Drew takes a look at a surprisingly stable depth chart after multiple injury scares against Colorado.
Injury Update
Per Chris Klieman’s press conference earlier today, everyone should be good to go against West Virginia. I’m not sure if that means that everyone is technically “available” in a break in case of emergency situation or if everyone is good to go full speed, but after the 2nd half bloodbath in Boulder, this is incredible news. Not losing a single member of the secondary for a game is a minor miracle.
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)
#74 – Alex Key – 6’3”, 298 – So. – Derby, Kan (Derby)
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)
#81 – Andrew Metzger – 6’5”, 248 – Fr. – Auroa, Colo (Regis Jesuit)
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)
or
#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
- Metzger and Key falling out of the 2-deep seems more administrative (in terms of cleaning up the depth chart) than anything else.
- Roberson was the back-up QB on Saturday after Knuth was injured in practice last week and didn’t make the trip to Boulder. No word on the quarterback depth chart vs West Virginia.
- K-State continues to avoid the injury bug and will once again feature their preferred starting line-up. The only question is Brayden Loftin, who returned to the depth chart last week, but wasn’t ready to go against Colorado.
- Avery Johnson should be good to go against West Virgina after missing several plays with what looked like a non-contact abdominal / hip flexor injury. Bullet dodged.
- 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)
#23 – Asa Newsom – 6’3”, 228 – Fr. – Waverly, Iowa (Waverly-Shell Rock)
MLB
#45 – Austin Romaine – 6’2”, 242 – So. – Hillsboro, Mo (Hillsboro)
#57 – Beau Palmer – 6’2”, 225 – Sr. – Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley)
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)
#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)
Notes
- After the bloodbath in the secondary against Colorado, according to Coach Klieman, everyone has a chance to play on Saturday. I’ll update when more information is available.
- While not listed on the depth chart, freshman corner Zachon Rich came off the bench late and played well in relief of his injured teammate(s).
- Uso played against Colorado despite an injury question heading into the game. He should be good to go against West Virginia.
- Austin Romaine saw a significant decrease in playing time against Colorado. That was 100% scheme related, expect Romaine to resume his normal role against the Mountaineers.
- Junior College transfer Daniel Cobb stepped up and held his own when called upon. His textbook his on Travis Hunter ended the Colorado stars night early.
- Nickendre Stinger stepped in and played well in relief of Maques Sigle. Out of all the injuries (my guess) Sigle’s looked the most problematic. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Stinger start on Saturday.
Special Teams
FG
#17 – Chris Tennant – 6’5”, 226 – Sr. – Shawnee, Kan. (Mill Valley)
#96 – Leyton Simmering – 6’0”, 173 – So – Rosemount, Minn. (Rosemount)
HLD
#35 – Simon McClannan – 5’11”, 190 – Fr. – Omaha, Neb. (Millard South)
#30 – Teagan Cobb – 6’2”, 215 – Fr. Rose Hill, Kan. (Rose Hill)
SNP
#16 – Mason Olguin – 6’1”, 226 – Edmond, Okla (Edmond Santa Fe)
#46 – Keane Bessert – 6’0”, 220 – Loma, Colo. (Fruita Monument)
P
#35 – Simon McClannan – 5’11”, 190 – Fr. – Omaha, Neb. (Millard South)
#30 – Teagan Cobb – 6’2”, 215 – Fr. – Rose Hill, Kan. (Rose Hill)
KO
#17 – Chris Tennant – 6’5”, 226 – Sr. – Shawnee, Kan. (Mill Valley)
#35 – Simon McClannan – 5’11”, 190 – Fr. – Omaha, Neb. (Millard South)
KR
#3 – Dylan Edwards – 5’9”, 167 – So. – Derby, Kan. (Univ. of Colorado)
or
#1 – Jayce Brown – 6’0”, 179 – So. – Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (Choctawhatchee)
or
#10 – Keagan Johnson – 6’0”, 206 – Jr. Bellevue, Neb (Univ. of Iowa)
PR
#3 – Dylan Edwards – 5’9”, 167 – So. – Derby, Kan. (Univ. of Colorado)
or
#6 – Sterling Lockett – 5’10”, 170 – So. – Leawood, Kan. (Blue Valley)
Notes
- Freshman running back Devon Rice saw his first action of the season as a kick returner and acquitted himself well, breaking off a 36-yard kick return. According to Coach Klieman he will be deployed when needed and retaining his redshirt is a consideration.
Overall
I think the secondary depth chart is a bit optimistic. Everyone has a chance to play, but I’d be surprised if they all make it. The depth in the secondary was tested, and Sanders put up big numbers, but Colorado had the ball, down 3 with 2:13 remaining and could only manage 5 yards on 4 consecutive passes to end the game.
On paper the offense looks healthy, but I’ll be interested to see how mobile Avery looks against West Virginia. Is he dealing with a strain, or was his exit a cramping issue? D.J. had 25 carries and you could tell he was feeling it late against Colorado. He’s another guy to keep an eye on. He’s not in danger of missing the game, but Dylan Edwards might play a bigger role against West Virgina.
Other than that, it looks like the Wildcats escaped what at the time looked like an injury disaster against Colorado.