2010 Record: (7-6, 3-5 in Big 12)
Head Coach: Bill Snyder (149-80-1)
Last Bowl Game: 2010 Pinstripe Bowl (lost to Syracuse 36-34)
CFBZ Kansas State Links
Returning Big 12 Offensive Firepower
Schedule
9/3: Eastern Kentucky
9/17: Kent State
9/24: at Miami, Fl
10/1: Baylor (2010 result: lost 47-42)
10/8: Missouri (2010 result: lost 38-28)
10/15: at Texas Tech (2009 result: lost 66-14)
10/22: at Kansas (2010 result: won 59-7)
10/29: Oklahoma (2009 result: lost 42-30)
11/5: at Oklahoma State (2010 result: lost 24-14)
11/12: Texas A&M (2009 result: won 62-14)
11/19: at Texas (2010 result: won 39-14)
12/3: Iowa State (2010 result: won 27-20)
2010 Offensive Statistics:
Scoring: 33.6 ppg (3rd in Big 12, 22nd in Nation)
Rushing Yds/Game: 199.23 yds/game (2nd in Big 12, 22nd in Nation)
Passing Yds/Game: 179.3 yds/game (9th in Big 12, 92nd in Nation)
Total Yds/Game: 378.5 yds/game (9th in Big 12, 62nd in Nation)
2010 Defensive Statistics:
Scoring: 29.1 ppg (8th in Big 12, 78th in Nation)
Rushing Yds/Game: 231.38 yds/game (11th in Big 12, 119th in Nation)
Passing Yds/Game: 214.3 yds/game (5th in Big 12, 52nd in Nation)
Total Yds/Game: 445.7 yds/game (11th in Big 12, 106th in Nation)
2010 Misc Stats:
Turnover Margin: +0.31 per game (5th in Big 12, 36th in Nation)
Penalties: 43.5 yds/game (2nd in Big 12, 29th in Nation)
Returning Starters:
Offense: 6
Defense: 7
Kicker/Punter: 1
Top Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: QB Collin Klein, Jr (11 of 18 for 138 yds, 1 TD)
Rushing: QB Collin Klein, Jr (76 for 432 yds, 5.6 ypc, 6 TD)
Receiving: WR Chris Harper, Jr (24 rec for 325 yds, 4 TD)
Tackles: CB David Garrett, Sr (92)
Sacks: CB David Garrett, Sr (3)
Interceptions: S Ty Zimmerman, Soph (3)
Bowl Predictions:
Athlon: None
Phil Steele: Meineke Car Care (vs Iowa)
Kansas State started out really strong in 2010 as they went 4-0 without playing the sisters of the poor (had wins over UCLA, Iowa State and UCF). The Wildcats then got trounced by Nebraska 48-13 but bounced back with a 59-7 thrashing of Turner Gill and the Kansas Jayhawks. At 5-1, Kansas State had a chance to have a pretty special season but they dropped the next two to Baylor and Okie State and then dropped two more to Missouri and Colorado before the year was over. Kansas State finished up the season with six losses but the Nebraska loss was the only one that was more than ten points. While 7-6 was their best finish since 2006 (when they also went 7-6) I bet there are a bunch of Kansas State fans out there that wish they could have had a few re-do’s. This year with the defection of Nebraska and Colorado, the Big 12 has done away with the divisions and the Wildcats schedule got a little tougher with the addition of Texas A&M and Oklahoma and a trip to Texas Tech. The Wildcats also face Al Golden’s Hurricanes of Miami on the road in September. I think the Big 12 is going to be pretty solid this year and I think Kansas State is a team that is sitting right outside of the top contenders of the division. K-State has some tough games in the first half of the season (most notably at Miami on Sept 24th, Missouri on Oct 8th and at Texas Tech on Oct 15th) but ultimately that four game stretch from October 29th through November 19th that takes the Wildcats through both Oklahoma teams, Texas A&M and Texas will define their season. The most interesting story for K-State this year for me is how the transfers fit in and how quickly they can make an impact. And the transfers I’m talking about are brothers Arthur Brown (LB transfer from Miami, Fl) and Bryce Brown (RB transfer from Tennessee). These guys have all-conference talent and it will be very interesting to see how quickly they pay dividends for Bill Snyder and the Wildcats. We caught up with the SB Nation Kansas State blog Bring On The Cats to get a local take on the 2011 Wildcats.
