Kansas State Football: Depth Chart vs Iowa State

The ‘Cats are remarkably healthy heading into the last game of the season.

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)

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

• Dylan Edwards is questionable, but Coach Klieman sounded optimistic about his availability on Saturday.
• Kegan Johnson was limited against Cincinatti and was replaced by Dante Cephas in the starting lineup, but he did manage to get in the game. Expect him to play a larger role on Saturday.
• Jayce Brown was replaced in the starting lineup by Jadon Jackson against Cincinatti. He should also return to his usual role as go-to receiver against Iowa State.
• The offensive line remains incredibly durable, with their preferred starting lineup available in 11/12 games this season.

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)

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)

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)

# 25 – Zashon Rich – 6’1”, 199 – Fr.-HS – Minneapolis, Minn (North Community)

Notes

• The team managed to get through the Cincinatti game without losing a linebacker. Rex Van Wyhe even registered a tackle for loss. Needless to say, linebacker depth is still a concern moving forward.
• Freshman Zashon Rich continues to earn snaps at corner.
• Colby McCallister has started the last two games at Joker safety for the ‘Cats. That’s not reflected in the official depth chart and may be more related to scheme.
• Justic James started over Keenan Garber against Cincinatti. I’ll be interested to see if that continues moving forward. Garber has been in the middle of several coverage busts this season.

Overall

Injury wise, the Wildcats couldn’t hope for much better. Edwards being questionable takes an explosive player off the field, but Joe Jackson has proven more than capable of toting the rock when D.J. needs a break. Keep in mind, available and healthy are two separate things entirely. At this point in the season, everyone is banged up, but Avery Johnson looking healthy against Cincinatti is a great sign for the ‘Cats in this one. His rushing ability will be critical in what could be tough weather conditions. Keegan Johnson should also get more playing time against Iowa State, but credit to Cephas and Spivey for stepping up in his semi-absence.

On the defensive side of things, the coaching staff continues to shuffle the deck in the secondary. Against Cincinatti, McCallister started over Riley and James started over Garber. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that they were both involved in a couple coverage busts against Arizona State. For my money, the most disappointing position group this season, by far, has been the secondary (forgive me for combining corners and safeties). It’s easy to shrug off portal losses like Will Lee and Kobe Savage, but both have been sorely missed in the back half of the defense. Iowa State has a couple studs at receiver and Kansas State can’t turn either of them lose if they expect to win in Ames.

When it comes down to it, this game pits two evenly matched teams against each other. On a neutral field, I like Kansas State, but this game will be played on anything buy a neutral field. The ‘Cats are going to need to find explosive plays on offense while limiting explosive plays on defense if they want to win this game. The frosty conditions won’t be as bad as the rain in Houston, but it won’t be ideal for sustained drives requiring multiple receptions to get into the endzone.

This one could come down to how a couple key plays break for each team.