Drew takes a look at some interesting additions made by the coaching staff after the off-week.
Offense
WR
#10 – Kegan Johnson – 6’0”, 206 – Jr. – Bellevue, Neb (Univ. of Iowa)
#0 – Jadon Jackson – 6’1”, 187 – Sr. – Centeron, Ark (Univ. of Mississippi)
or
#8 – Ty Bowman – 6’5”, 220 – Sr. – Chanute, Kan (Chanute)
TE
#86 – Garrett Oakley – 6’5”, 239 – So. – Columbus, Neb (Scotus Central Catholic)
#87 – Brayden Loftin – 6’5”, 237 – So. – Omaha, Neb (Lewis Central (IA)
LT
#71 – Easton Kilty – 6’6”, 307 – Sr. – Stamford, Wis (University of North Dakota)
#78 – John Pastore – 6’6”, 303 – So. – Erie, Colo (Erie)
LG
#54 – Hadley Panzer – 6’4”, 305 – Sr. – Lakin, Kan (Lakin)
#56 – Andrew Leingang – 6’6”, 306 – Jr. – Bismark, N.D. (Century)
C
#75 – Sam Hecht – 6’4”, 287 – Jr. – Shawnee, Kan (Mill Valley)
#66 – Michael Capria – 6’2”, 295 – So. – Liberty, Mo (Liberty)
RG
#69 – Taylor Poitier – 6’3”, 305 – Sr. – Kansas City, Kan. (Bishop Miege)
or
#56 – Andrew Leingang – 6’6”, 306 – Jr. – Bismark, N.D. (Century)
RT
#77 – Carver Willis – 6’5”, 291 – Sr. – Durango, Colo (Durango)
#53 – Drake Bequeath – 6’6”, 292 – So. – Colleyville, Texas (Grapevine)
TE
#83 – Will Swanson – 6’5”, 251 – Sr. – Papillion, Neb (La Vista South)
#80 – Will Anciaux – 6’6”, 246 – Fr. – Wichita, Kan (Kapaun Mt. Carmel)
QB
#2 – Avery Johnson – 6’2”, 192 – So. – Wichita, Kan (Maize)
#5 – Ta’Quan Roberson – 6’0”, 201 – Sr. – Orange, J.J. (Univ. of Connecticut)
or
#7 – Jacob Knuth – 6’3”, 213 – So. – Sioux Falls, S.D. (Univ. of Minnesota)
RB
#31 – DJ Giddens – 6’1”, 212 – Jr. – Junction City, Kan (Junction)
#4 – Joe Jackson – 6’0”, 203 – Fr. – Haines City, Fla (Ridge Community)
RB
#3 – Dylan Edwards – 5’9”, 167 – So. – Derby, Kan (Univ of Colorado)
#47 – La’James White – 5’7”, 196 – Jr. – Kansas City, Kan (Air Force)
#23 – Devon Rice – 5’9”, 179 – Fr.- Las Vegas, Nev (Bishop Gorman)
#24 – JB Price – 5’10”, 199 – Fr. – Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley)
WR
#1 – Jayce Brown – 6’0”, 179 – So. – Fort Walton Beach, Fla (Choctawhatchee)
#6 – Sterling Locket – 5’10”, 170 – So. – Leawood, Kan (Blue Valley)
WR
#14 – Dante Cephas – 6’0”, 193 – Sr. – Pittsburgh, Pa. (Penn State Univ.)
#12 – Tre Spivey – 6’4”, 217 – Fr. – Chandler, Ariz (Hamilton)
Notes
- Devon Rice and JB Price make their debut on the depth chart behind all-purpose back Dylan Edwards.
- Rice and Price can both play and still red shirt
- No changes to the starting lineup.
- Carver Willis and Hadley Panzer used the off week to get closer to 100%, both have been playing through injury recently.
Defense
#38 – Brendan Mott – 6’5”, 244 – Sr. – Iowa City, Iowa (Iowa City West)
#44 – Tobi Osunsanmi – 6’3”, 248 – Wichita, Kan (Wichita East)
or
#52 – Ryan Davis – 6’4”, 252 – Fr. – Phoenix, Ariz (Sandra Day O’Connor)
DL
#56 – Damian Illalio – 6’2”, 300 – Jr. – Manhattan, Kan. (Manhattan)
#99 – Uso Seumalo – 6’3”, 333 – Sr. – Maunaloa, Hawaii (Garden City CC)
#93 – Asher Tomaszewski – 6’4”, 290 – Fr.-RS – Schereville, Ind (Mount Carmel, Ill)
DE
#39 – Travis Bates – 6’3”, 265 – So. – Tomball, Texas (Austin Peay Univ.)