Kansas State finished 3rd in the Big 12 last season in points scored. QB Carson Coffman, RB Daniel Thomas and WR Aubrey Quarles were all seniors last year. Who needs to step up to fill the void they’ve left?
While I don’t think Carson Coffman was the stiff a lot of K-State fans made him out to be, he wasn’t anything resembling an elite Big 12 quarterback. Most of us are perfectly content to see Collin Klein, or one of the other options, take over for him this year.
Daniel Thomas is the real loss for K-State on offense. He wasn’t flashy, but he got the job done game after game after game, even when everyone on the opposing sideline knew he was getting the ball. But I think most K-State fans are confident that we won’t see a tremendous dropoff, with former No. 1 recruit Bryce Brown expected to step in. And even if Brown isn’t as productive as expected or gets hurt, a fellow Wichita native DeMarcus Robinson could step in.
As far as wide receiver is concerned, Quarles is a loss, but there are several experienced players expected to step into his place. Brodrick Smith and Tramaine Thompson return from season-ending leg injuries last season, and will be serious contributors if they’re healthy. Eternal enigma Chris Harper also returns, and could provide some big plays if he’s ready to focus every down.
The Wildcats were dead last in the Big 12 in rushing defense last year and ranked 119th in the country. What has been done this off-season to correct this weakness?
Other than Arthur Brown becoming eligible to play at linebacker and switching to a 4-3 defense, not a whole lot. No shakeup on the coaching staff occurred, despite the fact that finishing dead last usually costs someone a job, except in Bill Snyder’s loyalty world. Brown looks and, at least in the spring game, played the part of a Big 12-caliber linebacker, but the defensive line remains a question mark. I expect marginal improvement from the rushing defense, but nothing dramatic.
Who are some newcomers that have a chance to step up and make an impact this year?
The obvious candidates are the Brown brothers, Bryce at running back and Arthur at linebacker. We’re also interested to see if one of the quarterback recruits makes any headway, particularly Justin Tuggle.
What are the biggest reasons to be optimistic about Kansas State football this year?
The defense can’t get any worse, right? Well, no, it really can’t, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will get better, either. With Arthur Brown at linebacker and some solid athletes in the secondary, this defense has to improve, and if it doesn’t, Chris Cosh will be run out of town. Meanwhile, the offense shouldn’t see much, if any, drop in production. A slightly improved defense and a steady offense should mean another bowl appearance, unless the increased difficulty of the new Big 12 schedule causes problems.
Looking at the schedule, what are the most important games this year?
The road trip to Miami on September 24 looms large for K-State. With a new, and unspectacular, head coach, the Hurricanes appear ripe for the picking. But road games with a team like K-State are never a given, and that kind of test early in the year is worrisome. A win would set the tone for another bowl-eligible season, and possibly as much as a 7-5/8-4 type of record.
On the other hand, a loss there puts a bowl game in jeopardy. With only three non-conference games now, a loss would require K-State to go 4-5 in the Big 12. Anything’s possible, but I only see three conference games that I’m confident the Cats will win. Getting another win in a tossup or outright upset game certainly isn’t a stretch, but I’d rather get that Miami win and then shoot for an eight-win season.
What is your gut feeling on the final record for the 2011 season and what makes the season successful in your eyes?
I think K-State gets to 7-5. For some reason, my feeling is the Cats go 3-0 in non-conference play, get conference wins over Baylor, KU and Iowa State, and then knock off someone somewhat unexpected. Missouri or Texas A&M would be my most likely picks because the games are in Manhattan, and of course K-State just plain owns Texas, so that’s always a possibility.
Or the defense could be the same as last year and the offense could take a step back and bowl eligibility could be out of reach. Nothing would really shock me.
Coming In August: Big 12 Preview
Next Preview: Syracuse
2011 Team Previews
ACC- Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Miami, NC State, Wake Forest
Big 12- Baylor , Texas Tech
Big East- Cincinnati, Louisville, USF
Big Ten- Minnesota , Northwestern, Penn St, Purdue
C-USA- East Carolina, Houston ,Marshall, SMU, Southern Mississippi, UAB, UCF
Independent- Army
MAC- Akron, Ball St, Bowling Green, Buffalo , Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Temple, Toledo
MWC- Air Force, New Mexico, UNLV, Wyoming
Sun Belt- FAU, FIU, Louisiana, Middle Tennessee, North Texas, Troy , ULM, Western Kentucky
WAC– Fresno St, Idaho, San Jose St
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