NCAAF Team Report – Kansas State – INSIDE SLANT
As expected, Kansas State did not parlay a Big 12 championship and BCS appearance into a blockbuster recruiting class.
The Wildcats’ haul was ranked at the bottom of the conference. Yet that was hardly a surprise or anything unusual.
Veteran coach Bill Snyder does it his way. He evaluates players longer than most and finds pieces that fit into his system, then tinkers the system to make it fit to certain talents.
Still, there was reason for Kansas State to feel good. Jake Waters, a junior college quarterback who engineered Iowa Western to the NJCAA championship and a 12-0 finish, was part of the signing class. His addition immediately supplies competition at a position vacated by Heisman Trophy finalist Collin Klein.
“You can see that there’s a command presence there,” Snyder said of Waters, who completed 73.3 percent of his passes while throwing for 3,501 yards last season. “You can see that he’s got the ability to run around with the football and you can see that he’s pretty efficient throwing the football.”
Waters is expected to step in immediately and compete with Daniel Sams, the Wildcats’ backup a year ago, for the starting job on an offense that is stocked sufficiently with returning starters at other positions.
The key for Kansas State will be revamping a defense that lost nine starters off an 11-2 squad that lost to Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl after claiming the Big 12 crown with an 8-1 mark.
The Wildcats signed five juco defenders, including two of Waters’ teammates from Iowa Western, defensive end Devon Nash and defensive back Travis Green. All three of the Iowa Western transfers have already enrolled at Kansas State and will participate in spring drills.
Among high school recruits, the best bets to get immediate looks are defensive ends Tanner Wood and Jordan Willis, and linebacker Nick Ramirez.
Adept at acquiring FBS transfers in recent seasons, Kansas State will continue to look for help within the defensive interior, where it lost underrated starters Vai Lutui and John Sua. They were among a group that also lost heralded talent led by All-America linebacker Arthur Brown.
TOP OF THE CLASS
DE Tanner Wood (Conway Springs, Kan.) — Played quarterback in a single-wing offense in high school, rushing for a state-record 659 yards and nine touchdowns in one game, the third-highest prep rushing total in the United States. Nonetheless, Wood (6-5, 247) figures to play on defense as Kansas State tries to use his quickness off the edge as a pass rusher.
LB Nick Ramirez (West, Lee’s Summit, Mo.) — Initially committed to Missouri, Ramirez joined Wood as the only four-star prospects (Rivals) in the Kansas State class. Rangy at 6-2, 225 pounds, Ramirez will have an opportunity to crack the defensive lineup as a true freshman.
QB Jake Waters (Iowa Western C.C.) — Threw for 3,501 yards and 39 touchdowns while engineering Iowa Western to the NJCAA championship as a sophomore. Chose Kansas State over Penn State. Enrolled in time to participate in spring camp and figures to overtake QB Daniel Sams, last year’s backup, as the Wildcats’ starter.
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NCAAF Team Report – Kansas State – NOTES, QUOTES
–One of Kansas State’s prized recruits, DE Javone Boyd of Lee’s Summit, Mo., did not qualify academically and went the junior college route, signing with Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kan. Boyd, a four-star prospect (Rivals) from Lee’s Summit, Mo., was charged with armed robbery on Feb. 4 after being accused of being part of a Jan. 23 incident in a Kansas City apartment. Prosecutors requested a bond of $150,000 for Boyd, who figured to help with Kansas State’s defensive overhaul had he qualified academically. Coach Bill Snyder refuted reports that Kansas State offered Boyd a scholarship. “We had dialogue with him a long, long time ago and indicated that we could not scholarship him and recommended to him that he go to a community college. I feel badly for the youngster,” Snyder said.
–One alarming development following Kansas State’s Fiesta Bowl loss to Oregon was the departure of two assistants who were also players for Snyder. Defensive ends coach Joe Bob Clements left for Oklahoma State, while wide receivers coach Michael Smith left for Arkansas. Each played those positions for the Wildcats. They were the youngest full-time assistants on the Wildcats’ staff, creating concerns for just how well Kansas State can interact with recruits because of the advanced age of most assistants.
SPRING SNAPSHOT
Practice priorities: Replacing a Heisman Trophy finalist would typically be a first order of business, particularly when QB Collin Klein was responsible for so much of Kansas State’s attack, both rushing and passing. And yes, breaking in a new quarterback will be important, and probably take coach Bill Snyder into the fall before naming a starter.
Revamping the defense, however, is the Wildcats’ primary concern. They lost all but two starters off the Fiesta Bowl unit, which was led by rangy LB Arthur Brown. FS Ty Zimmerman and LB Tre Walker are strong players, but the foundation they provide is thin.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “How we assess young people is obviously quite different than how other people might assess them. And it kind of depends on what you’re looking for. We have a strong belief in all those intrinsic values that we talk about. We spend time studying. That doesn’t mean we don’t make mistakes, but by the same token I think we have a pretty good understanding of what we have and what we want and what’s important.” — Kansas State coach Bill Snyder.
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NCAAF Team Report – Kansas State – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
KEY LOSSES: QB Collin Klein, LB Arthur Brown, DE Meshak Williams.
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2013:
–FS Ty Zimmerman is the quarterback for Kansas State on defense, Zimmerman returns as the leader in the secondary and someone who will greatly influence just how quickly newcomers can be groomed next season in the back end.
–LB Tre Walker is an inspiring leader who suffered a season-ending injury in the eighth game, Walker was asked by coach Bill Snyder to continue his vocal approach and continued traveling to road games. Good defending the run and pass, Walker will be relied on heavily as a senior.
–WR/KR Tyler Lockett is one of the most dangerous return men in the Big 12. He scored two touchdowns on runbacks and was also the Wildcats’ second-leading receiver. He is capable of burning opponents deep.
–C B.J. Finney initially joined Kansas State as an in-state walk-on, but cracked the starting lineup as a freshman and was again effective as a sophomore. He will lead an experienced line next season, which will greatly help whomever wins the QB job.
PLAYER NOTES
–LB Trent Tanking, an All-State selection from Holton, Kan., was one of eight in-state high school recruits who were listed by Kansas State as preferred walk-ons in its 2013 class.
–WR LeAndrew Gordon was signed out of Pantego Christian Academy in Arlington, Texas. Just 5-foot-7, Gordon is the son of former cornerback Joe Gordon, who left Kansas State prior to last season after serving on its support staff.
–CB Nigel Malone returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown in the East-West Shrine all-star game and was named defensive MVP. Another former Wildcat, QB Collin Klein, looked shaky in the game, completing just 5 of 12 passes with one interception.
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