or
#8 – Chiddi Obiazor – 6’6”, 282 – Fr. – Eden Prairie, Minn (Eden Prairie)
DE
#47 – Cody Stufflebean – 6’4”, 257 – Sr. – McPherson, Kan. (McPherson)
#91 – Jordan Allen – 6’4”, 258 – Fr. – (Olathe South)
SLB
#32 – Desmond Purnell – 6’0”, 236 – Jr. – Topeka, Kan. (Hayden)
#7 – Kam Salis – 6’1”, 222 – Fr. RS – Arlington, Texas (Kennedale)
MLB
#45 – Austin Romaine – 6’2”, 242 – So. – Hillsboro, Mo (Hillsboro)
#26 – Terry Kirksey Jr. – 6’3”, 228 – Jr.-RS – Theodore, Ala (Hutchinson CC)
WLB
#41 – Austin Moore – 6’1”, 220 – Sr. – Louisburg, Kan (Louisburg)
#28 – Rex Van Wyhe – 6’5”, 239 – So. – Rock Rapids Iowa (Iowa Central CC)
#48 – Zach Wittenberg – 6’2”, 225 – Jr. – El Dorado, Kan (Butler CC)
CB
#10 – Jacob Parrish – 5’10”, 198 – Jr. – Olathe, Kan. (Olathe North)
#5 – Justice James – 5’10”, 198 – Sr. – West Columbia, Texas (Tyler JC)
SS
#19 – VJ Payne – 6’3”, 211 – Jr.- Gainesville, Ga (Buford)
#2 – Colby McCallister – 5’10”, 200 – So. – Houston, Texas (Clear Brook)
or
#18 – Wesley Fair – 6’1”, 200 – Fr. – Wichita, Kan. (Wichita Collegiate)
JS
#6 – Jordan Riley – 6’0”, 202 – Sr. – Clinton, Md. (Ball State Univ)
#36 – Jack Fabris – 6’1”, 193 – Fr. – Bogart, Ga. (North Oconee)
FS
#21 – Marques Sigle – 6’0”, 197 – Sr. – Omaha, Neb (North Dakota State Univ)
#12 – Nickendre Stinger – 5’11”, 187 – Sr. – Wichita, Kan (Butler CC)
or
#27 – Daniel Cobbs – 5’10”, 190 – So. – Fort Worth, Texas (Tyler JC)
CB
#1 – Keenan Garber – 6’0”, 188 – Sr. – Lawrence, Kan. (Free State)
#34 – Jordan Dunbar – 6’0”, 196 – Jr. – Tarrytown, N.Y. (Rice Univ)
or
#9 – Donovan McIntosh – 6’3”, 190 – Fr. – St. Louis. Mo. (St. Mary’s)
# 25 – Zashon Rich – 6’1”, 199 – Fr.-HS – Minneapolis, Minn (North Community)
Notes
- Kam Sallis makes his depth chart debut, sliding into the vacant strong side linebacker behind Desmond Purnell.
- Sallis is following the Purnell career path. The high school safety was listed as 190 pounds as a recruit and makes his depth chart debut as a redshirt freshman tipping the scales at 222 pounds.
- Zashon Rich, another promising true freshman, makes his depth chart debut at corner. Rich was called into emergency action a few games back and held up well under live fire.
Overall
The off week came at the perfect time for a team starting to show the wear and tear of a college football season. This depth chart is one of the more interesting of the season because of who the staff decided to add this week. As the season winds down, the freshmen the staff held back to redshirt come into play.
Devon Rice making his debut wasn’t a surprise. He’s already contributed on special teams. JB Price isn’t a surprise necessarily, but the coaching staff must think they’ve hit on another potential early contributor in Price. I would still be surprised if he played, but elevating him to the 2-deep is an indication that Price could be in the mix at running back next season.
On defense, Kam Sallis slides into the backup spot behind Desmond Purnell, and as I mentioned in the notes, Sallis is mirroring Purnell’s career path. Unlike the running backs making their first appearance on the depth chart, Sallis may be needed. He’s the only reserve linebacker that can physically do what Des does on defense. If he needs a break, you may see Salis come in and do his best Purnell impersonation.
Zachcon Rich is another guy that has already played this season, and might play a good bit down the stretch. Physically, he might be Kansas State’s most impressive corner. He brings a different type of player to the Wildcat secondary and could help against a physical wide receiver.
Other than the new additions, the Wildcat’s depth chart looks mostly intact coming out of the of week. Linebacker depth gets sketchy pretty fast and I wouldn’t be surprised to see more 2-linebacker(nickle) personnel allowing the 3 starters to rotate through 2 positions.
The offense line was beat up heading into the off week. Willis and Panzer, in particular, were not close to 100% against Houston. I’m sure they’ve been getting round the clock treatment over the last two weeks to try and get them healthier for the stretch run.