Kansas State players on offense praised the most in week one of camp

After speaking with Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman, watching part of the practice and checking in with a few sources, KSO spotlights a group of offensive players that received the most praise after one week of training camp.

Kansas State QB Will Howard

It shouldn’t be a surprise that everyone is excited about Kansas State quarterback Will Howard. After all, he is the signal-caller that led them to a Big 12 championship in 2022 and has led them throughout the offseason.

He has improved even further, becoming leaner and a bit more mobile in the pocket while still improving his arm strength and has graduated to an elite understanding of an offense that is in year two under offensive coordinator Collin Klein.

QB Avery Johnson

While noting that the game still has to slow down for him, he has to learn the ability to dissect defenses and familiarize himself with his own offense much more, Klieman did include K-State true freshman Avery Johnson in the back-up quarterback battle and raved about the speed in which he plays the game.

He is already making explosive plays and will be special as he becomes more and more comfortable.

Avery Johnson/Kansas State Athletics

RB Joe Jackson

Kansas State running back Joe Jackson was described as someone that could play as soon as his first year on campus as soon as he was signed. And that came from the head coach. He is making Klieman look pretty smart by already earning significant reps during his first week of training camp.

K-State RB DJ Giddens

It wasn’t necessarily what anyone said specifically about DJ Giddens, though there were a number of compliments for him, it was more about how he looked at the practice we saw last week. In a limited amount of time, he showcased even more size, power and explosiveness than what he possessed last year.

WR RJ Garcia

I understand that it will require him to put it on the field and remain healthy, but K-State receiver RJ Garcia is once again receiving some buzz about how he has looked at practice. The receiver room continues to be a question mark in terms of depth and how it will shake out, but he was a playmaker in week one.

Keagan Johnson/Kansas State Athletics

Kansas State WR Keagan Johnson

When Klieman calls someone exceptional, it catches my eye. That was the adjective for Keagan Johnson, as the Iowa transfer continues to impress everyone around him. He was a buzzworthy name in the Spring, the Summer and it has carried into training camp.

OL Carver Willis

The final three names are all offensive linemen, and it makes some sense since they return every starter and have recruited the position so well. But the first individual isn’t even one of the five that lined up on snap one for all of last season.

Kansas State coaches continue to be excited about how Carver Willis has conducted himself and performed all offseason, and he may have put himself in line to spell Christian Duffie at right tackle to begin the 2023 campaign.

Hayden Gillum and Christian Duffie/Getty

OL Hayden Gillum

A statement that was made by both Klieman and K-State assistant Conor Riley as soon as the entire offensive line chose to return was that no starting spot was guaranteed. However, we knew it would be difficult to unseat anyone.

It is clear after week one that Hayden Gillum has solidified his spot on the middle of the offensive line. Other centers that are battling for reserve duties are Sam Hecht and Sam Shields, with Hadley Panzer seeing reps here and there.

However, the leadership, work ethic and performance of Gillum during the first handful of practices did not go unnoticed.

K-State OL KT Leveston

Nobody has battled more adversity throughout his career than Kansas State offensive lineman KT Leveston, and nobody has improved more on the field and off the field over the course of his career than KT Leveston.

It has been a stunning transformation, and he is now one of the more respected leaders on the team and could be poised for the kind of season that can help him rise up NFL Draft boards.

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