set of linebackers.

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SCHEDULE

The schedule will not be a hindrance to bowl eligibility for the Wildcats this fall. While they do face off against one D-1AA team in Missouri State, their other non-conference games include home games against UCLA and Central Florida and a season-ending visit to North Texas. In conference, their draw from the South Division includes visits from Texas and Oklahoma State and a trip to Baylor. While the Texas game will be difficult, KSU has won four of the last six games against the Longhorns, so don’t count them out! If the Wildcats beat UCLA to start the season, then an eight win campaign is a real possibility.

OUTLOOK

The Wildcats suffered the cruel fate in 2009 of winning six games but not ending up eligible for the postseason due to the NCAA’s rules on D-1AA teams counting towards bowl eligibility. This fall, I think that the fates will turn in their favor. The offense is going to feature a dominating ground game and I really like their chances to put together a balanced offense with Coffman at the helm. Kansas State also should be productive on defense with an influx of JUCO talent and another year of experience for their young defenders in Snyder’s system. With a reasonable schedule that avoids Oklahoma and Texas A&M from the South, I think that they are going bowling this season. The Kansas State Wildcats are my choice to finish 3rd in the Big XII North Division.

PREDICTED RESULT: 7-5 (3-5 Big XII)