Mailbag: Expectations for Kansas State QB Will Howard and the growth of the linebackers

1. DOES KANSAS STATE QUARTERBACK WILL HOWARD ENTER THE NFL DRAFT AFTER THIS YEAR?

DY: If Kansas State quarterback Will Howard elects to go pro after this season, it will likely be because he feels like he has had enough college football and has already technically graduated. He is a good college quarterback that can have a great season for the Wildcats, but he is not the type to be a day one NFL pick.

It is probably pushing it to say he would be a day two pick. He just isn’t overly mobile and doesn’t have a cannon for an arm. Howard did throw with much better anticipation for K-State last season, but he doesn’t possess some of the natural gifts reserved for the guys that go in the first few rounds.

2. WHAT IS WILL HOWARD’S CEILING AS AN NFL DRAFT PROSPECT?

DY: I already answered it above, but it is my opinion that the Kansas State signal-caller can slide up somewhere in the day three range.

3. DOES QUARTERBACK COMMIT BLAKE BARNETT SIGN WITH K-STATE?

DY: It is a bit of a moving target, right? I can say yes right now because I think that’s the case, but if Ohio State and Alabama offered him in a few months, I’d change my mind. So, it is a bit of a trap question to answer in April.

At the moment, I feel very good about Blake Barnett signing with K-State. Yes.

4. WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE KANSAS STATE SAM LINEBACKER SPOT?

DY: To me, it is a lot like how it was explained by Kansas State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman on Wednesday.

At this point, they’re still ironing out a bit of the depth and where everyone will play. We know that Daniel Green and Austin Moore will start at the ‘Mike’ and the ‘Will’, but who starts at the Sam and what is the depth behind them.

In some form, I imagine the reliable contributors in the second group will consist of Gavin Forsha, Terry Kirksey, Jake Clifton and Tobi Osunsanmi. How those pieces fit is what is being determined and judged still by Klanderman and K-State assistant Steve Stanard.

What does that mean? I believe the leader in the clubhouse to be the starter at the ‘Sam’ role is Desmond Purnell.

5. WHAT AREA OF THE FOOTBALL TEAM WILL IMPROVE THE MOST?

DY: I’ll continue what was shared above. Take a look at all of those linebacker names and how many can reliably contribute for Kansas State. That is a comfortable feeling. I don’t believe I’ve felt that way since I began covering the Wildcats in 2017.

That is the top area of the team that will make the biggest step forward, in my opinion. I’m not sure it is close.

6. WHAT SEGMENT FOR K-STATE WILL SEE A DROP?

DY: To be honest, some of my best sources will argue on my answer and I know that. I hope that they are correct and that I am proved wrong for the sake of K-State. But I think the biggest drop may be the explosiveness on the offensive side of the ball.

Who did they rely on for that the last few years? Malik Knowles and Deuce Vaughn. And heck, the next two best options on that front were probably Adrian Martinez and Kade Warner. All four are no longer in Manhattan.

Can they become more explosive because they have more guys capable of doing so? That is the belief of the Kansas State offense. I have to see it to believe it.

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