Five things: Kansas State training camp storylines

1.) Part of it is me really pushing the narrative because of my belief in it, but the newfound speed and explosiveness from the Kansas State offense has been a significant storyline. It’s not just because running back Dylan Edwards is now in town, either. There’s a lot more to go around, whether it is true freshmen Jacques Spradley-Demps and Trae Davis, wideouts Jayce Brown and Keagan Johnson or even starting quarterback Avery Johnson. The Wildcats have it in spades.

2.) A back-up quarterback battle is brewing. That’s not something we anticipated from K-State after they added UConn transfer Ta’Quan Roberson in the offseason. However, him not being with the team during spring ball is likely playing a role. Jacob Knuth was in Manhattan and has made this a legitimate competition. Both Kansas State coaches Chris Klieman and Conor Riley have confirmed it.

3.) What about the K-State offensive line rebuild? Well, it’s not really a rebuild, if you listen to Riley. Despite losing four multi-year starters in Cooper Beebe, Christian Duffie, KT Leveston and Hayden Gillum, the Wildcats do have a handful of guys that have still played a lot of college football. Remember, Hadley Panzer has started many games the past two seasons, Taylor Poitier has a lot of snaps under his belt, Carver Willis claimed a starting job midway through last year and Easton Kilty was a multi-year starter at North Dakota before arriving at Kansas State.

4.) We saw a game of musical chairs at linebacker last season because of injury. The same might be true for K-State this year. Middle linebacker Alec Marenco is already a little banged up, and it’ll be wait-and-see when it comes to Asa Newsom and when he’s 100 percent confident and unleashing. But maybe it won’t matter, especially with Marenco, if Austin Romaine is truly taking significant steps forward.

5.) Offense sells tickets, and especially at Kansas State this season because of the weapons like Johnson, Johnson, Brown and Edwards, but might the Wildcats be better on defense and have to lean on it early? I think so. I love Avery and the potential of the offense, but very little of it is proven. There’s also going to be a handful of one-score games on the schedule. The experience for this team plays for coordinator Joe Klanderman. Some of the best position groups for this team play for Joe Klanderman. I think we’re sleeping on the K-State defense.

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